Statement on Diversity

A Stonehill education prepares students to serve the common good, be responsible and global citizens in a pluralistic democracy, and pursue personal and professional goals. Beyond simply knowing, it liberates students to explore ideas and assumptions, to come to new ways of understanding the world, and to put theory into practice through high-impact experiential learning opportunities. Stonehill strives to be a community of scholarship and faith that affirms the diversity and dignity of all of its members.

Stonehill’s faculty play a key role in creating our campus community as one that truly honors the dignity and humanity of all of its members. In our classrooms, in our curriculum, and in our day-to-day interactions with students and colleagues, we strive to recognize and respect differences in age, ability, color, creed, cultural background, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, national origin, race, religious affiliation or spiritual affinity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic class, political viewpoints, or veteran status.

Faculty who have experienced or witnessed discrimination of any sort can bring their concerns to a department chair, the Associate Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Human Resources, or the College Counsel. Faculty interested in furthering the College’s diversity mission can find support from the following campus offices.

Office of Academic Affairs

The Vice President for Academic Affairs provides leadership on the Academic Division’s efforts to cultivate an inclusive campus climate and to diversify our student body, our faculty, and our curriculum. The Vice President’s Advisory Committee on Diversity was formed to make recommendations on improving hiring practices and creating more inclusive classroom climates.

Office of Intercultural Affairs

The Office of Intercultural Affairs is always available to work with faculty interested in adopting more inclusive teaching practices and building a more inclusive curriculum. The OIA’s Inclusive Excellence Grant can provide funding for faculty and student initiatives meant to engage the community in conversations around diversity. The OIA will also visit classes to present on a variety of diversity-related topics.

Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning

The Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning can consult with faculty about various questions regarding classroom climate, inclusive pedagogies, and curricular transformation. The CETL also offers regular professional development opportunities specifically focused on questions of diversity.

Office of Community-Based Learning

The Office of Community-Based Learning can advise faculty on teaching students about various systems of inequality, particularly those that relate to our students’ engagement with local communities. The OCBL also offers an experientially-based diversity training that can be conducted as part of a class or as a separate session.