Diversifying Campus
What efforts did the University of Scranton make to help the issue of diversity and inclusivity on campus in the 1980-90s?
The University of Scranton has been growing since the late 1800’s. Although it is a highly esteemed Jesuit University in Scranton, Pennsylvania, it has struggled in recruiting diverse students. In a district with such a disproportionately white population, diversity and inclusion have historically not been a priority until recent years. Looking through the libraries digital archives and its plentiful databases, we rarely find any records pertaining to the conscious effort to increase student diversity showing until the late 1900’s. Prior to that time there were not many advertisements for clubs or events to promote equality.
Now, however, the quest to improve diversity is apparent. Right on the main page of my.scranton platform in the student life section, there is a description of how students are planning on drawing peoples attention to diversity on campus. The University of Scranton now makes the effort to advertise Events and Clubs related to diversity and inclusion in order to ultimately teach and learn more about other ethnicities and ensure everyone feels welcome and comfortable. This is another step Scranton takes towards a more inclusive campus here in Pennsylvania. The University established its archives to help current and future students understand where the diversity started and where it fully came into view in the university. Here at the University of Scranton we want everyone to feel welcome and accepted. We want to encourage each other to spread the teachings of diversity to expand our knowledge and beliefs, giving depth to our education.
Our website is dedicated to showing this evolution in prioritizing diversity at the University of Scranton, so that other students can see how the school has made new initiatives and efforts to welcome students from diverse backgrounds. Our research contains Letters written from Father Panuska and the multicultural center.