Hofstra University

The University President released a statement on affirmative action stating it "has historically enacted the value that a diversity of ideas, people, and experiences is essential to preparing students for success and leadership." The statement continued that the University will "continue to follow a holistic admissions process that has helped to create a campus environment that embodies our community’s core values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and multiculturalism."

Hofstra's Strategic Plan reiterates its official mission and goals statement which reads: "we are 'devoted to recruiting and retaining a highly qualified and diverse academic community of students....'"

Human Resources offers Professional and Management Development covering topics such as "Valuing Differences: Understanding Diversity Issues" and "Developing Cultural Intelligence."

Intercultural Engagement & Inclusion offers diversity education and training programs "designed to increase cultural awareness, promote social justice, and enhance participants' knowledge of intercultural communication, competencies, and sensitivity." The goal of the program is to help students, staff, and faculty "recognize, appreciate, and affirm cultural differences and continuously maintain multicultural competence and sensitivity in our everyday interactions in our diverse communities."

The Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer stated that the University is "expanding anti-racism and implicit bias training for students, faculty, staff, and administration in the coming academic year."

The Teaching and Learning Conference offered sessions titled "Providing Opportunities for In-Depth, Inclusive, Accountable Learning," "Using Climate Interactive to Understand and Promote Climate Justice," and "Museum Education: A Model for Discourse in Civic Engagement" which seeks to help professors discuss "topics like race, identity, immigration, citizenship, and reproductive rights."

On March 2, 2024, the School of Communication "facilitated a student workshop for forty-two of the LHSC’s student media leaders titled 'Leading Change for the Future: Cultivating Accountability and Belonging in Student Media'.” One of the objectives of the workshop "included strategies to create a sense of belonging within student media organizations to cultivate inclusive environments that value every member’s contribution."

As part of the general education requirements towards a Bachelor’s degree, all students are required to complete three semester hours of a course in the Cross-Cultural category.

The School of Communication states that its mission is "to nurture a sense of belonging and drive change in the direction of building a culture where inclusiveness is a reflex, not an initiative." The School states that through diversity, it aims to "create a stronger and more creative academic and social environment that empowers [people] to move the needle of change, promote equality, foster equal access, and eliminate discrimination." 

The General Education Requirements include 9 credits of Humanities Division, which consists of classes such as "AFST 043 - (LT, CC) Decolonizing the Mind: Contemporary Literature from Africa to Southeast Asia," "JWST 050 - (HP) Antisemitism, Islamophobia, and Racisms: Global Perspectives," and "RELI 051 - (CC, HP) Sex and Diversity in American Islam" among others.

The School of Engineering & Applied Sciences released a Statement on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion stating it has a goal to "foster the culture of inclusion within the curriculum to ensure that all graduates enter the workforce with a heightened awareness of the value of operating in a diverse professional environment."

Students can report "Bias-related and/or Hate Crimes"  to the Department of Public Safety.

On January 17, 2024, the School of Communication "held a mandatory training lead by ERASE Racism’s president, Laura Harding, to sensitize and inform LHSC Administrative Staff and Student Club Advisors on approaches to situations they may encounter in their work with students."

Hofstra University’s Center for Race, Culture and Social Justice offers a Colloquia Series where “faculty members are invited to present their recent publications and engage with new scholarship focusing on ‘race’ and social justice.”

Each year, the university offers an "Undergraduate Student Diversity/LGBTQQIA Research Award" that awards $1000 to undergraduate student researchers "who are conducting research in the areas of diversity or LGBTQQIA studies." 

The Office of Equity and Inclusion funds "Faculty Development Micro-Grants" that are "designed to promote professional and institutional development, expanding, and supporting the institutional values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging." Recipients receive up to a $500 award.

The School of Nursing received a $2.17 million grant from the US Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources and Services Administration "to increase workforce diversity among nurses in clinical and academic practice."

