West Virginia State University

The university's General Education includes a set of learning objective which "become the basis of an exploration of human diversity" within the "learning outcomes for Gender and Identify in a Diverse Society." This involves courses where students "identify and describe the various forms of oppression" among various other learning outcomes.

The school states that "WVSU also offers three interdisciplinary minors that qualify as part of promoting diversity in education. These interdisciplinary minors are African and African-American Studies, International Studies, and Women’s Studies."

The school states that "the University also provides certificate programs that promote diversity. These certificates include Human Diversity, Diversity Literature, and Interpersonal and Group Communications."

The Bachelor of Arts in History program calls upon students to "demonstrate understanding of the racial and cultural diversity of the human experience as influenced by geography, culture, race, ethnicity, gender, and class."

The university states that "the next president of WVSU must pursue diversity in its own workforce." Furthermore, "The matter of a less diverse faculty and staff requires attention. The creation of a plan for greater diversity and inclusion of faculty and staff will require the next president’s leadership. The regeneration of a greater sense of community and internal openness must be developed."

Faculty candidates are asked a number of questions related to "diversity and inclusion" including the following: "Please describe how you would work to create a campus environment that is welcoming, inclusive, and increasingly diverse," "What is your definition of diversity?", " How do you encourage people to honor the uniqueness of each individual?", "How do you challenge stereotypes and promote sensitivity and inclusion?" and "Has diversity played a role in shaping your teaching and/or advising styles?  If so, how?" among others.

Before interviewing candidates, faculty are encouraged to "familiarize [themselves] with the types of interviewer bias and how to eliminate them."

The University received "a $210,000 two-year grant from the U.S. Department of Education to help carry out programs to strengthen and improve undergraduate instruction in international studies and foreign languages in West Virginia." It stated that the grant "boosts our state’s economy and the academic quality and cultural diversity of our campuses."

The University was awarded a $500 grant from West Virginia American Water’s Inclusion and Diversity Grant Program. The grant "provides funding for programming... surrounding conversations of inclusion and diversity in the area."

The West Virginia State University Race Relations aims to "promote, encourage, and support the study and understanding of, and exchange information about race relations between and among people, communities across the spectrum."

The West Virginia Media Diversity Fellowship is a "one-year, paid media fellowship program" created by the University along with the West Virginia Public Broadcasting. The fellowship "enables minority students to work alongside experienced, award-winning reporters, producers and other media professionals to 'tell West Virginia’s story,' including the state’s rich and diverse ethnic history."

The National Center of Human Relations (NCHR) "works to remove barriers from and build bridges to communication, understanding, and cooperation among people, groups, and institutions with a special focus on issues of human diversity and race relations."

The University held a "Community Conversation about Diversity, Equity and Inclusion" event.

WVSU states that inclusion is one of its values.

The university states that the community is committed to "preservation of the racial and cultural diversity of the institution."

Along with the Martin Luther King, Jr. State Holiday Commission, the University hosted its "annual Celebration of Diversity." The University's President Anthony L. Jenkins was the keynote speaker. 

The University's Education Program was "recognized for promoting diversity." The University was recognized for enrolling "a cohort of future teachers that is both more racially diverse than the current teacher workforce in their state and reflects the racial diversity of their local community."

The University was honored by Minority Access, Inc., for its commitment to diversity. The award was recognized the school's "commitment to enriching the lives of students and contributing to the strength of our nation, stressing that diversity is essential."