Southwestern University

The Justice, Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion Center offers a "Dimensions of Diversity Certificate Program" which is a five-week series that introduces "different dimensions of diversity and inclusion and will discuss how to address systemic forms of social inequities."

SU has published a progress report/list in response to the Black Student Union's diversity, inclusion, belonging, and equity proposals of February 2023, which includes the following item: "Students taking an FYS or AES class will be required to attend the module 'The Return of the JEDI–Learning how to build inclusive environments' during Welcome Week. The module discusses how Southwestern is home to people of countless cultures and identities."

SU has published a progress report/list in response to the Black Student Union's diversity, inclusion, belonging, and equity proposals of February 2023, which includes the following item: "In summer 2023, all incoming students were asked to complete online education prior to Sprog, called 'Personal Skills for a Diverse Campus'. Although it was not required, 84% of incoming students completed the course. Beginning in summer 2024, it will be required."

The Justice, Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion Center offers several diversity and social justice workshops throughout the year including workshops on "Cultural Competency," "Microaggressions," and "White fragility."

Southwestern's 2021-2026 "Tactical Plan" states that the university would "[d]evelop more robust professional development and antiracist training programs for staff as well as faculty."

As part of SU's 2023-2025 Course Catalog, the Communication Studies Department describes its program in part as follows: "Students learn a variety of critical and cultural methodologies for the qualitative analysis of communication, including approaches located in rhetorical theory, feminist theory, critical race theory, queer theory, critical media studies, and cultural studies. The Communication Studies Department thus provides students with a strong critical and theoretical understanding of the ways in which social reality is constructed, perpetuated, and challenged through communication."

In describing its curriculum (as part of SU's 2023-2025 Course Catalog), SU states that it "requires all students to complete one course that provides them an opportunity to understand how difference is used in the maintenance of structures of power (e.g. institutions, discourses, etc.) and inequality, as well as the activism in which people engage to promote social justice."

SU has published a progress report/list in response to the Black Student Union's diversity, inclusion, belonging, and equity proposals of February 2023, which includes the following item: "Although not a student request, the University will offer rewards for students who come forward with information identifying persons responsible for bias incidents."

SU outlines its bias incident reporting protocol and states the following: "Report incidents of bias that you have experienced or seen in order for the staff to address concerns as quickly as possible. Submissions are received by the Director of Student Inclusion and Diversity."

SU has published a progress report/list in response to the Black Student Union's diversity, inclusion, belonging, and equity proposals of February 2023, which includes the following item: "For faculty hires, diversity training is required for all search committee members. This has been successfully implemented for all 11 ongoing search committees."

The Diversity, Inclusion, Belonging, and Equity Committee provides funding opportunities to all campus departments, organizations, etc. in order "to increase the quantity and quality of programming that demonstrates different aspects of diversity to the university community."

The Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) center at SU "strive[s] to elevate the voices of underrepresented populations of historically marginalized individuals and cultivate[s] a community of belonging." Additionally, the center "creates diverse, equitable, and inclusive environments through quality education, robust research, and community building."

The Race and Ethnicity Studies program lists a course called "COM75-454 Race, Ethnicity, and Communication," which "introduces critical race theory as it applies to the study of communication. In particular, it explores the intersection of race/ethnicity, communication and media as it relates to issues of social justice and identity in America. These explorations shed light on the historical formation of racial and ethnic identities and their current social and personal relevance. The course integrates questions of identity with those of justice, economics and law, and will require a strong commitment to tolerance and self-reflection. Contributes to Race and Ethnicity Studies."

The Race and Ethnicity Studies Program at SU "offers a minor designed to examine race and ethnicity as categories of difference and as forms of lived experience..." and "develops a critical awareness of colonial and Eurocentric influences on both the construction of these categories and the scholarly discourse about them."

The Justice, Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion Center provides "educational awareness resources" on the topic of racism and bias which includes an antiracist reading list compiled by Ibram X. Kendi and "White Fragility" by Robin DiAngelo.

As part of its staffing priorities, the 2021-2026 "Tactical Plan" states that the university would "[hire] a Diversity Education Coordinator" and a "Diversity and Inclusion Pedagogy Specialist."

According to the Office of Institutional Research, "Southwestern University participated as a member of the Liberal Arts College Racial Equity Leadership Alliance (LACRELA)." (It is unclear if the university is currently still a member of LACRELA.)

The purpose of JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) student organizations at Southwestern University is to "challenge systems of oppression" by educating the "greater community on issues of social justice and diversity."

The Education Department released a "Racial Injustice Statement."