Inclusive Excellence
We envision a community that goes beyond tolerance of differences to one guided by social justice, cultural competence and engaged citizenship. We know we can reach greater heights of excellence by learning from diverse people.
Excellence In Community at Saint Mary's
There are a number of organizations and initiatives across campus offering opportunities for students, faculty and staff to support inclusive excellence.
Excellence In Community at Saint Mary's
Inclusion In Practice
From bipartisan dialogues, to 44 days of black history, there have been events across campus that show Saint Mary's inclusion in practice
Inclusion In Practice
Inclusion In Curriculum and Pedagogy
Faculty across disciplines are taking innovative approaches to brining inclusion to our community.
Inclusion In Curriculum and Pedagogy
Inclusive Excellence Resources
There are resources available to help you foster inclusion on campus.
Inclusive Excellence Resources
CCIE Response to George Floyd Verdict
Today, we have learned that Derek Chauvin has been found guilty of the murder of George Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man in Minneapolis, MN. The pain and anger at George Floyd’s violent and senseless murder at the hands of the police has reverberated around the world. Derek Chauvin is being held responsible for his actions.
Today’s guilty verdict does not erase the historical legacy and present reality of ongoing police violence that continues to destroy Black lives. Nor does it ensure that justice will be served for the Black and Brown adults and children who continue to be brutalized and killed by police across the country.
Read More and Find Resources Here
Response to the Recent Attacks on API Identities: A Letter from Asian Pacific Islanders Subcommittee and Kathy Littles
Saint Mary’s College Faculty, Staff & Students:
The Asian Pacific Islander Subcommittee of the College Committee on Inclusive Excellence (CCIE) is outraged & angered by the horrific attacks on API people across the nation. We are calling on the Saint Mary's College community to become knowledgeable and to take action against any and all manifestations of structural racism and violence. In the past few weeks, an 84 year old Thai man, Vicha Ratannapakdee, was killed after being pushed to the ground in San Francisco; an elderly Chinese man is shoved and thrown to the ground, a Chinese man is robbed at gunpoint in front of his home, and over 20 attacks against elderly women are reported all in Oakland’s Chinatown; a Filipino man, Noel Quintana, in New York City is slashed across his face with a blade; in San Jose a Vietnamese grandmother is robbed and assaulted; a recent fire occurred at the Vietnamese American Community Center of the East Bay. Unfortunately, this list is not exhaustive; more robberies and assaults are coming to light daily.
Learn More and View Calls to Action & Resources here.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day: A Message of Hope from Dr. Kathy Littles
Dear Saint Mary’s College Community,
On Monday, January 18, 2021 the United States will honor and celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This year, MLK Day takes on incredible significance given the domestic terrorism that took place at the United States Capitol as the certification of President Elect Joe Biden and Vice-President Elect Kamala Harris were underway. If there was ever a time to reflect on Dr. King's notion of a Beloved Community, it is now.
Saint Mary’s College students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends. Let us remember the life of Dr. King and the way in which he inspired and challenged us to embody the notion of a Beloved Community. The King Center reminds us that:
The Beloved Community is a global vision, in which all people can share in the wealth of the earth. In the Beloved Community, poverty, hunger, and homelessness will not be tolerated because international standards of human decency will not allow it. Racism and all forms of discrimination, bigotry, and prejudice will be replaced by an all-inclusive spirit of sisterhood and brotherhood. In the Beloved Community, international disputes will be resolved by peaceful conflict-resolution and reconciliation of adversaries, instead of military power. Love and trust will triumph over fear and hatred. Peace with justice will prevail over war and military conflict.
I will admit that “love and trust” in this historical moment can be the most difficult of emotions to embrace during a time of so much division, hate, and anger. I am reminded that hate and anger, can and will rob me of my own peace and purpose.
Read More.
SMC Appoints Kathy Littles as Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs and Senior Diversity Officer
Saint Mary’s has named Kathy Littles ’94, PhD as the inaugural associate provost for Faculty Affairs and Senior Diversity Officer. She joined the College on July 1, 2019.
“Dr. Littles brings to Saint Mary’s a strong commitment to the core values of the Lasallian Catholic Mission—values that she has embodied since she was an undergraduate student at the College. Her extensive administrative and faculty experience, and her visionary leadership on diversity and inclusion initiatives will be tremendous assets to Saint Mary’s,” said Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Margaret Kasimatis.
Littles comes to Saint Mary’s from the California Institute for Integral Studies (CIIS), where she currently serves as dean of the School of Consciousness and Transformation and director of the Transformative Inquiry Department. She brings to Saint Mary’s many years of leadership experience in higher education, diversity and inclusion, and arts and culture. Her tenure of experience also includes faculty positions at the University of California at Davis, Berkeley City College, and the College of Marin. Prior to her academic career, she served as the arts education coordinator for Monterey County, as well as the Cultural Funding Program coordinator for the City of Oakland.
College Committee on Inclusive Excellence
We of Saint Mary’s College of California are dedicated to treating all people with dignity and respect in ways that acknowledge and engage diverse backgrounds and ideas. Our policies, practices and behaviors foster a safe and inclusive community and promote learning that is equitable, collaborative, and inspired by the presence of God in and among us.
Statistics on Inclusive Excellence
Ethnic diversity of fall 2019 undergraduate first-year students:
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Minority*: 58.5%
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Under-represented Minority (UREM)**: 42.1%
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White: 37.5%
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Hispanic/Latino: 29.6%
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Asian: 16.4%
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African American/Black: 7.8%
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Native American: 1.6%
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Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 3.1%
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International: 2.7%
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Other/not reported: 1.3%
"Inclusive community is fundamental to our Lasallian Catholic mission and it is only realized through a campus climate where our diverse faculty, students and staff thrive."
- Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Margaret Kasimatis
Stories
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Saint Mary’s College leadership and administrators recently completed a very specialized training, Gaels Uniting for Inclusion Through...
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Asian Pacific American Heritage Month (APAHM) is being celebrated throughout May, and the Saint Mary’s College community is invited to...
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The Afro-Latinx/Latinx/Indigenous People’s Action Subcommittee (ALLI-PAS) at Saint Mary’s recognizes that the Latinx, Asian American, and...
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Last year, a powerful and thought-provoking letter was submitted to the Saint Mary’s College community by Shilei Bell-Lipsey ’22, president...
Inclusive Excellence at Saint Mary's
We envision a community that goes beyond tolerance of differences to one guided by social justice, cultural competence and engaged citizenship. We know we can reach greater heights of excellence by learning from diverse people.
Improve the Recruitment, Retention, and Success of Underrepresented Students, Staff, and Faculty. Strategies may include establishment of targets for applicant pools and composition, training in inclusive recruiting, mentoring programs, and the development of programs and structures to promote student success.
Build an Inclusive Community. Strategies include targeted training in cultural competencies for all campus constituents, professional development for faculty in teaching and learning with diverse populations, support for diversity initiatives, and development of communication tools in support of inclusive excellence.
Develop Systems of Accountability and Assessment. Strategies may include requiring and reviewing diversity and equity plans in programs and schools, recommending and reviewing policies and procedures for handling incidents of intolerance and discrimination, reviewing and assessing diversity requirements in the curriculum, and conducting and reviewing climate surveys/diversity audits.
Also of interest: