Statement from President Timothy E. Trainor, Ph.D.
Diversity, equity and inclusion excellence at Mount St. Mary’s University is a commitment the entire community makes to improve and sustain a culture of dignity and respect for everyone and where everyone knows they are a valued member of the team. When we truly embody the Catholic vision of the person, inclusion naturally follows. Catholic faith affirms that every human is invaluable and worthy of respect as a member of the human family, and that each and every person has inherent dignity and a right to a life consistent with that dignity.
All of us are called to live out the Mount value of inclusion: The Mount must harness the energy created by diversity of thought and engendered by a richly diverse staff, faculty and student body to ensure that all feel welcome and included. A diverse, equitable and inclusive Mount culture benefits our students, employees and faculty not only during their time here, but also after they leave the Mount as they will be prepared for success in an increasingly multicultural world. Our university mission, our promise to students, is to graduate ethical leaders who are inspired by a passion for learning and lead lives of significance in service to God and others. Diversity, equity and inclusion is about who we are and what we do.
Statement from Vice President and Chief Equity & People Officer Paula Whetsel-Ribeau, Ph.D.
The Office of Equity and Success promotes an institutional climate in which all members in the community understand their value and feel welcomed and respected. We seek a campus community that reflects the rich diversity of humanity with the full participation of people who represent the breadth of human differences. To guide us in such endeavors, the bishops of the United States wrote Catholic Social Teaching: Challenges and Directions, which outlines seven principles of social justice in Catholic teaching. By following these principles, we have committed to live as people for others.
One way the Mount has made this commitment is through these underlying principles that guide Mount’s five-year Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion strategic plan developed by Mount’s Inclusive Excellence Committee (MIEC). We are committed to providing a diverse, equitable and inclusive learning and working environment because it enhances the educational experience for all.
The Association of American Colleges and Universities (AACU) Making Excellence Inclusive framework guides our institutional diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. Specific definitions for these terms are:
Making Excellence Inclusive is an active process at the Mount designed to achieve excellence in learning, teaching, personal development, institutional functioning, and engagement in local and global communities.
The Mount promotes a spirit of diversity, equity and inclusion through academic inquiry, and programs and opportunities that reflect our foundational belief in the dignity of all.
It is clear that during the next two decades the American population will witness extraordinary changes in its racial and ethnic composition. We are experiencing those changes at the Mount. When university demographics at all levels reflect the society in which we live, students graduate with role models, mentors and first-hand experiences that prepare them for successful futures.
During the past decade, Mount St. Mary's University has taken steps to become more inclusive, welcoming an increasingly diverse undergraduate student body.
17%
2009-10
27%
2014-15
43%
2021-22
For questions on diversity, equity and inclusion at the Mount, please contact:
Paula Whetsel-Ribeau, Ph.D.
Vice President and Chief Equity & People Officer
301-447-5256
Textbook loan and library reserve enhancements.
Revised billing and collection procedures to assist with financial holds.
Laptop loaner program.
Test-optional admissions.
Admissions two diverse hires.
Admissions microstrategies.
Advancement continued exploration microgrants funding.
Alumni of Color panel.
Six Integrated Learning & Living Communities.
Programming ideas with Catholic Identity Committee.
Campus Climate Survey.
Men of Color support group.
Women of Color support group.
Weekly interfaith services.
Fr. Tolton play-community event.
Mass in Spanish.
Intergroup discussions on race.
Expanded Social Justice Teach-In.
Expanded Summer Bridge Program.
DEI content in curriculum assesed.
Culturally Responsible Teaching Symposium faculty.
CEA accreditation for ESL Program in Seminary.
U.S. Culture Course in Seminary.
5-year DEI Plan development.
MIEC charter approved.
President's Advisory Council for DEI formed.
Tailored training sessions for employees.
Revised recruiting procedures to support DEI.
HR DEI dashboard reporting-Mount employees.
Athletic Department training-all coaches and administrators.
VP for Equity and Success.