Strategies to Achieve
Horizon Project Goals: People
As a contemporary Catholic institution, the University of San Diego recognizes the changing demographics of our stakeholders and communities we serve and that through its diversity of gifts, talents and perspectives, it seeks to understand the world through multiple lenses, life experiences, environments, and struggles that shape each person’s opinions and views. This is fundamental to our mission as a university that promotes both academic freedom and the values of a faith-based community. A high-quality, values-based education relies on engagement and inclusion with diverse perspectives. Inclusive excellence means commitment to diversity and equity in all of their forms, including a diversity of ideas, of people, and the opportunity to learn from and with diverse peers.
An inclusive, liberal arts and professional education benefits greatly from the diversity of its student body, graduating individuals who are not only proficient in their academic discipline, but are equipped to be global leaders who act with integrity, embrace differences, and are compassionate citizens. Our strategic framework builds upon a solid foundation for recruiting students from underrepresented and underserved groups and hiring faculty from all races, cultures and ways of life.
USD Board of Trustees
Horizon Project Matching Gift Program
A $1 million matching gift program, the “USD Board of Trustees Horizon Project Matching Gift Program,” will match donor contributions towards endowed funds that support the Horizon Project goals. Contact us for more information.
Recruit and retain a more diverse student body
- Expand existing efforts for outreach
- Expand focus on outreach to public high schools across San Diego, Riverside and Los Angeles counties
- Develop a targeted communications plan specifically focusing on Black and Latino inquires
- Strengthen partnerships with key community-based organizations such as Urban League, Reality Changers, Upward Bound and Barrio Logan Institute, among others
- Expand existing dual enrollment programs
- USD Student Support Services currently serves 420 students. By increasing enrollment in the SSS transitional Bridge program to 100 (from 80) each year, and adding an additional staff resource, we will be able to assist 20+ incoming freshman and transfer SSS students from first generation, low-income, disability, and/or underrepresented backgrounds
- Create an “Anchor Promise Scholarship” for local public high schools similar to the Torero Promise Scholarship for Catholic high schools
- Increase funding for the USD Circle of Excellence Awards to include housing and meal plans
- Create new scholarship funds and need based support for law and graduate students
- Create a transfer merit-based scholarship for high achieving transfer students
- Create a six-year (2+2+2) program for local high school students to attend the San Diego Community Colleges and then enroll at USD
- Remove Financial and other implicit bias barriers to high impact practices and signature programs such as study-abroad, honors, and immersion programs
- As part of the University of San Diego’s commitment to creating a welcoming, inclusive, and safe community, all students are required to complete an online education requirement which includes training related to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Recruit, hire and retain a more diverse faculty
- Update the Faculty Recruitment and Retention Tool Kit that includes an incentive-based hiring plan specific for BIPOC faculty
- Require that all search committee members be trained with respect to implicit bias before beginning a search
- The Office of the Vice Provost for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Office of Human Resources will insure accountability and compliance with the Tool Kit guidelines
- Provide training for all Chairs/Department Heads/Deans with regards to issues specific to BIPOC faculty
- Create new opportunities in the College/Schools for BIPOC faculty to increase their likelihood of success through best practices such as writing retreats, research symposia, mentorship programming, social gatherings and research support
- Provide support to Deans to conduct cluster hires
- Expand the existing diversity postdoctoral program in the College to all academic units including all graduate programs
Recruit, hire and retain a more diverse administration and staff
- Create a new Recruitment Tool Kit for all administrative hires and disseminate by the fall of 2021
- Require that all search committee members be trained with respect to implicit bias before beginning a search
- The Office of the Vice Provost for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Office of Human Resources will insure accountability and compliance with the Tool Kit guidelines
- Provide training for all Vice Presidents/Directors/Chairs with regards to issues specific to BIPOC staff
- Create a new postdoctoral administrative internship program for USD
Hire a Vice Provost for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Hire a qualified and experienced Vice Provost for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and provide appropriate administrative support
Expand recruitment
The USD Board of Trustees will expand its recruitment of new members to better reflect the diversity of the university community and student body