Lafayette College

On June 29, 2023, Lafayette's President issued a statement in response to the Supreme Court's ruling on affirmative action which reads as follows: "As an institution of education we must continue, with creativity, innovation, and fortitude, to attract and retain talent from every background and experience. Based upon our early review of the decision, we do not anticipate difficulty in adapting our approach to admissions evaluations as a result of the court’s decision because Lafayette has used a holistic approach for many years."

The goal of Lafayette's "Our Beloved Community" program (December 2023) is to "provide students from underrepresented groups and economically challenged backgrounds with a glimpse of what the College has to offer."

The college will "Provide an expanded program of anti-bias training for students, faculty, and staff, to be completed periodically to keep us all engaged in ongoing and up to date conversations about racism and racial injustice."

In 2021, Lafayette's President reported (as part of "Anti-racism at Lafayette: Our goals and progress") that the "DEI Council has requested that each division focus on goals related to additional training and education on racism and anti-black racism."

On January 14, 2021, Lafayette's President stated about her cabinet, "[We] as a group are participating in an ongoing intercultural competency assessment and workshop that we hope will enhance our personal and professional understanding of race, racism, and culture."

The Lafayette College Libraries 2021-2024 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Plan states that it would "[t]rain staff in diversity initiatives, cultural competency, and implicit bias."

"...the common course of study, which requires all students to take courses that include multicultural and global learning outcomes, is currently undergoing a faculty review and revision process that offers the opportunity to add a requirement for all students to learn about race and racism."

Many departments and majors at Lafayette College had “added courses on race and ethnicity to their curriculum.”

As part of its "Inclusion in the Curriculum" initiative (and Global and Multicultural learning outcomes), "[t]here are learning outcomes for all Lafayette graduates, as well as courses in multiple disciplines, that address aspects of diversity, inclusion, and social justice."

The Lafayette College Libraries 2021-2024 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Plan states that it would "[i]ncorporate inclusive teaching methods into classes" and recommends the following: "[W]hen selecting sample searches and materials for instruction, be intentional about including diverse voices."

"we will require anti-bias and anti-racism training for all faculty and staff to be completed this academic year and biannually thereafter."

The Hanson Center for Inclusive STEM is one of only two inclusive STEM education centers in the nation working to advance the practices of inclusion and equity in STEM.

The Biology Department Inclusion Committee at Lafayette College develops “programming, organizes events, and furthers discussion related to inclusion.”

The goal of the Spring 2024 "Systemic Inequalities in Health and Healthcare" program (hosted by the Hanson Center for Inclusive STEM Education) is to "enhance our understanding of systemic health disparities and to help us identify actions we can take, both individually and as a community, to address these injustices."

On February 17, 2024, Lafayette sponsored the "RAISE Up Inclusive STEM" retreat which aims to increase the number of underrepresented in STEM fields. RAISE is a "coalition of existing student STEM organizations and 'at large' members to help harness our shared missions and actions to enhance inclusive STEM education at Lafayette."

"...we will require training in unconscious bias and Safe Zone training for all Public Safety officers in July 2020 and update that training annually."

The college is hosting the "Expressions of Solidarity Against Racial Injustice: A Digital Collection" event, which "is an initiative for members of the Lafayette College community (including students, faculty, staff, and alumni) to share materials and experiences emerging from the calls for an anti-racist society."

Lafayette has provided resources for "promoting racial unity and equity and fighting racial prejudice, discrimination, and violence."

Lafayette College provides a number of tools for inclusive and anti-racist course design including “decolonizing the syllabus,” “social justice syllabus design tool,” and educators reflecting on their own pedagogical assumptions and biases.

The college will "Approve, as an exception to the current hiring freeze, the new position of Assistant Director for Student Support and Advocacy, to serve as a resource, advocate, and caseworker for a diverse population of students."

Lafayette has released a detailed list of its commitments and plans to promote antiracism initiatives.

In April 2021, the college hosted a "Microagressions Discussion."

Lafayette College is committed to anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion and believes that “it is not enough simply to bear witness to racism and acknowledge that it exists. As an educational institution, Lafayette College has a role to play in revealing and countering its effects.”

The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee “fosters understanding and alignment around diversity throughout campus and ensures diversity, equity, and inclusion are woven into the fabric of the College’s strategic plans and daily operations.”

Following the overturning of affirmative action by the Supreme Court, Lafayette College “has reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining a diverse campus.”