Goucher College
PA-6: Support for Underrepresented Groups

The Office of Multicultural Student Services supports Goucher's commitment to diverse campus life. Through special events, clubs, mentoring programs, student support, and other initiatives, the office fosters a sense of tolerance, community, and cultural awareness on campus and beyond. The Diversity Standing Committee promotes and monitors the development and timely implementation of tangible institutional diversity goals to ensure the college's mission of diversity is being upheld. The committee performs reviews, make recommendations, and otherwise seeks to ensure the implementation of measurable diversity goals within the institution, as well as establish mechanisms for monitoring progress toward these goals. The committee encourages each division to set reasonable benchmarks and timelines for articulating and accomplishing tangible diversity plans. The committee holds each division responsible for establishing, managing, and making progress toward these diversity goals, and it holds senior management accountable for implementing the diversity goals set forth in their respective divisions. Finally, as a means of keeping the campus community informed of the college's progress toward overall diversity goals, the Diversity Standing Committee issues an annual report to the president, faculty, students, and staff. The Educational Opportunity Program was established in 2006 to reflect Goucher’s commitment to diversity. Consideration for the program is available to first-generation Maryland residents from under-served socio-economic backgrounds who exhibit intellectual promise, motivation, and scholarship. In partnership with state funding, grants, and generous gifts, the EOP Scholars Program provides selected students with the opportunity to experience a liberal arts education they may not have otherwise been able to afford. The Feminist Collective (FemCo) aims to raise awareness of topics/issues relevant to women, gender, sexual health, and reproductive justice. FemCo seeks to advance women’s equality in all sectors of society and maintain both a local and global perspective, in doing so. Generally, FemCo focuses on the empowerment of women in academia, public policy, business, medicine, sports, and the media. FemCo is an all-inclusive club that welcomes everyone regardless of gender, sexual identity, size, race, political party identification, religion, or economic status. GISA, Goucher's International Student Association, was established to both raise cultural awareness within the Goucher community by organizing various events such as Arabian Nights, International Fair, Peace Corps information sessions, and International Food celebrations, and to facilitate the elimination of misconceptions and stereotypes by hosting discussions and educational movie screenings such as that of "Reel Bad Arabs." Hillel, the Jewish student organization on campus, provides social, educational, religious, spiritual, and community service programming for Goucher students. The full-time Hillel staff is on campus to help students plan events and to facilitate meaningful experiences, as well as for mentorship and counseling. Many of Hillel's events take place in Stimson Hall in the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Jewish Student Center, which includes a full kosher dining hall, a lounge space, a computing center, and a small library. Hillel's programs are open to all students, regardless of faith or background. ¡HOLA! is open to the entire college community. Club members and guests gather to learn about the Hispanic community at Goucher and beyond. The club sponsors field trips, speakers, cultural events, and community service opportunities focusing on the growing local Hispanic community in Baltimore and Maryland. Moreover, ¡HOLA! provides Hispanic students with a safe space to explore their cultural and ethnic identities. The MUTTS club seeks to bring together students of all races, ethnicities, and cultures to discuss and build strong social ties to promote understanding among fellow students. MUTTS also aims to educate students about the many ethnicities and cultures that exist on campus, as well as advocate for diversity. Prism is a student organization dedicated to providing support for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered students, faculty, staff, and their allies; raising awareness of gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender issues through campus-wide events, which include speakers, films, discussion groups, and social activities; and effecting change in the larger Baltimore, state, and even national communities through political action and involvement. Prism meetings are open to everyone committed to these goals, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. Lotus seeks to provide the Goucher community with the opportunity to explore Asian cultures and traditions. Aside from hosting cultural activities such as the Iron Lotus Cooking Competition, Poor Man Ramen Noodle Dinner, and events from the Asian Heritage Month, LOTUS also sponsors public forums, guest artists, and activities that foster interest, learning, and involvement in the Asian community locally and internationally. LOTUS serves as an umbrella organization for students who identify as Asian American, East Asian, Middle Eastern, Pacific Islander, South Asian, and Southeast Asian and warmly welcomes members of other cultures to promote alliance and understanding. Umoja is a Swahili word meaning unity and reflects the African saying "I am, because we are." This simple, yet powerful statement is what Umoja aims to embody. Although it is not an exclusive group, it does focus on the empowerment of the black students on campus. The club provides a community that helps foster identity, self-worth, pride for heritage, and fearlessness to initiate change.

Goucher College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, sex, age, disability, or genetic information in its programs and activities. The college has adopted a Nondiscrimination Policy. Discrimination based on protected characteristics is not tolerated at Goucher College, and formal complaints of discrimination will be investigated in a vigorous and timely manner.

http://events.goucher.edu/group/FMLA http://events.goucher.edu/group/gisa http://events.goucher.edu/group/hillel http://events.goucher.edu/group/ihola http://events.goucher.edu/group/mutts_multicultural_understanding_to_transform_stereotypes http://events.goucher.edu/group/prism http://events.goucher.edu/group/lotus http://events.goucher.edu/group/umoja