Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

As President Gormley stated in his letter to the campus in October, our role as a Catholic and Spiritan university, with profound concern for moral and spiritual values and commitment to maintaining an ecumenical atmosphere, compels us to denounce extremist ideology in all its forms, and acts of violence carried out in its service. The tragic loss of innocent life in Israel and Gaza strengthens our resolve to teach values of peace and community.

As the President also stated in the same letter, we’re uncertain about how the situation will resolve, but our first duty is to care for our students and our community. The Center for Student Wellbeing and Spiritan Campus Ministry remain important resources for those who may need it and are ready to help. Since October 7, 2023, staff in Duquesne’s various offices and operations have continued to connect with students and others to provide support as the horrendous situation in Israel and Gaza continues. Our priority has been, and remains, the safety and wellbeing of all members of our community, knowing that the crisis affects many people in a range of ways.

Additionally, we encourage students to seek out loved ones, friends, faith leaders or other professionals, as further sources of support. Faith communities in Pittsburgh— Jewish, Muslim, Christian and others—are available and welcoming for those who wish to connect with them.

As we confront the enormity of the violence and horror occurring there, our approach has been consistent with the University’s mission, to respect each human life and to provide safe and secure ways for members of our broad campus community to engage respectfully with one another.

The loss of innocent Israeli and Palestinian lives is dreadful and appalling, and has sent shock waves across global communities as well as our own. Since October 7, the Division of Student Life has personally contacted students with connections to the region as well as Jewish and Muslim student organizations. The Center for Global Engagement has been in touch with other international students from the general region. The Center for Student Wellbeing has taken steps to serve students currently suffering, and they have been mindful to check with individuals they serve to see if the atrocities are having any compounding effect on their mental health.

In the coming days, several activities have been planned at the request of a wide range of students looking to understand, learn, and potentially support those impacted. Those events include:
 
We are keenly aware of the atrocities that are impacting so many innocent people in the Middle East, and we will pray for a swift and lasting peace in that region, and for the safety and healing of those individuals and families who have been impacted by these recent, horrific events.

Read the DEI Certificate Program Fall 2023 magazine story

Duquesne University launched a program on Sept. 8, 2022 for faculty and staff to earn certification in diversity, equity and inclusion. This opportunity is made possible through a partnership between the Inaugural Chief Diversity Officer and the Office of Human Resources, Learning and Development.

The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion certificate program is designed to reinforce the University's mission of serving God by serving students so that they, in turn, may serve others. 

"Part of our mission is to maintain an ecumenical atmosphere open to diversity—to do everything we can so that those who wish to study or work here are included and have every opportunity for growth," President Ken Gormley said. "I am very pleased that this exciting new initiative will provide ways for everyone to gain skills so critical to our collective success."  

Faculty and staff participants earn their certificate through a series of 10 fundamental level workshops offered over the course of the academic year. Each in-person course is about three hours long. The workshops address Duquesne policies as well as individual behaviors that help create an environment of opportunities for all at the University.

Of the 10 workshops, seven core workshops are required. Participants then choose at least three elective workshops. Various content experts deliver the different courses. Participants gain an increased awareness of the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion, and develop tools and strategies to enhance success and belonging in academic and workplace settings.  

Individuals who choose to earn the diversity, equity and inclusion certification should discuss it with their supervisor to align goals, outline general and specific relevance to their work at the University, and ensure adequate planning for the time commitment required. 

In addition, a summer-intensive program is offered that provides the core courses for those with scheduling conflicts. 

To meet the requirements for the DEI Certificate program, participants must complete a capstone project session facilitated by Crystal McCormick Ware, inaugural chief diversity officer and senior advisor to the president for diversity, equity and inclusion, and Dana Whatley Smith, assistant director of learning and development for the Office of Human Resources. 

Email Ms. McCormick Ware or Ms. Whatley Smith for more information.

Feedback on the DEI Certificate Program:

“Congratulations and thank you to Ms. Crystal McCormick Ware, Duquesne University’s Chief Diversity Officer and Ms. Dana Whatley Smith, Assistant Director, Learning & Development, for successful implementation of an excellent Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Certificate Program. The program is well-conceived, capably managed, and expertly delivered by knowledgeable staff.

