Diversity

Diversity Statement

Taken from the Academic Catalog

Recognizing that the diverse expressions within the human family enrich the learning and life of our community, Lourdes University, as a Catholic institution, is committed to nurturing an atmosphere that engages students, faculty, and staff in a dynamic exploration of a broad spectrum of ideas and cultures that leads to a multidimensional understanding of the world. Lourdes University fosters an intellectual community enriched by the full range and depth of human experience where diverse voices and viewpoints are represented. Lourdes University reflects its Franciscan values of community, learning, reverence, and service through initiatives that include professional, pedagogical, and student development, as well as community events, which actively promote and support a diverse population.

Diversity and Multicultural Services Office

The mission of the Diversity and Multicultural Services Office is to foster a sense of awareness, appreciation, advocacy and understanding of diverse populations so all members of the Lourdes University community feel honored, valued and respected within their unique cultural frameworks. Multicultural programming is available throughout the year.

For more information, contact Tonya Colbert at 419-824-3866 or tcolbert@lourdes.edu.

Learning Outcomes of Diversity & Inclusion

According to the Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education, The formal education of students consists of the curriculum and the co-curriculum, and must promote student learning and development that is purposeful and holistic. Each program in Student Life must provide evidence of its impact on the achievement of student learning and development outcomes.

Relevant and desirable outcomes include: intellectual growth, effective communication, realistic self-appraisal, enhanced self-esteem, clarified values, career choices, leadership development, healthy behaviors, meaningful interpersonal relationships, independence, collaboration, social responsibility, satisfying and productive lifestyles, appreciation of diversity, spiritual awareness and achievement of personal and educational goals.

These learning outcomes include:

  • Students will develop an understanding of their own culture, heritage and identity.
  • Students will develop and awareness of cultural differences, cultural commonalities, privilege, and the identities of others.
  • Students will establish satisfying interpersonal relationships through the exchanging of ideas and reflections.

Definition of Diversity:

The concept of diversity encompasses acceptance and respect. It means understanding that each individual is unique, and recognizes our individual differences. These can be along the dimensions of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, age, physical abilities, religious beliefs, political beliefs, or other ideologies.

The goals of the Diversity and Multicultural Services Office are to:

  • Enhance students’ understanding of their own culture, heritage and identities.
  • Enhance students’ understanding of cultures, heritages, and identities other than their own.
  • Provide opportunities for interactions, exchange of ideas and reflection.
    The office of Diversity and Inclusion is committed to Justice and Social Change.

LU Inclusion Policy

Lourdes University is committed to be an inclusive community that welcomes and accepts all. We are a place that recognizes and celebrates differences.

When an individual or group is disrespected or subject to discrimination or bias because of

particular characteristics of social identity, like race or gender, it has a negative effect on the entire campus community. Every student, staff, and faculty member has a rightful place at Lourdes and violence and bias-related incidents will be addressed by the university.

Bias-related incidents are defined as behavior which constitutes an expression of hostility against  a person or property of another because of the targeted person’s age, creed, disability, ethnic or national origin, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, political or social affiliation, race, religion, or sexual orientation. Even when offenders are not aware of their bias or do not intend to offend, bias is revealed, which demands response and will not be tolerated.

IF YOU EXPERIENCE A BIAS-RELATED INCIDENT, CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING:

Lourdes University encourages students, faculty and staff to seek support and report any incidents of bias.

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY: CALL 911

IN NON-EMERGENCY SITUATIONS, INDIVIDUALS SHOULD CONSIDER THEIR NEXT BEST STEP. THESE INCLUDE:

  • Talk things over with someone you trust
  • Report to a faculty or staff member at Lourdes who can investigate the situation
  • If you aren’t interested in reporting an incident, it is still helpful to save any associated materials (such as text messages, voice mails, etc.) or document it with a picture. This will be helpful information to have if you decide to report it in the future.

TO REPORT, YOU CAN CONTACT ANY OF THE FOLLOWING:

Lourdes Public Safety
On campus: 411
Off campus: 419-574-3861

Director of Community Standards
419-824-3873

Athletic Director
419-824-3897

Dean of Students
419-824-3759

Diversity & Multicultural Services
419-824-3866

Vice President of Academic Affairs
419-824-3818

CAMPUS COMPLAINT FORM

IF YOU COMPLETE A CAMPUS COMPLAINT FORM, THIS IS WHAT WILL HAPPEN

  1. Safety issues will be addressed by Lourdes Public Safety and if necessary the local police, with the Director of Community Standards and Residence Life.
  2. A Student Life employee, most likely the Director of Community Standards will reach out to you to offer support.
  3. Student life and public safety will investigate and prepare a report.
  4. Whether or not the behavior is criminal, all student will be held to our code of Student Conduct and community standards
  5. The Dean of Students will be informed of the situation and review Student Affairs response. The Dean of Student Life may consult with staff from the Office of Diversity and Title IX to consider institutional action.
  6. The student conduct process will take place.
  7. Institutional sanctioning for such incident can be any combination of sanctions.