MICUA

Most mission statements adopted by the MICUA member institutions include a diversity component, and many MICUA institutions have established diversity goals to address various activities on campus. These statements and goals articulate the institutions’ commitments to supportive and inclusive learning environments and the belief that diversity is central to a quality education. Listed below are several examples of diversity statements and goals adopted by MICUA member institutions.

The Notre Dame of Maryland University mission statement reads, in part, “Distinctive undergraduate and graduate programs challenge women and men to strive for intellectual and professional excellence, to build inclusive communities, to engage in service to others, and to promote social responsibility.”

Included in the mission statement for Goucher College is the assertion, “The College’s principal objectives are to help each student master significant areas of knowledge and skills while developing an appreciation for individual and cultural diversity, as sense of social responsibility, and a system of personal and professional ethics.”

The mission statement of Loyola University Maryland declares that “…the University will inspire students to learn, lead, and serve in a diverse and changing world.”

St. John’s College’s mission statement reads “St. John's College is a community dedicated to liberal education. Such education seeks to free human beings from prejudice and unexamined opinion, to help them reflect on the nature of things and on the ends and means of human endeavors, and to enable them to make thoughtful choices in public and private life.”

The Maryland Institute College of Art’s mission statement includes the following: “The College is dedicated to having a faculty that is diverse racially, culturally, and in terms of aesthetic direction.”

The mission statement at Sojourner-Douglass College includes an edict to “Foster greater commitment to fundamental social change, diversity, and pluralism.” Furthermore, the College’s goals include more explicit directives to provide access to an opportunity for higher education to minority students throughout the State of Maryland and beyond and to develop leaders with the capacity to apply theory to community problem solving.

The Stevenson University mission statement includes the following commitment: “Stevenson commits itself to diversity as it relates to awareness, education, respect, and practice at every level of the organization. The University embraces people of all backgrounds, defined by, but not limited to, ethnicity, culture, race, gender, class, religion, nationality, sexual orientation, age, physical ability, learning styles, and political perspectives. The University believes its core values are strengthened when all of its individual members have voice and representation. The resulting inclusive organizational climate promotes the development of broad-minded members of the University who positively influence their local and global communities.”

Institutions also include diversity goals in their strategic plans. These strategic efforts impact enrollment, hiring practices, curriculum, and community. One of the goals of Mount St. Mary’s University’s strategic plan is to “increase ethnic and racial diversity on campus.” The Notre Dame of Maryland University’s strategic plan includes a goal to “Create leaders in a global learning community which promotes justice, health, sustainability, and peace.”

The Washington College strategic plan states: “The College will provide an environment in which the ethnic, economic, religious, and geographical diversity of its students, faculty, and staff will enhance learning and social interactions to create a vibrant community.” In addition, the College created a diversity committee that consists of faculty, staff, and students to provide leadership and guidance on campus programs and policies.

The strategic plan for St. John’s College includes two goals related to diversity. The first is to increase interest and applications from students of color and international students, and the second is to ensure an environment that welcomes and supports diversity and addresses the challenges of acculturation. The means used to achieve these goals include expanding admissions efforts, exploring partnerships with community organizations, increasing educational and community outreach activities, and establishing support systems for minority students.

Several institutions include a set of core values in their strategic plans. Hood College includes a statement within its core values that the institution is committed to “celebrating diversity and inclusiveness.” At Loyola University Maryland, diversity continues to be a significant element of its strategic plan and divisional activities. Loyola’s core values include “fostering campus-wide education, cultivation, and promotion of diversity; and cultivating the whole person to succeed in a diverse and changing world.” Recently, the Loyola President appointed a Special Assistant for Mission Integration to work with communities that share interests in justice, mission, and diversity and facilitate thoughtful conversations about the links between diversity and justice issues.

As part of the strategic planning process, nearly all of the MICUA institutions have established offices of diversity and multicultural affairs and assigned staff to coordinate programming and oversee the range of issues related to diversity. In addition to establishing an office and director’s position, McDaniel College created a Campus Diversity Council, which includes representation from many campus constituencies. The Council provides a venue for the discussion, coordination, and assessment of the College’s efforts and initiatives on behalf of diversity.

Johns Hopkins University’s Diversity Leadership Council (DLC) has been in existence since 1997. It is comprised of students, faculty, and staff from all divisions throughout Johns Hopkins. Its mission includes implementing policies, programs, and other initiatives to attract and retain a diverse mix of faculty, staff, and students, as well as promoting and supporting diversity awareness education campus-wide. The DLC sponsors several annual events, including a Diversity Conference in the fall and a spring awards ceremony to recognize the exceptional contributions of faculty, staff, and students in advancing and celebrating diversity and inclusiveness at the institution.