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Carleton College

Undergraduate School

Mailing Address
Sayles Hill Campus Center
North College Street
Northfield, Minnesota 55057
Phone
(507) 222-4000
Email address
admissions@carleton.edu
School Information
"Carleton College is committed to providing a true liberal arts education—a curriculum that challenges our students to learn broadly and think deeply. Instead of training for one narrow career path, Carleton students develop the knowledge and skills to succeed in any walk of life. "The most important thing our students gain is how to learn for a lifetime. Critical thinking, problem solving, creativity, effective communication: these are the tools that transform a collection of facts and figures into a way of understanding the world." The college has a 9:1 student-faculty ratio, enrolls over 2,000 students, and offers 33 majors and 37 minors. (Source: https://www.carleton.edu/about/) (Source: https://www.carleton.edu/about/carleton-at-a-glance/)
General Information
In order to create a "common language and shared understanding" of anti-racism, the college has instituted mandatory anti-racism training for faculty and staff. No mandatory Critical Race Training sessions are yet required of students. However, see developments below:

Actions Taken

Admissions Policies
  • One of the goals of the college's "Community Plan for Inclusion, Diversity, & Equity" (April, 2022) is to "Significantly increase representation of students, faculty, and staff from underrepresented populations."
  • The "Taste of Carleton" admissions program is an "all-expenses-paid fly-in program" that brings 60 students to campus for three days and two nights. The program gives "priority to students from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds" and "particularly encourage[s] students of color, first-generation college students, and low-income students to apply."
  • On June 8, 2023, Carleton's President issued a statement in anticipation of the Supreme Court's ruling on affirmative action which reads in part as follows: "I write today to assure you that, while we will comply with whatever the Court decides, we stand firm in our commitment to increasing the diversity of our student body in every dimension...We have publicly affirmed the importance of a racially diverse learning environment through participation in an August 2021 amicus brief filed with the Supreme Court in support of Harvard, the University of North Carolina, and race-conscious admissions...Once we know the specifics of the Court’s decision, we will be able to determine what changes or enhancements to our admissions process may be necessary to ensure that we continue to strengthen the diversity of the students on our campus."
  • Carleton's 2033 Strategic Plan states that the college would "implement new admissions recruiting strategies, including elimination of legacy preference, to support our diversity efforts following the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision on race-conscious admissions." Diversity in admissions includes a focus on "Black, Latinx, Indigenous, and other underrepresented groups."
Anti-Racism, Bias, and Diversity Training
  • One of the strategies of the college's "Community Plan for Inclusion, Diversity, & Equity" (April, 2022) is "providing and incentivizing training in equity-minded, inclusive decision making for people who are in leadership positions."
  • On September 27, 2023, Carleton's Human Resources Department held a training session titled "Beyond Diversity 101: Micro-inequities, Implicit Bias, and Moving toward Equity."
  • On November 15, 2023, Carleton's Human Resources Department is hosting a training session titled "Now More Than Ever: Why Leadership on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Requires Emotional Intelligence."
  • The Critical Conversations Program at Carleton "encourage[s] honest discussions and self-reflection about issues related to diversity and community at Carleton" and is "informed by a curriculum of readings and writing assignments." Students "participate in peer-led conversations about diversity, power, and privilege...."
Curriculum Changes and Requirements
  • Carleton's Classics Department states that it is "adopting pedagogical practices throughout our curriculum that attend to the need for inclusivity and transparency, including social justice in the language classroom and anti-racist teaching strategies."
  • The Physics and Astronomy Department lists all the ways in which "diversity, equity, and inclusion have been integrated" into its courses.
  • Carleton's 2033 Strategic Plan states that "[f]aculty will be charged with reviewing graduation requirements to ensure balance, coherence, inclusiveness, and equity."
Faculty/Staff Requirements
  • The college has instituted mandatory anti-racism training for faculty and staff to be led by student activists.
  • Each employee is required to complete 3 components of Phase II antiracism training, including "Consultant-led Session," "Department, Office or Work Unit Group Discussion," and a "Campus Event."
Program and Research Funding
  • One of the academic strategies of the college's "Community Plan for Inclusion, Diversity, & Equity" (April, 2022) states the following: "Designating IDE-specific development funds for designing or redesigning curriculum; exploring the creation of a Center for Race, Gender, Indigeneity, and Social Justice; hosting facilitated community-wide discussions highlighting underrepresented scholars and community members; and exploring new and enhanced options for recognizing student IDE work."
Resources
  • More detail on the mandatory anti-racism training for faculty and staff.
  • Carleton published its Fall 2022 Progress Report which "details measurable progress toward the five goals outlined in Carleton’s Community Plan for Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity."
  • The Black, Indigenous, and People of Color Mental Health Collective at Carleton "provides a community for BIPOC students to engage in restorative practices that support their mental health and well-being."
  • The Carleton Gould Library provides resources on "Combatting Racism" and serves as a "response to President Poskanzer's June 2, 2020 statement" concerning police brutality in America.
Symbolic Actions
  • In Spring 2022, Carleton entered "Phase II," which will "focus on Carleton-specific contexts and how individual employees might take action within their own work settings. This includes addressing bystander intervention, individual responsibility to act, and creating a welcoming environment."
  • Carleton is using the "original CEDI Action Team report" as the basis for its antiracism initiatives
  • Phase I of Carleton's antiracism program was completed in May 2021.
  • Update: the college will no longer be offering "segregated antiracism training" after a federal complaint was filed.
Last updated July 3rd, 2024
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