Loyola Marymount University
PA-6: Support for Underrepresented Groups

The University prohibits unlawful discrimination on the basis of race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental ability, legally protected medical condition (cancer-related), marital status, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth or related medical condition), age over 40, veteran status, and sexual orientation, or any other bases protected by federal, state, or local law. The University does not discriminate on these bases, or any other basis protected by law, in the administration of any of its education or admissions policies, scholarship or loan programs, athletics, and other school-administered policies and programs, or in its employment policies and practices. All University policies, practices, and procedures are administered in a manner consistent with LMU's Jesuit identity and character.

There are many academic programs, student groups, centers and university-sponsored efforts that help support underrepresented groups within the student body. With regard to academic programs, there are many majors and minors that focus on underrepresented groups in academia. These majors and minors include: African American Studies major, Chicana/o Latino Studies major, Asian and Pacific Studies major, European Studies major, Urban Studies major, Women’s Studies major, Irish Studies minor, Modern Greek Studies minor, and Asian Pacific American Studies minor. Also, one American Cultures class needs to be taken by every student as a part of the core curriculum. The student groups on campus that support underrepresented students are hosted by the Ethnic and Intercultural Office (EIS) and its sub-offices: Asian Pacific Student Services (APSS), Chicano Latino Student Services (CLSS), Office of Black Student Services (OBSS) and Intercultural Affairs, and Jewish Student Services. These students groups include the Black Student Union, Movimento Estudiantil Chicana Y Chicano de Aztlan, Asian Pacific Islander Student Association, and Hillel. A full list of the groups can be found at http://www.lmu.edu/PageFactory.aspx?PageID=3998. EIS Peer Mentors give counseling to identified minority students through their first year a the university. Additionally, there are other offices on campus that help support underrepresented groups within the student body: First to Go (for first generation college students), The Learning Community (TLC) (for first-year African American students), Academic Community of Excellence (ACE), Disability Support Services (DSS), Transfer Programs for community college transfer students, LGBT Student Services, and Office for International Students and Scholars (OISS). http://www.lmu.edu/about/diversity/intercultural/Diversity_Resources/For_Students.htm

As a part of LMU’s Strategic Plan for the Office of Intercultural Affairs, LMU has in place: 1) Faculty Profile that supports LMU’s goal to increase ethnic and gender diversity within the academy. The profile contains data that describes full-time faculty and students by college or school and ethnicity and gender. 2) Academic Community of Excellence that is designed to prepare underrepresented students for graduate and professional programs. It consists of faculty and staff mentoring, workshops on academic strategies, psychological support services, undergraduate research opportunities and scholarly forms and publications. 3) First to Go Program that pairs each first –generation student with a faculty mentor, and a network of LMU staff and Alumni as well as increases awareness about research opportunities graduate/professional school options 4) Human Resources recruitment resources for women and minority faculty 5) Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts (BCLA) Hiring Summit which reviews college-wide data on faculty search processes and outcomes every three years to increase emphasis on mission and diversity in hiring processes 6) BCLA annual lunches with the Dean 7) BCLA Faculty Parent Group to support faculty with children 8) BCLA annual Dean’s Listening Sessions 9) Faculty Retention Toolkit with strategies particularly useful in retaining women and faculty-of-color 10) President’s Leadership Development Initiative which is a leadership development program that serves as a catalyst for change to create an effective inclusive university environment where all faculty and staff can succeed. 11) Recruiting and Hiring Faculty for Mission is a professional development program that aims to hire candidates who are supportive of and will contribute to LMU’s distinctive mission as a Catholic university, who will enhance ethnic diversity and who will contribute to gender equity. A NSF Noyce Scholarship grant for $1.2 million over five years to train gifted college math and science students to become teachers in under-served school districts. The program recruits students with an aptitude and passion for math and science through $20,000 in scholarships and paid summer internships.

http://www.lmu.edu/Assets/Statement+of+Non+Discrimination+08+09.pdf