Resources & Centers
Centers & Offices
- Avery Research Center for African-American History and Culture
- Carolina Lowcountry and Atlantic World (CLAW) Program
- Center for the Study of Slavery in Charleston (CSSC)
- Center for Disability Services/Students Needing Access Parity (SNAP)
- Office of Equal Opportunity Programs
- Gender and Sexuality Equity Center (GSEC)
- Office of Institutional Diversity
- Center for International Education (CIE)
- Office of Multicultural Student Programs and Services (MSPS)
- Center for Sustainable Development
Initiatives & Additional Resources
- Critical Conversations (upcoming and previously held)
- CofC Resources for Teaching Race, Inclusion, and Equity
- CofC LGBTQ+ Resources
- Discovering our Past, CofC Initiative
- If These Walls Could Talk, CofC Documentary
- Navigating a Contentious Election Cycle through Dialogue
- LCWA's 'Black Lives' Signature Series
- LGBTQ+ Inclusivity Resources
- Race and Social Justice Initiative
- Strategic Diversity in Faculty Recruitment
- Staff Resources on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
- Study of Slavery in Charleston Resources
- Sustainability Resources
- Year of Women at CofC
Report or Find Support
- Report or Find Support (links to all options)
- Cougar Inclusion Team (CIT)
Student Programs & Organizations
- Call Me MISTER ("Mentors Instructing Students Toward Effective Role Models")
- Cougar Advantage
- Crossing the Cistern
- SNAP/Disability Services
- CofC Preferred/Chosen Names and Pronouns
- Cougars for Climate Justice - Changemaker Challenge
- DiversityEdu (for students)
- Gender Inclusive Facilities
- LEAP (Leadership | Experiential Learning | Academic Achievement | Professional Development)
- LGBTQ+ Resources
- Mental Health and Intersectionality
- Multicultural Study Abroad Programs
- Multicultural Student Programs and Services (MSPS)
- Safe Zone (and related LGBTQ+ Inclusivity Resources)
- South Carolina Alliance for Minority Participation (SCAMP)
- Student Organizations
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
External resources on diversity and inclusion for the classroom curated by the Office of Institutional Diversity:
- Inclusive Spaces
- Culturally Responsive Training
- Talking Critically About Race
- Peggy McIntosh - Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack
- Addressing Racial Privilege - A Mental Model for White Anti-Racists
- 75 things white people can do for racial justice
- Dismantling Racism - A Resource Book
- A Detailed List of Anti-Racism Resources
- Anti-Racism Resource Collection
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.
- School of the Arts - Crossing the Cistern Program
- School of Education, Health, and Human Performance - Crossing the Cistern Program
- School of Business - Crossing the Cistern Program
- School of Humanities and Social Sciences - Crossing the Cistern Program
- School of Languages, Cultures, and World Affairs - Crossing the Cistern Program
- School of Sciences and Mathematics - Crossing the Cistern Program
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+
- LGBTQ+ in the Lowcountry
- Gender and Sexuality Equity Center (GSEC)
- LGBTQ+ Resources at CofC
- Safe Zone
- Prism (formerly Gay-Straight Alliance), student-led organization https://twitter.com/CofCPRISM
- Lavendar Celebration, LGBTQQAI+ and Ally
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)
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
- Women's & Gender Studies Program
- CofC Preferred/Chosen Names and Pronouns
- Gender and Sexuality Equity Center (GSEC)
- Support for Breastfeeding Mothers on Campus
- Project G.I.V.E. (Gender Based & Interpersonal Violence Education)
Affinity Groups, Allyships, and Student Organizations
- Student Organizations related to diversity, equity, and inclusion
- Student Diversity and Inclusion Council
- Graduate Students of Color Association
- Faith-Based 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.
- Military and Veteran Student Services
- Military Scholarships and Grants
- Veterans Affairs
- Green Zone Ally Groups and Training
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
- Counseling Center (to facilitate the development of CofC students by providing psychological interventions to promote the holistic well-being of our students)
- Cougar Inclusion Team (CIT) (If you have been the subject of or witness to an exclusion or bias incident or concern)
- CASAS: Students in Potential Crisis (If you are worried about a student's emotional or physical well-being "submit a concern")
- Office of Equal Opportunity Programs (If you have been the subject of or witness to possible discrimination or harassment or other EEO and Title IX concerns)
- Office of the Institutional Ombudsperson (an advocate for fairness, the Ombudsperson acts as a source of information and referral, responds to questions presented by individuals and provides assistance in the resolution of concerns, problems, and informal complaints)
- Dean of Students Reporting Portal (to report concerns and alleged Honor System violations)
- Public Safety Silent Witness Anonymous Reporting Portal (any member of the campus community can anonymously report criminal behavior and serious policy violations happening on or around campus)
- Student Complaints (Report a student conduct or discrimination complaint)
- Faculty/Staff Assisting Student in Trouble (Report a student of concern)
- Office of Victim Services (victim services are available for our students no matter where a crime occurs on or off campus, or whether the student elects to file an official police report or not)