Saint Louis University

Moved to a test optional admission process for all undergraduate students as part of a three-year pilot program (as part of its expanded diversity efforts).

Black Alumni Association at SLU "assists the University in its recruitment and retention efforts of minority students, helping to create a student population that is racially and ethnically diverse."

On June 29, 2023, in response to the Supreme Court's ruling on affirmative action, SLU's President and Provost released a statement which reads in part as follows: "As we review this decision and reflect on the disappointment and pain it may cause, we return to the heart of our mission...We are analyzing today’s ruling carefully and will ensure that our practices align with the law. We also remain resolute in our commitment to SLU’s Catholic, Jesuit values – and in our commitment to creating an inclusive and equitable University...Each year for the past three years, we have admitted first-year undergraduate classes that are the most diverse in SLU’s history – in terms of many factors, including race...We have achieved these outcomes using evidence-based strategies and without using the race conscious admissions practices that today’s ruling restricts."

Mandated all Vice-Presidents and Deans participate in Crossroads Anti-Bias, AntiRacist Education workshop.

The Office of Institutional Equity and Diversity at SLU offers "trainings on the equal opportunity and harassment policies, as well as programs on diversity and inclusion."

The Diversity and Inclusion Webinar Series is a "year-long multi-part series examining whiteness, anti-blackness, and anti-racism in society" in order to achieve "social justice and racial equality through the promotion of diversity, equity, and inclusion." One of the topics discussed is titled, "Navigating White Spaces: A Personal and Professional Dialogue."

One of the goals of SLU's Belonging at SLU Committee is to "[i]ncrease educational and professional development opportunities that foster a sense of belonging through teaching, learning and inclusive classrooms."

Students must complete one three-hour course from the Diversity in the U.S. list and one three-hour course from the Global Citizenship list.

SLU states the following regarding diversity-related majors and minors: "At SLU, many academic departments and programs offer courses that fulfill U.S. and global diversity requirements. Additionally, we offer a number of undergraduate majors and minors, as well as graduate programs, in the areas of diversity, social justice, multicultural learning and service leadership..."

SLU describes its "Global and Local Social Justice, Minor" as follows: "In order to address fundamental social problems such as poverty, injustice or war meaningfully, students must understand the social and political systems that contribute to them causally and the cultural environments in which they occur." (2022-2023 Catalog)

The Office of Institutional Equity and Diversity outlines its "Bias-Related Incident Protocol" in order to "provide a caring, effective, and uniform response to any member of the SLU community who reports a hate crime or bias-related incident, or who is the victim of a hate crime or bias-related incident."

As part of "Events Planned to Commemorate Occupy SLU Anniversary," the university is having a "So You Think You're An Activist: Activism 101" event, where participants will "learn how to commit to anti-racism efforts, be comfortable in your discomfort, and amplify your voice and those of others."

University invested $1.7 million into the “Institute for Healing Justice and Equity”.

SLU’s Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship is an "academic award offered to students who have demonstrated leadership as agents of change or influence within their school and/or community activities."

The "Pioneers of Inclusion Scholarship" at SLU supports "...high-achieving, first-generation college student[s] from a historically underrepresented population in U.S. higher education."

The mission of SLU's Cross Cultural Center for Global Citizenship is "to promote multicultural awareness and education, provide support services to historically underrepresented and marginalized student populations and help you develop into a critically reflective and socially just leader."

The Department of Campus Ministry curated "Prayer Resources Addressing Racism," which include Ibram X. Kendi's "How to Be an Antiracist" and Robin DiAngelo's "White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk about Racism."

The university's Cross Cultural Center provides "co-curricular and educational experiences that broaden knowledge of multiculturalism and social justice." It's been described by its director as "a consulting and programmatic space focused on fostering diversity, equity and inclusion on campus."

The university's Division of Diversity and Innovative Community Engagement provided a "Defining DEI" guide that contains "definitions of common terms around diversity, equity and inclusion."

The university held a "virtual symposium entitled 'Reimagining Public Health in a Post-Pandemic Era'" that accepted submissions on "Fostering a social justice and anti-racist lens for public health" (among other topics).

In 2021, SLU published an article titled "Missourians Disagree with Allowing the Teaching of Critical Race Theory, but Remain Unsure About Teaching Institutional Racism." The article summarizes the poll's findings as follows: "In the SLU/YouGov Poll we asked half of our sample of Missouri’s likely voters if they agree schools should be allowed to teach CRT. 51% of likely voters indicated they disagree when explicitly asked about teaching CRT, 37% indicated agreement, and 12% indicated they are unsure (margin of error ± 5.8%). We asked the other half of respondents if they agree schools should be allowed to teach about societal and institutional racism. 48% of likely voters indicated agreement, 38% indicated disagreement, and 14% indicated they were unsure (margin of error ± 6.0%)."

#OccupySLU "emphasizes the racial and economic injustices of marginalized and brutalized human being and communities, which, in turn, brought awareness about people, especially Black human beings, who wouldn’t otherwise be recognized by others that are living under far different realities — the pain and social ills that were at the center of the protesters concerns."

SLU has an "Oath of Inclusion" which was created by a student-led initiative. The Oath states, "I will embrace people for the diversity of their identities, creating a community inclusive of race, ethnicity, sex, age, ability, faith, orientation, gender, class and ideology" and "I will work for social justice in the Saint Louis community and beyond." (It is not clear whether or not this oath is required of all students at SLU.)

The College for Public Health and Social Justice at SLU is a "mission-driven academic community where teaching, research and service foster the growth of a more just and equitable society at home and around the world."

SLU's Faculty Equity Office "aims to create inclusive excellence in faculty climate, well-being, policy and practices."

Hosted Ibrahim X. Kendi, author of How To Be An Anti-Racist, as keynote speaker for its 2020 Social Justice Lecture.

The College of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate DEI Champion Award at SLU is "given to recognize a graduating senior in the college who has made significant contributions to advancing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in areas including (but not limited to) race and ethnicity...."