Duquesne University

Duquesne made a commitment to “explore recruitment partnerships with Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority Serving Institutions.”

On June 29, 2023, Duquesne's President issued a statement in response to the Supreme Court's ruling on affirmative action which reads: "The University respects the decisions of the Supreme Court as an essential part of our democratic system. Moreover, the Court’s ruling that the explicit consideration of race in the admissions process is unconstitutional will not affect our long-standing commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion as part of our University’s foundational principles and mission."

The Bias Education Response Team was "founded to educate the campus community, to monitor and report on trends, and respond to bias incidents through restorative practices." Students may anonymously report "Bias Incidents" through the online reporting tool.

The school has engaged in an Inclusive Teaching Challenge for “all instructors and teaching assistants” to each take part in pursuing an action related to DEI in addition to attending the program events.

The school plans to “partner with Chief Diversity Officer to renew and enhance DE&I training for hiring managers and to explore resources, tools, and support systems for employees of diverse backgrounds and allies to promote self-empowerment, peer support, and information.”

The school will “enhance community outreach efforts to increase pipeline of minority applicants” for human resources employees.

Hiring managers are required to complete a Diversity and Inclusion training that covers "the University’s current diversity statement and existing resources for diversity and inclusion," "the dimensions of diversity," "implicit and explicit bias," and the "best practices for recruiting and building a diverse applicant pool." Although it is not mandatory, "leadership strongly supports" completion of the training by all employees.

An education professor who "used the N-word in a class" was required to attend a mandatory six-week online diversity, equity, and inclusion training class featuring seven to ten hours of instruction per week which cost $2,100. The class "begins by providing students with a vocabulary for discussing diversity, equity and inclusion issues,” and later "shifts to provide students with a deep understanding of our nation’s sad legacies of institutional racism, sexism and other forms of identity-based discrimination.” 

The Center for Excellence in Diversity and Student Inclusion has a Peer Educators program where “student leaders would receive intensive certification training in promoting diversity and addressing multicultural issues across campus.” This is a program that involves program funding for training and student stipends.

Duquesne offers a Minority Professional Development Internship Program which “seeks to aid the professional development of those from underrepresented backgrounds.”

In 2024, the University was awarded for "Inclusive HR Practices and Programs." It received the Inclusion Cultivates Excellence Award for its "minority professional development internship program" and was awarded $5,000. The "DEI Certificate Program" also received the Innovative People Practices Award.

Under the Research and Impact of the University's School of Education is the Center for Educational Leadership and Social Justice. The Center's mission "is to advance equity and excellence on behalf of young people, especially those who have been marginalized, mistreated, and neglected."

Scholarships are stated to be one of Duquesne’s “Diversity Priorities.”

Duquesne commits to “Cross-Cultural Program Endowment[s],” which include initiatives like “financial literacy programs for at-risk students or anti-racist interventions dealing with specific situations.”

The Gumberg Library has a site dedicated to resources for Critical Whiteness Studies.

The school’s Center for Excellence in Diversity and Student Inclusion “offers a wide range of co-curricular educational programs that not only improve the diversity climate on campus, but also prepare students to become leaders in personal and professional settings.” Furthermore, “initiatives may include targeted efforts (such as financial literacy programs for at-risk students or anti-racist interventions dealing with specific situations) as well broad-based workshops and speakers open to all students that provide insights into cultural issues.”

The Center for Excellence in Diversity and Student Inclusion hosts the Multicultural Student Advisory Council.

The school has several Diversity Student Organizations.

The Center for Excellence in Diversity and Student Inclusion hosts the Spirit of Diversity Event.

The Office of Diversity and Inclusion has an optional Pre-Orientation Program for freshmen.

The University organizes DEI events, like the annual MLK Unity Walk. This event is sponsored by the Office of the Chief Diversity Officer, the Center for Excellence in Diversity and Student Inclusion, and Campus Ministry.

The President’s Advisory Council for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion was founded to "sustain and advance our efforts to remain inclusive and welcoming as a University community."

The University offers many DEI resources for employees, including the "Duquesne University Inclusion Network," the "Diversity Advocate Program," and "Employee Resource Groups."

The Library has guides on "becoming anti-racist," "the roots of structural racism," "ally to accomplice," and "white privilege in information."

The 2022-2023 DEI Impact Report details new DEI initiatives such as the "Duquesne University Inclusion Network," the "DEI Certification Program" and the "Diversity Advocates Program."

The Mary Pappert School of Music states that it will “promote the integration of DEI into all operations of our school in a way that is constructive, demonstrable, and sustainable.”

Duquesne’s Mary Pappert School of Music has a Faculty/Staff DEI Committee and a DEI Student Sub-Committee.

The school hosts an annual Diversity Day of Awareness, which is “hosted by the Multicultural Programming Council.”

The school hosts an Annual Alumni Gala which functions in “promoting awareness about the university’s actions for Diversity and Inclusion.”

 The University's Inaugural Chief Diversity Officer stated "A diverse student population is important in advancing our mission." She also stated that the University's "goal is to grow diversity within our faculty, administration, and staff and will continue to strive to ensure diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging within our workforce."

The Dr. Ron L. Swain Award for Social Justice recognizes "students for their racial justice leadership." Selection criteria include having an "authentic passion for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion work," "dedicated time and effort to the Center for Excellence in Diversity and Student Inclusion programming initiatives," and "commitment to the Spiritan principle of maintaining a diverse, inclusive, and welcoming environment."

The Center for Teaching Excellence DEI statement encourages "all instructors and students to reflect on their own context and positionality" so that "they can work toward addressing and eliminating (intentional and/or unintentional) endangering behaviors [biases] that imperil the richness that diversity can, and does, provide classrooms and departments." It also states "Many individuals are impacted by the cultural trauma of racism, sexism, heterosexism, cissexism, ableism, and other forms of prejudice."

A tenured professor was fired after using the N-word in a “pedagogical sense” and discussed "examples of how the word was used when he was younger" in his Educational Psychology class. The decision was reversed after the "American Association for University Professors (AAUP) demanded Shank be reinstated... citing due process rights and academic freedom."