Embracing Diversity,
Building Cultural Competency
Saint Joseph’s University prioritizes diversity and inclusion and considers it central to the University’s mission. As a Jesuit university, we set a high bar: to educate and care for the whole person, across all aspects of identity. We work to instill a deep sense of belonging and respect for each member of the community — to that end, all constituents have a role and responsibility in creating and maintaining an atmosphere of inclusive excellence that celebrates our diverse backgrounds, identities, beliefs, and perspectives.
Brochure Fast Facts and Strategy
Our Commitment
Strategic Overview
Facts and Information
Reaching Higher: Creating a More Diverse, Inclusive Community
Inclusivity is what a Jesuit education is all about. Together, we’re energizing our efforts with a systemic, inter-relational approach to diversity and inclusion. It’s a pillar of our strategic plan.
And we’re building momentum. From our award-winning Diversity Lecture Series to gender-inclusive bathrooms and a Center for Inclusion and Diversity in the heart of our student center, we’re creating a Saint Joseph’s University that embraces everyone, and we’re committed to continuous improvement in this area.
Class of 2024
| 6% | identify as African American/Black |
| 10.8% | identify as Hispanic/Latinx |
| 3.6% | identify as Asian |
| 2.3% | identify as multiracial |
Fall of 2020 Graduate Enrollment
| 16% | identify as African American/Black |
| 6% | identify as Hispanic/Latinx |
| 5% | identify as Asian |
| 1% | identify as multiracial |
Creating an Inclusive Environment
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In recent years, we’ve taken steps to develop new programs and infrastructure to provide all students, staff and faculty with a comfortable and supportive campus.
FACTUALITY
Since 2019, freshman orientation has included this workshop, which sparks conversations about issues of structural inequality via a board game in which players encounter barriers and benefits based on their unique intersection of race, gender and sexual orientation.The Center for Inclusion and Diversity
The Center provides a space for all students to come together for programming, discussion and support services.Office of International Students and Scholars
This office advances our commitment to inclusion and diversity by providing the environment and opportunities for cross-cultural dialogue and engagement.
Safe Zones
We have been offering Safe Zone training to faculty, staff and students since 2001. More than 500 people have been trained to be allies to LGBTQIA members of our campus community.Gender Inclusive Restrooms
There are 40 all-gender restrooms on campus.Bias Incident Reporting Protocol
Bias- or hate-motivated conduct creates barriers to inclusion and trust. All campus members are responsible to respond to harmful incidents quickly and effectively in order to ensure the well-being of targeted individuals and groups, to facilitate collective learning, and to re-establish clear norms to prevent future incidents.President’s Council on Inclusion and Diversity
Students, faculty, staff and administrators appointed by the president advise University leaders on critical issues, coordinate inclusion initiatives and evaluate and track campus climate. -
We offer a number of courses and programs of study that celebrate diversity in all its forms.
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Saint Joseph’s students celebrate and promote a campus community that values everyone. Student-run affinity organizations advised by the Center for Inclusion and Diversity host more than 100 events, meetings and programs during the academic year.
- Caribbean Student Association
- Asian Student Association
- Black Student Union
- Bridging the Gap (promoting awareness of all diversities and underrepresented lifestyles and ethnicities)
- Higher Destination Choir (inclusive spiritual choir)
- International Student Association
- Latino Student Association
- SJU PRIDE
- Student Interfaith Organization
- Women’s Leadership Initiative
- Advancement In Diversity STEM
2020-2021 Diversity & Inclusion Lecture Series
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Speaker: Amber Hikes, Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
Intersectional Allyship and How to #BeCivil with Amber Hikes will inspire you to leverage the principles of the #BeCivil campaign to strengthen your personal work as an ally to all of our communities. This interactive session draws upon the new policies and practices of SJU’s Diversity & Inclusion programming work to empower all of us to be ambassadors of inclusivity and belonging. Amber will affirm your ability to change the world while they hold you to actually doing it. You'll leave with tools to be a better ally, resources to understand your role in community building, and a renewed commitment for justice. Join us as we learn from this inspiring leader how we can be accountable and brave, intentional and bold, sustainable and strong in our work to do better for ourselves, each other, and the world.
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Speaker: Jonathan Lovitz, Senior Vice President, National LGBT Chamber of Commerce
College and university students are the voices of change for tomorrow’s complex world. But why wait until tomorrow when you can start making a difference on campus and in your community today? In the age of the internet, your digital voice can move millions to action. Are you aware of just how powerful your voice is in the movements you care most about helping? Learn from Jonathan Lovitz, Senior Vice President, National LGBT Chamber of Commerce, how to be the champion your issues and your communities need now more than ever.
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Speaker: Randi Teplitz, Commissioner, PA Commission for Women/ Asst. Dean of Commonwealth Law School Harrisburg, PA, Tiffany Tavarez, Commissioner, PA Commission for Women/ Vice President for Community Relations, Wells Fargo and BJ Leber, Commissioner, PA Commission for Women/ President & CEO of Adagio Health Care for All Women
Randi Teplitz, Commissioner, PA Commission for Women/ Asst. Dean of Commonwealth Law School Harrisburg, PA, Tiffany Tavarez, Commissioner, PA Commission for Women/ Vice President for Community Relations, Wells Fargo and BJ Leber, Commissioner, PA Commission for Women/ President & CEO of Adagio Health Care for All Women will discuss the continued work of the PA Commission for Women and advocacy for gender and pay equity in the midst of the Covid 19 Workforce as women and women of color have been significantly impacted.
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Speaker: Farah Jimenez, President & CEO, Philadelphia Education Fund
In 2014, President Obama asked whether we, as a nation, should permit a zip code to determine a young person’s future. Clearly a rhetorical question, his query gave rise to a national conversation. If there is a link between community, education, and success, then what must be done to expand access to opportunity? In her talk, Ms. Farah Jimenez, President & CEO, Philadelphia Education Fund, draws upon her lifelong career in social justice to examine the question and consider some others: In what ways might our belief systems present an even greater challenge in our struggle to ensure educational equity? And, how might challenges to these belief systems alter the ways in which we as individuals and institutions of higher learning deliver on the promise of educational equity?
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Speaker: Aimee LaPointe Terosky, Ed.D., Associate Professor of Educational Leadership
Inequitable workloads. Invisible and emotional labor. Stalled career advancement. Decreased scholarly productivity. These phrases represent some of the challenges facing academic faculty in institutions of higher education, especially women faculty and faculty of color. Dr. Aimee LaPointe Terosky, will share the latest research on workload allocation, professional satisfaction, and career advancement for faculty, as well as focus on practical strategies for greater equity in workload distribution from both the institutional and individual faculty member perspective. The primary goal is for all participants to leave with navigational strategies to foster their own agency in their careers and to serve as catalysts for fair and sustainable workloads within their institutions.