Penn State Altoona Diversity Mission Statement and Definition of Diversity
Diversity Mission Statement
Penn State Altoona values and celebrates diversity in all of its forms. The educational environment of our Campus is enriched by the diversity of individuals, groups, and cultures that come together in a spirit of learning.
We value learning in all of its forms – classroom instruction, independent learning, co-curricular learning, faculty research, and study and improvement of our own administrative and academic processes. Learning involves developing an appreciation for people from different backgrounds and who exhibit diverse types of thinking.
At Penn State Altoona we proactively engage faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community members to explore and experience various cultures and diverse life experiences that are available on campus and in the community. As a learning community we challenge and support each other to understand how various cultural backgrounds, life experiences, challenges, and orientations affect how we see the world. These interactions afford us the opportunity to broaden our worldview, as well as enhance our sensitivities and appreciation of diversity.
Penn State Altoona is committed to being a leader within the University and our community by fostering an environment where diversity in all of its forms is celebrated, affirmed, and vigorously pursued.
It is our intent to create a campus community that affirms the dignity, value, and uniqueness of each person. It is our intent to aggressively pursue the recruitment and retention of a more diverse administration, staff, faculty and student body. Moreover, we want to ensure that the campus climate is welcoming and affirming for all persons. It is our goal to graduate individuals that understand and appreciate the things we all have in common, as well as those things that make us unique. We strive to instill in them the skills, attitudes, and sensitivities that will be essential for them to be leaders and change agents in a diverse, multicultural world. (Est. 1998)
Definition of Diversity
Penn State Altoona values and celebrates diversity in all of its forms. The educational environment of our college is enriched by the diversity of individuals, groups, and cultures that come together in a spirit of learning. Penn State Altoona is committed to providing equal access to programs, facilities, admission, and employment without regard to personal characteristics not related to ability, performance, or qualifications. Penn State Altoona will not tolerate discrimination against any person because of age, ancestry, color, disability or handicap, national origin, race, religious creed, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.
The Diversity Mission Statement and Definition of Diversity above were established in 1998 after extensive consultation and input from all stakeholder groups on campus and in the community. These two statements have served as the foundation and guide for all of the diversity initiatives established by Penn State Altoona. These statements are not only comprehensive and inclusive of all forms of diversity, but they also speak to the learning environment, and the engagement of faculty, staff, students and the community in the learning process of understanding and appreciating diversity.
Penn State Altoona has enjoyed great success in its development as a baccalaureate college. The College’s enrollment has grown over the last nine years from 2400 students to just fewer than 3,900 today. Penn State Altoona currently offers fifteen baccalaureate degrees, nine associate degrees and fifteen minors which meet the goal outlined in the College’s 2002 Strategic Plan. All new degree proposals will be carefully reviewed to ensure long-term sustainability before being added. Enrollment in baccalaureate programs at Penn State Altoona continues to grow, as does upper division enrollment in Altoona College majors. The success that the College has enjoyed has been the direct result of a dedicated, highly skilled faculty and staff that have taken great care to plan for and meet the needs of a baccalaureate student body, as well as by creating an intellectually stimulating and welcoming campus environment.
Penn State Altoona’s strategic planning process as well as the development of our Framework to Foster Diversity has been comprehensive and has involved every area of the College. Great care has been taken to recruit and develop a diverse faculty of outstanding teachers and scholars, and to the development of a curriculum that reflects and honors the University’s commitment to diversity. The recruitment and retention of a diverse student body has been a top priority. Likewise, care has been given to developing an appropriate array of services, programs and activities that meet the needs and expectations of our diverse student body. College leadership has become more diversified and organizational changes have been made to better reflect the value we place on diversity. Penn State Altoona continues to find meaningful ways to weave the in-class and out-of-class experiences of students into a seamless web of activities and learning opportunities that will prepare them well, to assume their role and responsibilities as educated and engaged citizens, in a diverse and multicultural world.
Although Penn State Altoona has experienced success with its first Framework to Foster Diversity plan, we know that there is still much we can improve upon. The pursuit, implementation, and integration of diversity are continual processes. We continue to strive to instill in each member of our academic community, a conscious mind set of understanding, appreciating, and valuing diversity in all of its forms. With the addition of new students, faculty and staff each year, as well as, world events that impact the future of our graduates, we understand and appreciate our role in educating our community in the area of diversity. We are committed to helping our students develop the skills and competencies necessary to be leaders a diverse and multicultural world.
Penn State Altoona will continue to implement the many programs, activities and services listed in its past plan. These initiatives are functioning well and have been integrated into the daily operations of the College. Penn State Altoona’s
Framework to Foster Diversity Plan 2004-2009 will build upon the successes of our previous plan and will offer more strategic growth opportunities. The
Framework 2004-2009 plan will also incorporate a strong assessment component. It is our intention to assess the effectiveness of our efforts both current and future. For example, we seek to understand in more detail why students of color choose Penn State Altoona, why we have such a low turnover of staff and faculty, what factors and /or barriers limit our success in attracting faculty and staff of color, and what factors will increase student retention. Understanding the “whys” of our efforts will help Penn State Altoona to better affect positive growth. Likewise, we will be better positioned to meet the needs and support the efforts of all members of the Penn State Altoona community.
There have also been two significant staff hires recently at Penn State Altoona that will have a direct positive impact on the
Framework 2004-2009 plan and its implementation. The College has just appointed a new Director of Institutional Equity and Diversity effective March 15, 2004 and a new Associate Dean for Academic Affairs effective July 1, 2004. These two individuals have an uncommon vision, a genuine energy and a strong commitment to diversity in all its forms, and to the College’s
Framework to Foster Diversity plan. They will both be positive and influential participants in the implementation and evaluation of our new
Framework plan.
Penn State Altoona’s Framework to Foster Diversity 2004-2009 represents the next phase of Diversity education at the College, and illustrates our continued efforts toward a holistic approach to its implementation. As in our last plan, we understand that the pursuit of the initiatives and activities represented in the
Framework to Foster Diversity 2004-2009 is the responsibility of every member of the Penn State Altoona community. The shared experiences and learning that comes from the pursuit of these efforts enhances and enriches the academic and campus life of the College.
