Resources & Centers



Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Resources for Faculty

Teaching and Pedagogical Resources for Faculty 

We are teaching in the midst of an ongoing pandemic and a historic protest movement that has impacted all members of our community. We welcome your input as we seek to share resources here from across campus. Please email inclusion-group@cofc.edu.

LibGuide on Teaching Race, Equity, and Inclusion

CofC Libguides to Teaching REI

External resources on diversity and inclusion for the classroom curated by the Office of Institutional Diversity:

TLT's Resilient Teaching and Learning

Faculty who specialize in diversity, equity, inclusion and trauma-informed teaching have important things to tell us about teaching and course design during this time.

Inclusive Pedagogy

Teaching inclusively means embracing student diversity in all forms — race, ethnicity, gender, disability, socioeconomic background, ideology, even personality traits like introversion — as an asset. It means designing and teaching courses in ways that foster talent in all students, but especially those who come from groups traditionally underrepresented in higher education. (CHE 7/22/2019)

(Initially compiled by Kris De Welde, Women's and Gender Studies)

Navigating a Contentious Election Cycle through Dialogue with Students

Students and the campus community need formal and informal spaces in which to dialogue about the current election cycle, which is uniquely critical as it is happening simultaneously with a global pandemic, a deepening economic recession, devastating impacts of climate change, and social unrest in response to systemic racism and violent oppression of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) family, friends and community members. Below is the link to some advice for organizing these conversations and also resources to explore in preparation for them.


Racial and Social Justice Initative

The Race and Social Justice Initiative at the College of Charleston was founded in late June 2015 following a major grant from Google in response to tragic events in the Charleston, including the shooting death of Walter Scott by a police officer in April 2015 and the mass shooting at the Emanuel AME Church in June 2015.

The mission of the Race and Social Justice Initiative (RSJI) at the College of Charleston is to promote public awareness and dialogue about race and social justice issues in the Charleston area, the state of South Carolina, and beyond, through a collaborative effort led by the Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture, Addlestone Library, the African American Studies Program, the Lowcountry Digital History Initiative (LDHI), and multiple community partners.



Crossing the Cistern - for inclusion, retention, and well-being of students

Crossing the Cistern is a one-year momentum program to strengthen the College of Charleston’s commitment and shared responsibility to the inclusion, retention, and well-being of all students with a particular focus on African American, Latino, Asian and Native American students.

Launched in 2017, Crossing the Cistern is a scholarship program within each academic school. But beyond monetary support, the program has several additional components aimed at encouraging students, including academic support, monthly seminars, alumni mentors and a spring internship.



Cougar Advantage Program - for our underrepresented and 1st generation students

Through our strategic plan, the College will recruit more underrepresented minorities and first-generation students. The Office of Admissions has been at the forefront of the College’s efforts to recruit more black students through residential programs for juniors and seniors, overnight experiences for multicultural students, the Cougar Advantage (CA) program, which offers automatic admission to S.C. students in the top 10 percent of their public high school graduating class, and the Cougar Advantage Pledge, which provides full tuition for students who meet CA program requirements and who are Pell eligible.



LGBTQ+



Center for the Study of Slavery in Charleston, SC (CSSC)

Established in 2018 to foster a deeper public understanding of slavery and its complex legacies, and to use that understanding to bring about racial reconciliation, healing, and repair. 



Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture

The mission of the Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture is to collect, preserve, and promote the unique history and culture of the African diaspora, with emphasis on Charleston and the South Carolina Lowcountry.  Avery’s archival collections, museum exhibitions, and public programming reflect these diverse populations as well as the wider African Diaspora. The Avery Research Center is located at 125 Bull Street, Charleston, SC 29424 in the historic Harleston Village.



Discovering our Past

In honor of our 250th anniversary, the College is examining many of the diverse pasts and presences that are part of our storied campus in our new history of the College of Charleston website, "Discovering our Past". Just as we embrace inclusivity in our present, the Discovering our Past project encompasses all who were part of our past, whose presences linger on the land and in our buildings, and whose contributions and stories enrich the narrative that emerges as the unfolding epic tale of the College of Charleston.


If These Walls Could Talk

The architectural beauty of the College of Charleston campus has long been a defining and celebrated feature of the university. But the full story of how many campus buildings came to be is not widely known. We hope to change that by releasing a transformative film, titled If These Walls Could Talk, which highlights the contributions enslaved Africans made to the College of Charleston. 

If These Walls Could Talk will premiere in spring 2021. The promotional trailer is now available for viewing (watch the trailer below or at https://youtu.be/nX6iiaifiEI). Read more about the production at https://today.cofc.edu/2019/07/23/documentary-enslaved-labor-if-these-walls-could-talk/

 


Office of Institutional Diversity

The Office of Institutional Diversity (OID) is committed to supporting the College of Charleston in leading pathways to equity and inclusion for URM Faculty, Staff, and Students, to create equity in learning and living as part of the CofC community and beyond. Our vision is to transform our campus community into an inclusive and equitable learning and living environment where faculty, staff, students, are affirmed regardless of their ethnicity, gender, sexuality, religion, ability or place of origin.

