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SUNY Geneseo

Undergraduate School

Mailing Address
1 College Circle
Geneseo, New York 14454
Phone
(585) 245-5000
Email address
admissions@geneseo.edu
School Information
"Founded in 1871, Geneseo is a premier public liberal arts college. Nationally recognized for excellence and value in the liberal arts, Geneseo is known for its exceptional faculty, its welcoming atmosphere, and its reputation for producing successful alumni Located on 220 acres in the historic Village of Geneseo, and a short drive from Rochester and Buffalo, Geneseo offers a warm environment for learning and discovery. The campus embodies the classic aesthetic of Northeastern colleges with brick walkways, shade trees, and ivy-draped buildings." The university enrolls over 5,500 students, has an 18:1 student-faculty ratio, and offers 50 undergrduate degree programs and 25 interdisciplinary minors. (Source: https://www.geneseo.edu/about)
General Information
SUNY Geneseo launched its “Becoming an Anti-Racist College” project. Additionally, the university announced in 2020 that it is revamping its admissions review process, including "modifying our standardized testing requirements and financial aid awarding process to address bias, promote racial equity." Furthermore, as part of its 2016 Diversity Strategic Plan, the university developed "cultural competency programming for all employees." See developments below:

Actions Taken

Admissions Policies
  • Financial Aid and Admissions procedures will be modified to account for “bias.”
  • The university is revamping its admissions review process, including "modifying our standardized testing requirements and financial aid awarding process to address bias, promote racial equity."
  • On June 29, 2023, SUNY’s Chancellor and Board of Trustees issued a statement in response to the Supreme Court’s decision on race conscious admissions which reads in part as follows: “Today, the US Supreme Court attempted to pull our nation backwards in the journey toward equity and civil rights with an egregious ruling that will have serious impacts on students and families seeking the American dream of opportunity through higher education...Today’s decision threatens to undermine what progress has been made, by throwing up roadblocks and barriers when what’s needed are better paths and bridges...At SUNY, our resolve to provide opportunity for all has never been stronger. The commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion will continue to be a factor in every goal we pursue, every program we create, every policy we promulgate, and every decision we make."
Anti-Racism, Bias, and Diversity Training
  • As part of the Office of Diversity and Equity's October 2023 update, the Office reported that a "group of about 20 participants from various areas of the campus will participate in a Racial Healing Circle and a Circle facilitation training, and engage in preliminary conversations about how to roll out this methodology at Geneseo."
  • As part of the Office of Diversity and Equity, the Diversity and Inclusion Community Educator group is comprised of "passionate student changemakers trained in dialogue facilitation about diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, belonging, and social justice concepts" and "facilitate[s] request-based workshops...."
Curriculum Changes and Requirements
  • The Department of Communication committed to "providing educational resources about social awareness by integrating social injustice related topics into our curriculum and offering courses that highlight antiracism practices and IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility) efforts."
  • As part of its "Commitment to Anti-racism" statement, the Sociology Department states that its "curriculum is, almost by its very nature, infused with understanding how race and racism pervade nearly all aspects of society."
  • According to the Office of Diversity and Equity, the Academic Affairs Department has "increased and highlighted racial justice and antiracism in the curriculum by developing new coursework focused on antiracism and racial justice." Additionally, "[s]everal departments are also incorporating antiracism throughout their curriculum rather than in selected courses," and the "revised curriculum includes a requirement for antiracist curricular development and a new general education program."
Disciplinary Measures
  • Geneseo outlines its protocol for reporting bias incidents and states, "In the event that you experience or witness an incident that may be rooted in bias, you may choose to report it through the bias-related incident reporting form."
Faculty/Staff Requirements
  • The Fraser Hall Library will educate itself "to develop cross-cultural awareness and sensitivity."
  • As part of its Diversity Strategic Plan, the university will, "Develop cultural competency programming for all employees."
  • As part of its Diversity Strategic Plan, the university will, "Provide training on unconscious bias to hiring managers, search committees and personnel committees."
  • The Office of Diversity and Equity states that "individuals interested in serving on search committees are required to attend the session [Equity-Minded Search Practices] every two years."
  • Geneseo's Affirmative Action and Search Committee Policy reads as follows: "Procedures are intended to ensure a consistency of policy and practice within Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action requirements, and include training to reduce implicit bias in recruitment, screening, and selection of applicants." This policy "advances SUNY Geneseo's institutional objective to recruit and retain candidates that exhibit a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion."
Program and Research Funding
  • The Real World Geneseo program "[explores] issues related to power, privilege, social class, gender, ethnicity and race, sexual orientation, religious differences, age, and physical/mental ability...." The program includes a three-day retreat and a full semester course in the spring.
  • Geneseo's Intergroup Dialogue Program "is composed of classes that engage students across identities such as race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, and class to explore topics of identity and social justice through dialogue and dialogue facilitation training."
Re-Imagining Policing
  • The Office of Diversity and Equity reported that the "entire University Police Department" (in addition to several other university divisions) participated in the "21-Day Racial Equity Challenge sponsored by the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce and United Way of Greater Rochester." This initiative "allowed participants to deepen their understanding of and willingness to confront racism, bias, and other social inequities."
Resources
  • “Becoming an Anti-Racist College” project was launched. Project will feature a “Cultural Harmony Week”, as well as a “Diversity Summit”.
  • The Department of Communication has established an Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA) Committee
  • Fraser Hall Library will, "Incorporate inclusive pedagogy when teaching information literacy and research skills so all members of the SUNY Geneseo community can create knowledge."
  • The SUNY Geneseo Diversity Summit is being held on February 27, 2024, which is a "full day of diversity-focused sessions hosted by members of the College community." The theme of the Summit is titled “Taking Action: Advancing Equity at Geneseo.”
  • In September 2023, the Office of Diversity and Equity announced that it is looking for students, staff, and faculty to join the Commission on Diversity and Community which is a "meaningful way to contribute to diversity, equity, belonging, and antiracism efforts on campus."
  • The Anti-Racism and DEI Education Committee at Geneseo "[examines] current personal and professional development opportunities related to cultural competency and antiracism, make[s] recommendations regarding new educational programs, and coordinate[s] a center for educational resources & materials."
Symbolic Actions
  • The Psychology Department's "Statement on Social Justice and Anti-racism" reads in part as follows: "In recognition of the realities of systemic racism and the historical/ongoing harm to BIPOC members of our community, members of the psychology department have come together to form a social justice working group. This work aligns with the college-wide work of becoming an anti-racist college. Our working group goals are to promote awareness, cultural humility, social justice, and accountability through learning and taking action, as individuals and in our disciplines and communities."
  • The Sociology Department issued a "Commitment to Anti-racism" statement which reads in part as follows: "As sociologists we know how racism, from everyday interactions to institutional structures, harms people of color in our society. As the sociology department, we are not immune to the effects of racialized structures and systems and should be setting the standard for both self-reflection, action, and change. We acknowledge that - individually and collectively - we can always do more to confront and challenge racism in practice."
  • The Office of Diversity and Equity reported that "[s]tudents are working with the Office of Student Life to create memorial artwork dedicated to victims of racial violence and injustice."
Last updated March 26th, 2024
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