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McPherson College

Undergraduate School

Mailing Address
1600 E. Euclid
McPherson, Kansas 67460
Phone
(800) 365-7402
Email address
admiss@mcpherson.edu
School Information
"Founded in 1887, McPherson College is a four-year liberal arts college related to the Church of the Brethren. The beautiful 27-acre campus is set in McPherson, a town of 13,000 that is one of the top 100 small towns in the U.S., with a strong diversified economic base, located in central Kansas 50 miles north of Wichita. The college has a primarily residential student body of approximately 800 from 33 states and 6 foreign countries providing a diverse and welcoming community. McPherson College offers over 30 areas of study including pre-professional programs and the unique option to create a student-designed major allow students to combine select courses throughout the curriculum to meet their specific personal and professional goals" (Source: https://www.mcpherson.edu/about/). The student to faculty ratio is 15 to 1.
General Information
McPherson joined the Liberal Arts College Racial Equity Leadership Alliance in 2020. The college has also announced that it plans on instituting further diversity and inclusion training. All student leaders undergo diversity and inclusion training. See developments below:

Actions Taken

Anti-Racism, Bias, and Diversity Training
  • On June 1, 2020, the school released a statement responding to the deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor, saying, "the events of the last several days are a stark reminder of the importance of our work to end racism. We are committed to do better as a campus by continuing our work with the Kansas Leadership Center to ensure a more inclusive culture through meaningful dialogue, training, and new initiatives. We will continue to support diversity and inclusion training for all student leaders and any interested student through the Student Government Association."
Curriculum Changes and Requirements
  • The Health and Sport Science Program states that its students "will be ready to embrace inclusivity, equality, and equity to encourage diversity in the allied health and sport professions and society."
  • As part of the General Education Foundation Course Requirements at McPherson, all students are required to complete 3 hours of a course in diverse cultures.
Program and Research Funding
  • McPherson offers Chicago Center programs which provide an "emphasis on 'hands-on' experience" that "helps students deepen their understanding of America's economic and political structures, race and gender relations, and the role of the arts in community and social discourse."
  • McPherson College’s Health and Sport Science Program is committed to Diversity as its department goal to promote diversity and inclusion and increase student’s awareness of the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion.
  • The Department of Student Affairs at McPherson provides diversity and inclusion programming for its student body.
  • On October 3, 2023, the school’s Community by Design Strategic Memo explained that it will “partner with the Kansas Leadership Center and local corporations to launch a greater McPherson community equity and inclusion campaign.”
Resources
  • On June 10, 2020, the school decided that "diversity and inclusion plans for next year will shift to focus on anti-racism as well as broader engagement within the student body."
  • The college provided anti-racist resources specifically for white people.
  • As part of the Strategic Plan, Community by Design 2.0 2024-2034, McPherson College is committed to “a daily culture that embraces diversity, equity, and inclusion.“
  • The third strategic initiative towards inclusion from McPherson’s 2024-2034 Strategic Plan is committing to a 75% Race and Equity Center Score through multiple campus and community inclusion projects.
  • For the ninth year, McPherson College was named as one of the 2023 Great Colleges to Work For with an Honor Roll Distinction from the Chronicle of Higher Education, being recognized in six categories including its commitment and efforts towards diversity, inclusion, and belonging.
  • In 2023, as part of the Liberal Arts Colleges Racial Equity Leadership Alliance (LACRELA), McPherson College has participated in numerous campus surveys over the last three years on racial equity to promote work towards racial diversity, equity, and inclusion on campus.
Symbolic Actions
  • On November 18, 2020, the college announced that it has joined the Liberal Arts College Racial Equity Leadership Alliance after working with USC's Race and Equity Center.
  • On June 18, 2020, the school hosted a zoom campus forum where McPherson "made it clear that we recognize there is a lot going on in the world and we stand firmly against racism."
  • On December 21, 2020, McPherson announced that it will appoint a new V.P. for Student Affairs. Meyer, the newly appointed V.P., has provided "diversity training" throughout her professional career.
  • McPherson College hired Sarah Wood as the Director of Student Life in the Student Affairs Office where she will be supporting students through working on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
Last updated August 2nd, 2024
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