Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

DEI Resources

Saint Joseph's has a variety of diversity, equity and inclusion resources for students, including LGBTQIA+ support, information for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) recipients and interfaith services. If you would like to suggest a resource to add to this page or if you have any questions about our current information, please contact us.

Student Resources
Faculty and Staff Resources
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Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Strategic Overview

Saint Joseph’s University has made considerable progress toward the completion of a number of strategic diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) goals outlined in the current strategic plan and contained within the Draft Blueprint for Inclusive Excellence document and the information learned from the 2018 Institutional Climate Study. We've noted the significant strides the University has made in the last five years, as well as our top priorities for the 2020-2021 school year.

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Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Policies and Practices

The University has several guidelines in place that encourage a welcoming and inclusive community and set clear expectations for conduct, including policies around:

  • Bias activity and reporting
  • Prohibiting discrimination, harassment and retaliation
  • Sexual misconduct
  • Chosen name and identity practices
Read Our Policies

Responding to Racial Injustice

  • Message from the Associate Provost for DEI on October 28

    75 Things White People Can Do for Racial Justice
    A non-exhaustive list of 75 things that white people can do to support racial justice.  

    Gov. Newsom Shares Emotional Story Of Explaining George Floyd's Death To His Children (Video)
    California Governor Gavin Newsom explains how he discusses the death of George Floyd to his four children. 

    Former President Obama On George Floyd's Death And The 'Maddening' Normalcy Of Racism
    Former President Barack Obama provides his thoughts on how the United States can not just return to the normalcy of yesterday but instead to create a new normal of equitable justice.

    Raising Our Voices About Racism
    The head of the Chinese American International School, Jeff Bissell, provides his reflection and a call to action. 

    Op-Ed: Don’t understand the protests? What you’re seeing is people pushed to the edge
    Kareem Abdul-Jabbar discusses that the main concern of black people right now isn’t whether they’re standing three or six feet apart, but whether their sons, husbands, brothers, and fathers will be murdered by cops.

    Change the World, not yourself, or how Arendt called out Thoreau
    Author Katie Fitzpatrick explores Hannah Arendt’s discussion of Thoreau’s On Civil Disobedience and the importance of collective disobedience.

    Structural Inequality in Philadelphia | SJU's Unlimited Learning Series

    As the coronavirus swept through Philadelphia, the pandemic shone a light on the deep systemic inequalities in our city. From public health and access to education to employment and housing, the pandemic exacerbated preexisting gaps in our black and brown communities in the city and beyond. Now, with recent national events also drawing attention to systematic racism at large, the topic is an important one for Philadelphians to face. This conversation moderated by Imani Briscoe '17, features three Saint Joseph's University experts: Susan Clampet-Lundquist, Ph.D., Professor of Sociology and author of Coming of Age in the Other America; Keith Leaphart ’01 (MBA), D.O., Chair of the Lenfest Foundation and President and CEO of Replica Creative; and Nicole Stokes, Ph.D., Associate Provost of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. The panel discussed the structural inequalities that exist in everyone's community and provided more insight into how you can be part of advocacy and the promotion of social justice for all. These experts covered topics in their expertise including what is structural inequality, income gaps and inequality, the role of foundations and nonprofits to combat these disparities, and the impact of inequality on younger generations of Philadelphians.

  • Why Do So Many White People Deny The Existence Of White Privilege?
    Brando Simeo Starkey discusses how white people view our society through what sociologist Joe Feagin calls the “white racial frame.” 

    Understanding Race and Privilege
    The National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) provides the role, effects, and a reflection on how privilege plays in our society.

    Why Whites Downplay Their Individual Racial Privileges
    Researchers at Standford University’s Graduate School of Business discuss their research that shows that white Americans when faced with evidence of racial privilege, deny that they have benefited personally.

    Robin DiAngelo, the Author of 'White Fragility', on Implicit Bias and Racism
    The author of 'White Fragility', Robin DiAngelo discusses how addressing racism makes many white people feel anger, fear, and guilt, which leads to denial, minimization, and defensiveness, even though racism inevitably touches everyone.

    Reflections Based on Dr. Peggy McIntosh's Invisible Knapsack
     

    The Psychology of Radical Healing 
    The Psychology of Radical Healing Collective provides the perspective of what psychology tell us about healing from racial and ethnic trauma.

    What Does White Privilege Look Like?
    For those who may challenge the concept of privilege, below is a list of everyday actions that African-American and black citizens of the United States have done with an unfortunate outcome. As a follow-up, research the names next to each item on this list to understand the history of each of these incidents.

    I have the privilege as a White person because I can do all of these things without thinking twice about it...

    • I can go jogging (#AmaudArbery).
    • I can relax in the comfort of my own home (#BothemSean and #AtatianaJefferson).
    • I can ask for help after being in a car crash (#JonathanFerrell and #RenishaMcBride).
    • I can have a cellphone (#StephonClark).
    • I can leave a party to get to safety (#JordanEdwards).
    • I can play loud music (#JordanDavis).
    • I can sell CD's (#AltonSterling).
    • I can sleep (#AiyanaJones)
    • I can walk from the corner store (#MikeBrown).
    • I can play cops and robbers (#TamirRice).
    • I can go to church/Temple (#Charleston9).
    • I can walk home with Skittles (#TrayvonMartin).
    • I can hold a hairbrush while leaving my own bachelor party (#SeanBell).
    • I can party on New Years (#OscarGrant).
    • I can get a normal traffic ticket (#SandraBland).
    • I can lawfully carry a weapon (#PhilandoCastile).
    • I can break down on a public road with car problems (#CoreyJones).
    • I can shop at Walmart (#JohnCrawford).
    • I can have a disabled vehicle (#TerrenceCrutcher).
    • I can read a book in my own car (#KeithScott).
    • I can be a 10yr old walking with our grandfather (#CliffordGlover).
    • I can decorate for a party (#ClaudeReese).
    • I can ask a cop a question (#RandyEvans).
    • I can cash a check in peace (#YvonneSmallwood).
    • I can take out my wallet (#AmadouDiallo).
    • I can run (#WalterScott).
    • I can breathe (#EricGarner).
    • I can live (#FreddieGray).
    • I can ask someone to put a leash on their dog when it is required in the public park we are in (#ChristianCooper).
    • I CAN BE ARRESTED WITHOUT THE FEAR OF BEING MURDERED (#GeorgeFloyd).