"If you look historically at the groups that have produced change, you will find that young people are at the forefront of nearly every single movement for social justice and social change in history. I’m hoping that I will inspire at least a few of my students to see themselves as agents of social change and they will find ways to make that possible — while they’re at Saint Mary’s and when they leave."

— Professor Myrna Santiago

Diversity Programming

1,432 participants in Intercultural Center programs by students, employees, guests and alumni in 2011-12

11 student organizations are a part of the Diversity Organizations Coalition

$116,781 allocated in CCIE grants to fund diversity initiatives

72% of staff, 61% of faculty and 15% of students have attended a Campus of Difference workshop

90% of staff, 86% of faculty and 72% of students report participating in additional diversity activities in the past 5 years

Diversity in Hiring, 2008-1012

12% growth in proportion of all new hires who self-identify as minorities

11% growth in proportion of all faculty new hires who self-identify as minorities

13% growth in proportion of all staff new hires who self-identify as minorities

Student Diversity

7.2% increase in minority enrollment for traditional undergraduates from fall 2007 to fall 2012

3.2% increase in minority enrollment for graduate students from fall 2007 to fall 2011

4% increase in traditional undergraduates who are first generation to college students

Graduation Rates, 2008-2010

Full-time Undergraduates

3% increase in one year retention rates across all

5% increase in one year retention rates among Hispanic/Latinos

17% increase in one year retention rates among foreign citizens

Lower Division Transfers

4% increase in one year retention rates across all students

15% increase in one year retention rates among Hispanic/Latino students

11% increase in one year retention rates among Pell-eligible students

Attitudes Toward Diversity

Campus Climate, 2008-2012 results

9% increase in faculty and 13% increase in staff who say "would recommend SMC as a good place to work"

14% increase in students reporting faculty 'respect diverse learning styles,' from 59% in 2008 to 73% in 2012

14% increase in faculty, 23% increase in staff and 3% increase in students who say SMC places 'a great deal of emphasis' on developing an inclusive community

7% increase in faculty, 17% increase in staff and 6% increase in students who say SMC places "a great deal of emphasis" on developing appreciation for a multicultural society

4% increase in faculty, 7% increase in staff and 1% increase in students who say SMC places "a great deal of emphasis" on increasing representation of people of color in the faculty

11% of the faculty, 12% increase in staff and 3% increase in students who say SMC places "a great deal of emphasis" on increasing representation of people of color in the administration

12% increase in faculty and 15% increase in staff who say SMC places "a great deal of emphasis" on increasing representation of people of color in the staff

19% increase in faculty who "agree" or "strongly agree" student diversity is appreciated by SMC faculty

19% decrease in students who "agree" or "strongly agree" there is racial tension at SMC

14% increase among minority students who "agree" or "strongly agree" they would recommend attending SMC to something whose "ethnic background is the same as mine"

13% increase among students who know how to report racist, sexist or otherwise offensive behaviors

67% of traditional undergraduates who report courses in their main field of study have done a good job of exposing them to diversity issues (first reported in 2012)

National Survey of Student Engagement Results, 2012

Rated 22% higher than "Far West Private" competitor group in the "enriching educational experiences" category, which includes ratings for diversity, curricular and co-curricular experiences that broaden a student's world view

Cooperative Institutional Research Program Senior Survey, 2008 to 2012

7% increase in traditional undergraduate seniors who were "satisfied" or "very satisfied" with the racial/ethnic diversity of the student body, from 53% in 2008 to 60% in 2012

Saint Mary's seniors rated the college's racial/ethnic diversity 14% higher than students at participating 4-year Catholic colleges and 11% higher than students at participating 4-year privates

44% of students rated their "ability to get along with people of different races/cultures" as "much stronger" in 2012, compared with 38% in 2008

Saint Mary's seniors rated their ability to "get along with people of different races/cultures" 13% higher than students at participating 4-year Catholic colleges and participating 4-year privates

9% decrease in seniors reported they "felt insulted or threatened because of your race/ethnicity"

3% fewer faculty, 14% fewer staff and 11% fewer students who "frequently" or "occasionally" hear insensitive or disparaging remarks about women

11% fewer faculty, 5% fewer staff and 12% fewer students who "frequently" or "occasionally" hear insensitive or disparaging remarks about people identifying as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender

9% fewer faculty, 16% fewer staff and 12% fewer students who "frequently" or "occasionally" hear insensitive or disparaging remarks about people of color