Stony Brook University

On June 30, 2023, Stony Brook's President issued a statement in response to the Supreme Court's ruling on affirmative action which reads in part as follows: "Our commitment to advancing opportunities for our students does not change because of the Court’s decision and in fact, it fuels the need to do more, to do better. Stony Brook and SUNY are studying the ruling closely, and while it will take some time to fully assess the Court’s findings, we will comply with our legal obligations...Together we will continue to welcome students from all backgrounds to embrace the exceptional opportunities offered by Stony Brook University, New York’s flagship public university. Today and always, we must deliver on our values of celebrating diversity and promoting mutual respect and understanding."

Stony Brook University Libraries’ Anti-racism Task Force also has a goal to “create interactive forums such as seminars and workshops that engage the community in understanding the deep structures of racism.”

The school crafted the Stony Brook University Plan for Equity, Inclusion and Diversity. One of the goals was to “require all new students to attend a one-hour course on diversity and a one-hour course on gender during opening weekend.”

The Social Justice League Certificate Program is for "undergraduate students interested in enhancing their skills in diversity, social justice, and leadership." The sessions focus on "[c]ulture, privilege and oppression and how they relate to diversity and social justice."

As part of the Stony Brook University Plan for Equity, Inclusion and Diversity, the school will “incorporate diversity and inclusion topics in Undergraduate College programming and offer at least one option that covers the topic in the 102 curriculum” and also “strengthen the current cultural competency component of the 101 course.”

The school will “explore ways to institute a college-level requirement for a diversity awareness course (e.g., broaden CAS efforts to other schools)” as part of the Stony Brook University Plan for Equity, Inclusion and Diversity.

The Stony Brook University Plan for Equity, Inclusion and Diversity outlined numerous goals related to “enhanced recruitment and retention.” One such goal was to “train admissions staff at individual college level in concepts of hidden bias.”

As part of the Stony Brook University Plan for Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity, the school set a goal to “incorporate implicit bias awareness concepts in the mandatory training for members of search committees and, where possible, require that qualified candidates from historically underrepresented populations be included in interview pools.”

Another goal is to “provide training pertaining to recognizing implicit bias in the classroom for faculty and revise end of semester surveys to include bias concepts in the evaluations” within the Stony Brook University Plan for Equity, Inclusion and Diversity.

The Stony Brook University Plan for Equity, Inclusion and Diversity indicates that the school will “continue to provide partial funding for the appointment of visiting or permanent faculty who would enrich diversity at the institution on an as-needed basis and as funding allows.”

The Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) program at Stony Brook "is designed to increase the numbers of traditionally underrepresented minority students who pursue degrees in STEM majors...."

Stony Brook University Libraries’ Anti-racism Task Force will “create a lively website of materials relevant to understanding and combating racism and discrimination.”

Stony Brook’s Center for Civic Justice has a website which breaks down step by step instructions on the topic of “Becoming an Anti-Racist.”

Stony Brook has a site which lists “anti-racism resources with AAPI focus.”

The School of Social Welfare offers “resources for allies and advocates to deepen our anti-racism work.”

Stony Brook offers an option to take the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging course.

On April 21, 2022, the Humanities Institute hosted "Critical Race Theory Panel Discussions" which was a "two-day event on Critical Race Studies at Stony Brook featuring leading scholars and a round table discussions addressing scholarship and local activism."

Kadji Amin is an Assistant Professor of Queer Studies at Stony Brook whose research and teaching interests include "Queer and Sexuality Studies, Critical Race Studies, Transgender Studies, feminist theory, French and Francophone Postcolonial Studies." 

SBU lists all of its schools and non-academic units that have diversity committees and states, "Every school, college and campus unit created a diversity, equity and inclusion strategic plan addressing its unique local needs and opportunities."

Stony Brook University Libraries’ Anti-racism Task Force was formed in 2020 after the death of George Floyd. The Anti-racism Task Force has a goal to “improve library’s online collections addressing racism perpetrated against underrepresented communities, specifically, the African American community in the context of the Black Lives Matter movement.”

The Department of Finance and Administration issued a statement in support of Critical Race Theory which reads in part as follows: "The theory shows patterns of discrimination against marginalized communities, over hundreds of years, that are still happening today. These patterns include school segregation, gerrymandering, voter suppression, and incarcerating black people at exponentially higher numbers than non-black people for equal crimes...Many critics fear CRT is putting undue burden on white students, causing them discomfort and guilt. However, it is not CRT principles that are being taught; only history where racism may be mentioned to explain the violence toward indigenous people and the enslavement of African-Americans."

Stony Brook's 2023 Strategic Plan states that it "strives to eliminate health inequities by improving health outcomes and closing any gaps in healthcare disparities that have been rooted in historical injustices, biases and discrimination."