With an appropriate breadth of perspective and opportunity for productive discussion of important current topics with peers from across campus, the program tackled many of the critical DEI issues that are encountered in today’s academic environment.  From religious diversity to supporting our veterans and active-duty military personnel, the program provides valuable perspective for all academic leaders, faculty and staff.”

– James Drennen, III, Ph.D., Dean, Duquesne University School of Pharmacy and Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences

“It was an honor and privilege to be included as an instructor for the DEI Certificate Program. This program’s commitment to inclusivity aligns with the Office of Title IX and Sexual Misconduct Prevention and Response’s dedicated efforts to provide an educational, employment, and business environment free of sex discrimination.

Seeing the initial success of this program makes me excited for the future, as I know that with each future cohort, we will move further towards our goal of gender equity and a campus community free from sexual harassment and discrimination.”

– Alicia M. Simpson, Title IX Coordinator and Director of Sexual Misconduct Prevention & Response

DEI Resources

The Duquesne University Inclusion Network serves Duquesne University's DEI practices and is comprised of staff and faculty who are identified as persons who are committed to advance Duquesne University's goals of becoming a more inclusive and welcoming campus community both in the classroom and outside of the classroom.

The Duquesne University Inclusion Network is open to all Duquesne University employees engaged in DEI practice and include designated DEI representatives from each School, unit and department, DEI professionals, and practitioners.

Members serve as liaisons to their respective units and are expected to share information with their colleagues after each meeting and to partner with other units as opportunities are presented. 

Activities and Engagement:

• Strive to improve communication amongst University schools, units, and departments
• Hold Inclusion Network meetings as a way to chat regularly, drop files and promote events in the Teams Page, as well as share DEI efforts with the Network
• The Inclusion Network will keep members updated on their specific unit’s DEI program and initiatives by highlighting a specific school, unit, or department each month.
• Inclusion Network members will have the opportunity to partner or collaborate with other schools, units, and/or departments by sharing DEI efforts
• Create a safe space amongst Duquesne University DEI colleagues by being transparent as to where departments or units may hit obstacles and can ask for assistance or guidance openly
• Share best practices and successful approaches in DEI efforts

Our Diversity Advocate Program includes a group of faculty members throughout the University who are appointed to full- time faculty searches at Duquesne University. In collaboration with the Chief Diversity Officer and the Office of the Provost, Human Resources provides the members of this program with the proper training, skills and abilities to help with Duquesne's faculty searches.

The goal of the Diversity Advocate Program is to ensure the search process is held to the same standard and that Duquesne is consistent with the approach to such faculty searches. 

Diversity Advocates are trained faculty volunteers who serve on faculty search committees as non-voting members. They work with search committees to promote diverse applicant pools and implement candidate evaluation processes that treat all applicants with fairness and consistency.

View 2023-24 Diversity Advocates

We welcome you to learn more about our hiring practice of faculty, staff, and students and our dedication to attracting, retaining, and engaging a talented and diverse workforce. We strive to be a trusted partner in supporting the diverse talents you may bring to Duquesne University. You will discover at Duquesne University, you have the potential to be part of a diverse community committed to promoting bigger goals through educational excellence and moral and spiritual values. 

You will discover that our Social Impact commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is seen in action every day on campus and led by our Inaugural Chief Diversity Officer. 

Our DE&I Practices

The mission of the Duquesne University ERGs are to promote diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging to encourage the many interests and cultures within our workforce on campus. Our ERGs also serve as safe spaces for employees to collaborate and partner with other ERGs for programming, dialogue and awareness.

Learn more and sign up for an ERG

Duquesne's Spiritan founders believed in welcoming all and excluding none. Today, diversity remains at the forefront of our core values.

The Center for Excellence in Diversity and Student Inclusion helps by providing support services and opportunities for learning. The Center coordinates community-wide events and programs to celebrate, acknowledge campus leaders and raise awareness about critical issues.