  • Institutional Diversity 
    • Department Equity Education Program (D.E.E.P.) with the Athletic Department
    • Access, Inclusion, Responsiveness, and Equity (A.I.R.E.)

Multicultural Student Programs and Services (MSPS)

Multicultural Student Programs and Services (MSPS) provide a safe and inclusive environment that encourages the entire campus community to assist in meeting the needs of our students via intercultural exchange, personal growth, and leadership development. MSPS focuses on African American, Latino/a, Asian and Native American (AALANA) student populations, and we believe that presenting cultural learning opportunities to all students fully supports the College’s commitment to diversity. This office is dedicated to providing programs and services that help establish an institutional climate of cultural competence and social justice. MSPS program include the following:

Speedy Consolidation and Transition Program (SPECTRA)

Our Summer Transition Program for AALANA freshman to gain a glimpse at academic and residential life at the College and ensure a successful transition from high school to college.

Excellence in Collegiate Education and Leadership (ExCEL) Awards Program

The ExCEL Awards Program honors students, staff, faculty and community members for their commitment to creating a campus environment that promotes diversity and excellence.

Mentoring Matters Program

Our mentoring program that uses a collaborative model to pair "mentors" such as successful returning students, faculty and staff with SPECTRA freshmen.

Safe Zone Program

A designated Safe Zone at the College is a place where one can feel free to talk about being lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, allied, asexual or intersex without fear of criticism or hatred. As of January 2020, 914 Faculty, Staff and Students have participated in Safezone Training.

 


Gender and Sexuality Equity Center (GSEC)

The Gender and Sexuality Equity Center (GSEC) upholds the core values of equality for all members of the College of Charleston community including students, faculty, and staff. We advocate for a culture of resistance against inequality, judgment, prejudice and bias in all its forms.



Women and Gender



Affinity Groups, Allyships, and Student Organizations



Military and Veterans

Recognizing that diverse backgrounds advance our experiences, the College strives to be a veteran/military friendly college. Transitioning from military life to student life can be difficult for student veterans, particularly if they have returned recently from a deployment or just completed their active duty service. The College has a dedicated Office of Military and Veteran Student Services, which includes Green Zone training for veteran/military students and connections to faculty and staff allies.



Scholarships and Grants



Environmental Equity and Sustainability

The fight for environmental justice and racial justice are inextricably linked. Sustainability includes aspects of economic, environmental, and social issues. At the College of Charleston, our work towards sustainability and inclusion run parallel. Programs offered by the Office of Sustainable Development Environmental issues disproportionately impact people of color



Neurodiversity, disabilities, and accessibility

We believe a diverse and inclusive learning community strengthens our entire university and enriches learning, scholarship, and the communities we serve. Embracing neurodiversity and disabilities advances our commitment. 

Increasing neurodiversity entails accommodating neurocognitive differences and acknowledging, including, amplifying, and celebrating the valuable perspectives of neurodivergent individuals.

Creating an accessible classroom

At the College of Charleston, we strive to provide learning environments that are accessible for our students and services to accommodate our student's learning needs. The Center for Disability Services (CDS)/SNAP serves approximately 900 students with disabilities including, but not limited to, learning disabilities, ADHD, autism, vision and hearing disabilities, and chronic health or psychological disabilities. Together, our faculty and staff provide students with accommodations (e.g. academic; residential). 

Although our faculty and staff do not necessarily have access to the names of disabilities that their students have, information is provided to our faculty about information about disabilities and classroom modifications and accommodations that may be effective for students to gain equal access to the programs and opportunities available. Many of the ideas listed could be considered guidelines of good teaching and advantageous to any student.

Accessible and Assistive Technology

The College provides a wide range of accessible and assistive technology to our students. Faculty are encouraged to familiarize themselves with these technologies and support the student's use to ensure a successful learning environment.

We are committed to ensuring equal access to all to all members of our community.  Learn more about our digital accessibility efforts and some best practices to help make CofC accessible to all.

See also: R.E.A.C.H.


Leadership | Experiential Learning | Academic Achievement | Professional Development

The School of Humanities and Social Sciences L.E.A.P. is an inclusive community of diverse students and professors from a wide variety of backgrounds committed to working together to build meaningful relationships that will support students as they strive to achieve their goals. This multi-year academic enrichment program has four strategic goals to promote comprehensive student development: increasing academic achievement, encouraging experiential learning, providing professional development, and creating community. Participants will gain skills that will prepare them to be independent lifelong learners who will engage in solving complex problems and act as informed citizens who contribute to their communities.


Multicultural & International



Inclusion for Employees

LinkedIn has made this learning path on Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging for All available for free through the rest of 2020. CofC employees are encouraged to take these courses for free anytime via CougarEd. 

 


Report or Find Support