The Saint Anselm College Statement on Inclusiveness, Statement on Inclusiveness and Sexual Orientation and Nondiscrimination Policy all highlight the institution's commitment to diversity and inclusion. However, transforming an institution requires more than words, good will, and good intentions.
The President's Committee on Diversity and Inclusiveness is a dedicated group of faculty, staff and students who aid the Saint Anselm community in outlining and achieving its strategic, diversity goals. Beyond this committee, people across the college have been diligently working to support inclusive efforts. The addition of an inclusive component to the New Student Orientation Program, creation of a Sexual Orientation Task Force and assessment initiatives, such as the Campus Climate Survey, are important milestones on this journey.
In order to realize our mission as a Catholic, Benedictine, liberal arts college, Saint Anselm College is committed to sustaining an intentionally inclusive environment that will benefit all constituencies. In particular, the college is committed to providing students with the richest opportunities to learn, both in the classroom and within the environment of the college community as a whole.
We accomplish this, in part, by fostering understanding, experience, and appreciation of the world's diversity through the academic curriculum, with its spirit of scholarly inquiry and respectful discourse; through a variety of service, co-curricular, religious, and academic activities and support mechanisms; and through the different perspectives and backgrounds of the members of our community.
Committed to our Catholic mission, Saint Anselm College aspires to bring together a faculty, staff, and student body that enhances this educational endeavor with diverse scholarly interests, ideas, beliefs, experience, talents, and racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
President's Committee on Diversity and Inclusiveness
The President's Committee on Diversity and Inclusiveness will work closely with the president and the cabinet to foster and direct progress toward institution-wide inclusiveness.
Its charge will include, but will not be limited to, the following:
- Maintain the institutional focus on inclusiveness as a high priority goal.
- Coordinate campus climate assessment.
- Regularly monitor and report on institutional progress toward inclusiveness goals.
- Plan and oversee institution-wide education and training on inclusiveness.
- Initiate specific proposals to the president regarding inclusiveness.
- Assist the college to maintain ongoing communication with all its constituencies regarding progress toward inclusiveness.
- Assist the College in formulating strategies to identify, recruit, and retain an inclusive, multi-cultural, and diverse student body.
- Ande Diaz (Chief Diversity Officer), Chair
- David Banach (Philosophy)
- Jane Bjerklie-Barry (International Programs)
- Wayne Currie (Intercultural Center)
- Kelly Demers (Education)
- Susan Gabert (Campus Ministry)
- Annee Giard (College Communications & Marketing)
- Sarah Maynard (Sociology)
- Molly McKean (Human Resources)
- Diana Sherman (Education)
- Marilu Torres-McCamby (Admission)
- Susan Weintraub (Residential Life)
The first Campus Climate Assessment was conducted in 2007. Since that time, assessments have been completed in 2012, 2016 and 2020. The assessments measured specifically four areas among students, faculty and staff at Saint Anselm College: their attitudes and behaviors toward multiculturalism; the campus climate for diversity; the experiences of diverse subgroups; and how well Saint Anselm College has achieved a welcoming environment. The 2012 assessment indicates significant advances among students, faculty, and staff toward greater awareness and tolerance of diversity, as well as more desire for a welcome, inclusive environment and more sense that the college had made progress in that direction.
The hallmark of inclusiveness is open and honest dialogue. All members of the college community are encouraged to read the report, discuss it, and to communicate their thoughts, concerns, and recommendations to the members of the President's Steering Committee on Diversity and Inclusiveness, or to send an e-mail to Ande Diaz Chair of the Steering Committee.
The full report is available on the College Portal, MyAnselm. Once you log on, you can access the report in the Inclusiveness section of the portal.
Core Council
The Core Council acts as a resource to the Chief Student Affairs Officer in identifying the ongoing needs of LGBTQ students and assist in implementing campus-wide educational programming regarding these matters.
Religious Diversity
Saint Anselm College's Benedictine heritage embraces the search for meaning that is at the heart of the human journey. The identities & practices of people of all faith backgrounds (as well as those who do not identify religiously) are deepened through open & honest dialogue and interaction with one another.
We welcome all persons, and it is because of our Catholic identity that we make this a priority. In Nostra Aetate, we are reminded, "One is the community of all peoples, one their origin, for God made the whole human race to live over the face of the earth." Indeed, Pope Francis echoed this in his October 15, 2015 homily, saying, "Beware of those who limit God's horizons and reduce the love of God down to our size."
As part of our mission as a college, we believe that we have a professional, social, and civic responsibility to our students and community to educate the entire person, which includes interreligious dialogue, understanding, and cooperation. Dialogue and Proclamation reminds us that "[The Catholic Church] is invited by the spirit to encourage all religious institutions and movements to meet, to enter into collaboration, and to purify themselves in order to promote truth and live, holiness, justice, love and peace, dimensions of that Kingdom which, at the end of time, Christ will hand over to his Father (cf. 1 Co 15:24). Thus, interreligious dialogue is truly part of the dialogue of salvation initiated by God."
The Office of Campus Ministry is a space for seekers of all faiths, and all are invited to explore questions of truth and meaning during their time on the Hilltop. Staff and resources are available for all, as are events. We sponsor numerous campus-wide opportunities for interreligious engagement, ranging from memorial and prayer services to interfaith dialogue events, often with our student-led Muslim Student Association, as well as InterVarsity Christian Fellowship and Orthodox Christian Fellowship.
Faithful Anselmians of all traditions participate in Campus RENEW (weekly faith-sharing groups), Bible study groups, Road for Hope (a 130 mile pilgrimage in August of each year), and Urban Immersion plus Service & Solidarity service trips. Exploration of one's interior life through mindfulness meditation or spiritual direction is also available. Those looking for a particular faith community may also participate in off-campus prayer or worship opportunities at nearby churches, synagogues, temples or mosques, though our campus Masses are open to all, regardless of religious tradition. For more information, contact Sarah Catherine Richardson, Campus Minister for Interfaith Engagement at srichardson@anselm.edu.