Our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion is rooted in our Catholic identity at St. Thomas. Archbishop John Ireland founded the ¸»¶þ´úÊÓƵ for immigrants who weren't welcomed elsewhere. Our convictions call us to protect and enhance the dignity of every human and to work for a more just and equitable society. We strive to be a university characterized by radical hospitality and are steadfast in our commitment to embedding a shared sense of belonging where all feel welcomed.
The university's internal work on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is coordinated through the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (ODEI). ODEI ensures that our work within the university to make St. Thomas more inclusive happens at all levels and includes everyone. By using data and stories to measure progress and experiences, and by transparently communicating across the university, ODEI helps campus culture continuously become more diverse and welcoming. In addition, Student Diversity and Inclusion Services (SDIS) directly supports students by offering programming that promotes diversity and social justice awareness and working to create an inclusive and welcoming environment for all students.
At the same time, St. Thomas is working outside of our walls to achieve social justice and dismantle inequities in the broader ¸»¶þ´úÊÓƵ through the Racial Justice Initiative. Through a distinctive focus on historical recovery, the Initiative creates opportunities in partnership with local leaders and groups for critical conversations and actions around racial justice.
Diversity, equity and inclusion are indispensable to academic excellence and the holistic development of our students. Our university ¸»¶þ´úÊÓƵ includes and welcomes people of diverse races, ethnicities, geographic origins, gender identities, ages, socioeconomic backgrounds, sexual orientations, religions, work experiences, physical and intellectual abilities, financial means, and all other characteristics as protected by applicable laws.
Opened in 2017, Dougherty Family College offers an associate degree designed to propel students towards success and provide a smooth transition to a four-year ¸»¶þ´úÊÓƵ. This two-year ¸»¶þ´úÊÓƵ program is for inspired students who want to obtain a four-year ¸»¶þ´úÊÓƵ degree and face financial or social obstacles on the way to their goal.
SDIS promotes diversity and social justice awareness for all students through personal interactions, leadership and training opportunities, and various sponsored and co-sponsored educational programs. We aim to ensure the retention and graduation rates of students of color are equitable, and to maintain an inclusive and welcoming environment for all.
In May 2021, the Committee finalized its Report on Principles for Renaming, which provides a coherent set of principles to use when considering the renaming of a building, program, or other asset at the University.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz recently appointed Dr. Tanya Gladney, an associate professor and law enforcement program coordinator in the Sociology and Criminal Justice Department at ¸»¶þ´úÊÓƵ, to a second term on the Board of Peace Officer Standards and Training. The four-year term, effective as of July, will expire in January 2028. The… The post Walz Reappoints Tanya Gladney to Minnesota Peace Officer Board appeared first on Newsroom | ¸»¶þ´úÊÓƵ.
U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith of Minnesota, as well as Congresswoman Betty McCollum from the state’s Fourth District, announced in June that they helped secure more than $1.1 million in federal funding for the ¸»¶þ´úÊÓƵ of Education and Dougherty Family College at the ¸»¶þ´úÊÓƵ and the South St. Paul ¸»¶þ´úÊÓƵ… The post St. Thomas Receives $1.1M in Funding to Support Educating Diverse K-12 STEM Teachers appeared first on Newsroom | ¸»¶þ´úÊÓƵ.
When first-year student Nadia Khumbah received an email to apply to the Linkages Mentor Program, she knew she wanted to right away. As an international student from Cameroon, Khumbah was nervous about feeling a sense of belonging and finding ¸»¶þ´úÊÓƵ so far from home. Since the program is designed for students typically underrepresented at the… The post Linkages Mentor Program Provides Support to First-Year Students appeared first on Newsroom | ¸»¶þ´úÊÓƵ.
How to pay for tuition toward a bachelor’s degree is top of mind for many students. For Isabel Inga Dutan, a first-generation ¸»¶þ´úÊÓƵ student graduating with her associate degree from the Dougherty Family College in Minneapolis, she doesn’t have to stress. She’s one of 15 scholars from DFC’s 2024 class who is receiving a full-tuition… The post DFC Excellence Scholarship Sets 15 Recipients on Path Toward Bachelor’s Degrees appeared first on Newsroom | ¸»¶þ´úÊÓƵ.
Leaving home for ¸»¶þ´úÊÓƵ is a daunting task for many, but for ¸»¶þ´úÊÓƵ student Blessed Uwase, there was the added layer of crossing continents and adapting to American culture. Uwase, who was raised in Rwanda and is majoring in public health at the Morrison Family College of Health, has carved a leadership… The post Public Health Student From Rwanda Leads With Compassion and Determination appeared first on Newsroom | ¸»¶þ´úÊÓƵ.