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Oglethorpe University

Undergraduate School

Mailing Address
4484 Peachtree Rd NE
Atlanta, Georgia 30319
Phone
(404) 364-8307
Email address
admission@oglethorpe.edu
School Information
"Founded in 1835, Oglethorpe University unites a close-knit campus community with big-city culture and opportunities. Today, Oglethorpe enrolls 1,452 students, representing 31 states and 22 countries" (Source: https://oglethorpe.edu/about/). Oglethorpe hosts a student to faculty ratio of 15 to 1. Its liberal arts campus is 100 acres large and welcomes 65 faculty members.
General Information
Oglethorpe created a DEI Task Force and appointed a president of DEI. Additionally, the university holds events related to DEI and also offers "training resources" to the campus community. See developments below:

Actions Taken

Admissions Policies
  • Starting during the 2021 admissions cycle, Oglethorpe adopted a test-optional policy for applicants, citing testing challenges due to COVID-19 and "the systemic issues of equity inherent in a reliance on standardized testing."
Anti-Racism, Bias, and Diversity Training
  • In July 2020, Oglethorpe created a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Task Force which will "work closely with Campus Life to audit current training resources for the upcoming semester and work to bring continuous diversity education to the Oglethorpe Community."
Resources
  • Oglethorpe hosts numerous events for DEI, including Friday Forums on Racial Injustice.
  • Oglethorpe appointed a President of DEI on February 9, 2021.
  • On April 20, 2021, Oglethorpe released a statement saying, "Almost a year ago, the murder of George Floyd sparked an intense period of increased awareness and discussion about the crisis of race-based, specifically anti-Black, violence in America. We are still in a period of turmoil, as evidenced by the recent killings of Adam Toledo and Daunte Wright and the palpable tensions associated with testimony in the Derek Chauvin trial. At this moment, we, as senior leaders of Oglethorpe University, want to affirm our unwavering commitment to advancing racial equity and social justice." Alongside this statement, the university provided a related resource list.
  • In February, 2021, Dr. Laura RenĂ©e Chandler was selected to be the inaugural Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Oglethorpe.
  • Oglethorpe offers campus resources related to DEI, including access to "How to Be an Antiracist" by Ibram X. Kendi and "White Fragility" by Robin J. DiAngelo.
  • Oglethorpe has a Social Democrats club that serves to "push forward, not candidates, but socialist ideas and works." Its main values include being "anti-capitalism, anti-racism, and pro-feminism."
Symbolic Actions
  • An account was created by "marginalized community members" on Instagram. This account vocalized a desire to address "systemic oppression" and "white supremacy" within the school.
  • On June 1, 2020, Oglethorpe released a statement saying, "It is with great humility and sadness that we reach out to you as protests unfold in the aftermath of the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery. These senseless deaths and the continued crisis of racism-fueled violence in America has caused immeasurable suffering and pain."
Last updated July 31st, 2022
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