- Mailing Address
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718 Dearborn
Baldwin City, Kansas 66006 - Phone
- (785) 594-8325
- Email address
- admission@bakerU.edu
- Website
- https://www.bakeru.edu/
- School Information
- Baker was "founded in 1858 as the first university in Kansas." In addition, "Baker University is a premier private university with a tradition of academic excellence and student engagement in a respectful, inviting, and values-based learning community. The faculty provides creative, student-focused learning experiences that challenge students to analyze issues with depth and clarity. Students fully engage in their learning; connect with peers, faculty, and staff; and develop lifelong relationships with diverse groups of people. Graduates realize their potential to become confident, competent contributors to society" (Source: https://www.bakeru.edu/meet-baker-university/). Baker has a total undergraduate enrollment of over 1,100. The university has a student to faculty ratio of 12 to 1 and offers over 100 programs.
- General Information
- Baker University has instituted an Office of Diversity and Inclusion. The school has also created a DEI Working Group which offers events. At this time, no mandatory Critical Race Training is required of students. However, see developments below:
Actions Taken
- Program and Research Funding
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Baker's College of Arts and Sciences offers a "Social Justice" minor where students will "[d]evelop an understanding of the systemic injustices in society." The minor is an "interdisciplinary program that requires basic theoretical grounding as well as experiential application of concepts in the field."
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Phi Beta Delta established the "Milan-Harris Award for Promoting Diversity, " awarded to select students who "actively promote and enhance the diversity and inclusion experience at Baker or its regional communities or both." The award comes with a $500 cash prize.
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The "Cultural Diversity Scholarship" is a need-based scholarship offered to students with "at least one parent" who is "Native American or Native Alaskan, Asian or Pacific Islander, African-American, or Hispanic."
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- Resources
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Baker University is looking to hire a Director of DEI and International Student Services.
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Baker offered a course between January 30 - March 19, 2023 titled "Deep Dive Into DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion)," which was described as follows: "This course is designed for educators who wish to learn more about diversity, equity, inclusion, and relationships through current research, events, texts, and discussions related to these topics. Participants in this course will each read, review, and share thoughts and feedback on a recent book about equity, inclusion, and/or relationships. Students will be able to select a book of their choice that covers diversity, equity, and inclusion. Additionally, educators will be provided with resources, and share experiences to help create school environments that are more inclusive and equitable."
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On July 27, 2023, Baker held its first ever Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion conference which would "educate, advocate, engage, and empower individuals to cultivate partnerships and conversations that create and sustain an environment that is inclusive, equitable, and diverse."
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Baker offered a course between May 29 - July 16, 2023 titled "How to Be an Everyday Antiracist," which was described as follows: "What if teachers across the country were actively fighting against racism? What would that look like? Is that something you would want to be a part of? You would have to become an everyday antiracist! This class is designed for educators to think about, talk about, and then take action every day to address racism in school."
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- Symbolic Actions
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Baker has an Office of Diversity and Inclusion which "seeks to prepare students for our diverse world by providing experiences and opportunities for cross-cultural interactions that serve to increase understanding and respect for our differences."
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Baker has a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Working Group which hosts events that "challenge participants to expand their awareness and knowledge of the historical contexts of race, ethnicity, culture, gender, sexuality, and class to gain an understanding of how these issues are visible today."
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On August 25, 2016, an article titled "#BLM: face-to-face with racism" on The Baker Orange, Baker University's Student Media publication.
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On May 6, 2021, The Baker Orange published an article responding to Derek Chauvin's verdict, stating, "Today, people continue to feel empowered to call out U.S. leaders and protest racial injustice in all forms to emphasize the work that still needs to be done. Nonetheless, Chauvin being convicted of murder provided a sense of hope and was a step toward overall police accountability."
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The University states, "Our nation as a whole is changing" and Baker "aims to reflect this diversity."
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The University includes "inclusiveness" as one of its core values, stating it embraces "diversity of community, thought, and expression."
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