The Hofstra University Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program aims to empower "underrepresented students"  in science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM) programs or pre-licensure fields. They do it through the "Summer Transition Program, Academic Support Services, Student Academic Resources, Student Career Development, and Graduate School Preparation."

The New Opportunities at Hofstra Scholars Program (NOAH) provides "highly motivated and diverse students with access to higher education at one of the country's finest postsecondary institutions...." Participants "receive ongoing academic support, financial aid and educational enrichment opportunities throughout their time at Hofstra."

The Science and Technology Entry Program (STEP) at Hofstra is a "New York State Education Department grant designed to encourage underrepresented students [from middle school and high school] to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, math (STEM) and other licensed professions."

The director of Public Safety stated she is "implementing robust implicit bias training for officers, collecting and sharing traffic stop data to identify and reduce racial disparities... and recruiting in communities of color that resulted in the most diverse police recruit class in county history."

The library at Hofstra University has a number of resources on “Addressing Racism and Promoting Allyship” including videos, articles, and books like Dr. Robin DiAngelo’s “White Fragility” and Ibram X. Kendi’s “How to Be an Antiracist.”

On February 16, 2021, Hofstra University hosted Dr. Ibram X. Kendi for a discussion that focused on racial equity and anti-racism on college campuses.

On September 15, 2021, Hofstra University professor Kristal Zook presented her recent research on “the impacts of race and social justice on education, students, and faculty members.”

The Diversity Advisory Board at Hofstra University plans to “meet regularly to consider and discuss matters concerning diversity and student life.”

The University has a "Faculty Diversity Task Force" to help the University meet its goal of "individuals of diverse genders, colors, ethnicities, sexual orientations, religious beliefs, ages, learning and physical abilities, socioeconomic status, and marital status." The University states "Diversity among faculty also extends to the regions and cultures taught, researched, and represented."

The University provides resources on microaggressions, pronoun use, and diverse issues in higher education.

The University has a Diversity Advisory Board, which is "a group of diverse Hofstra student leaders representing a variety of backgrounds." The Board works to identify "ways to educate about diversity, advocate for marginalized people, and provide guidance as Hofstra addresses community issues."

The University hosted a "Faculty Diversity Research and Curriculum Development" grant lecture.

The University founded a Center for "Race," Culture, and Social Justice to promote "faculty scholarship and teaching on 'race' and social justice across the curriculum and foster an inclusive atmosphere among students, faculty, and the Hofstra community at large." The Center hosts a podcast, events a scholars program.

Hofstra states that "each school at Hofstra University has an independent DEI committee" and that "School-Based DEI Committees offer strategies to address DEI opportunities and challenges to align with institutional goals."

Hofstra offers the "Certificate in Inclusive Leadership Program" which is "designed to equip leaders in both the public and private sectors with evidence-based strategies to drive organizational transformation through Equity-Driven Leadership initiatives."

On October 23, 2024, Hofstra hosted an event titled "Day of Dialogue 2024: Staying Woke: The Case for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Why it Matters" which is described in part as follows: "This panel will focus on the growing national backlash against DEI, and why the vocal proponents of actively trying to equal the academic and workplace playing fields must address both the valid and baseless criticism coming from different directions."

On February 26, 2025, The Hofstra Chronicle reported that "despite the recent targeting of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs by President Donald Trump and his administration, Hofstra University’s Office of Equity and Inclusion plans to continue DEI efforts to serve the Hofstra community."

Hofstra University’s Equity & Inclusion policy “promotes an institutional culture that values and supports diversity, equity, and inclusion.”

The University has an approved "Diversity Mission Statement."

The Counseling & Mental Health Professions Department states it is committed "to recognizing, addressing, and eradicating all forms of racism" and "to engaging and collaborating with campus and community stakeholders to challenge racial injustice and oppression in all arenas, including institutional racism and implicit bias."

The University hosts "Identity Based Commencement Celebrations" including the "Graduates of Color Ceremony."