A Welcoming Community: Diversity & The Sister Thea Bowman Committee

African American student carrying a flag at Commencement.

We are a welcoming and diverse community based upon the teachings of the Church and our common belief that we are one human family.

Diversity Is at the Core of ��’s Identity

�� is committed to a diverse community based upon the teachings of the Church and our common belief that we are one human family, united in our humanity and enriched by our diversity. We recognize and appreciate the unique gifts of all individuals no matter their backgrounds, and the University provides resources and policies to support diversity on campus and offer assistance.

Learn More About Resources & Policies that Support Diversity at the University

Sister Thea Bowman Committee & Implementation Team

In fall 2020, �� took a major step forward toward fulfilling its commitment to embrace and reflect the racial and ethnic diversity that enriches our Church, city, and nation. The Sister Thea Bowman Committee was formed to study all facets of University operations and make recommendations concerning racial equality to the University leadership. Their recommendations were summarized in the Sister Thea Bowman Committee Report.

The work continues today by the Sister Thea Bowman Recommendations Coordination & Implementation Team, who is tasked with leading implementation of the recommendations from the Committee's report.

�� is committed to a diverse community based upon the teachings of the Church and our common belief that we are one human family, united in our humanity and enriched by our diversity.

We recognize and appreciate the unique gifts of all individuals no matter their backgrounds. Our differences should be mutually enriching and bring us into a deeper relationship with others, but too often they become the justification for domination, exploitation, separation, ridicule, and rejection. In Christ, God seeks to gather all people into a communion of love and truth.

As a University that seeks “to discover and impart the truth through excellence in teaching and research, all in service to the Church, the nation and the world,” we must examine and act when we encounter structures that perpetuate division among God’s family. These structures can be within our own institution, and in the larger Church, or in the society that we serve. We are called to serve all the children of God’s family.

We are called to practice everyday solidarity. Pope Francis has called this everyday commitment to solidarity “social love.” He has challenged us to be radically open to all — even those who are very different from ourselves. The University has a responsibility to assist students, faculty, and staff to grow in daily solidarity and to encourage this virtue in the structures of our community.

������

Let Us Help