The Consortium for Christian Muslim Dialogue (CCMD) at Duquesne University promotes healthy and peaceful Christian-Muslim relations in both the United States and Africa.

When you participate in the CCMD, you’ll work with faculty from several schools within the university, each sharing the resources of their disciplines with an effort to explore the social, cultural, economic, philosophical, historical, political and religious roots of and solutions to interreligious conflicts. 

Learn more

Our cultural and ethnic student organizations are critical and valued entities. Your backgrounds, voices and actions serve as the core for our University's ability to remain open to diversity in all its forms.

• Asian Student Association (ASA)
• Black Student Union (BSU)
• Caribbean Student Association (CSA)
• Collegiate 100 (C100)
• Duquesne South Asian Student Association (SASA)
• Duquesne Student Chapter: NAACP
• Ebony Women: Women for Social Change
• Gender Sexuality Alliance (Lambda)
• International Students Organization (ISO)
• Jewish Student Organization
• Latin American Student Association (LASA)
• Multicultural STEM Group (MSG)
• Muslim Student Association (MSA)
• Saudi Student Organization
• Union of African Students (UAS)

Explore student organizations on CampusLink

Duquesne University's Equity Education Certificate program is designed to develop teaching practices in ethics, equity literacy, culturally relevant/sustaining pedagogy, and critical studies in education. This certificate program is housed in the School of Education, but open to the entire Duquesne University community.

Learn more

With a population that includes students from more than 90 countries, Duquesne offers many opportunities for students from all cultural, socioeconomic and religious backgrounds to learn from one another and gain a global perspective in their studies. Outside of the classroom, students participate in a wide variety of cultural programming and activities each year.  In fact, our International Student Organizations is one of the largest and most active student-led organizations on campus.

Our International Admissions Office helps guide students through the admissions process. It also offers personalized service for incoming students. For instance, our Cultural Ambassador program matches each incoming international student with a fellow current student who can answer questions and serve as a dedicated resource.

For international students who seek to improve their English language skills, Duquesne offers an English as a Second Language Certificate Program.

Juneteenth is a national holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. It is also called Emancipation Day or Juneteenth Independence Day. The name "Juneteenth" references the date of the holiday, combining the words "June" and "nineteenth."

• Juneteenth: Commemorating Freedom: Library Guide
  
  
• Pittsburgh Celebrates Juneteenth Freedom Day
  
  
• National Museum of African American History & Culture

Juneteenth at Duquesne University

Our research guide presents you with many types of library resources on Latinx history and culture. It links you to reference works, great for basic facts and background information, to print and ebooks, to databases for magazine, newspaper, and journal articles, to primary sources, and more. 

On this research guide, we treat the terms "Hispanic," "Latina/o," and "Latinx" as synonyms.

View Latinx Heritage Resource Guide

Duquesne University, led by the spirit and guided by its Catholic Spiritan values, is committed to fostering and maintaining authentic relationships with every person. As stated in the University's Mission Statement, Duquesne University is committed to creating an ecumenical atmosphere open to diversity through walking with all who engage in education for the mind, heart, and spirit.

The Rainbow Connection Employee Resource Group (DU login required) is an employee-led group at Duquesne University dedicated to creating a safe, inclusive, and diverse work environment for employees of all sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions.

This resource group provides opportunities for professional development, community building and visibility, and serves as a resource for Duquesne University employees seeking to improve LGBTQIA+ inclusivity and awareness. For more information, email rainbowconnection@duq.edu.

Explore our LGBTQIA+ Resources page to learn more.

Duquesne has a long history of serving active military personnel, veterans, and their families. Our Veteran and Military Services Office offers a wide array of personalized services and resources. The Veteran Service Center in Libermann Hall is a learning and recreation center created specifically for veteran and military students and their families.

We are a proud participant in the Yellow Ribbon program. Tuition benefits through the Post-9/11 GI Bill^® are available as well as dedicated resources to help students navigate the financing process.

Learn more about benefits for veterans, active-duty personnel and their families.