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The College of St. Scholastica

Become a member of St. Scholastica, where inclusive excellence is actively shaping our community. As a Catholic Benedictine learning community, we believe that academic excellence finds its most authentic expression within an environment that embraces diversity and inclusivity. Our mission revolves around fostering a campus culture that prioritizes diversity, equity and inclusion, and the Division of Inclusive Excellence is at the heart of this mission.

Fostering a Welcoming Environment

At the College, we are working to create a sense of belonging for everyone across our campuses and online spaces. Our journey towards a more just and equitable community involves a range of strategies, including robust student support, engaging curricular and co-curricular education, active involvement of employees and dedicated community outreach.

The Division of Inclusive Excellence focuses on these main areas:

  • Multicultural Student Services
  • Native Initiatives
  • Employee Engagement and Professional Development
  • Community Resources, Outreach and Training

Our community’s commitment to inclusive excellence is a shared responsibility. Join us in creating a campus where everyone thrives academically and contributes to developing a welcoming environment. At St. Scholastica, inclusive excellence is more than a goal — it’s a lived experience.

Strategic Plan

The Inclusive Excellence 2025 Strategic Plan for The College of St. Scholastica is a living plan of action that is intended to serve as a blueprint for embedding diversity, equity and inclusion into the systems and culture of the College. Diversity, equity and inclusion are integral to who we are as a Benedictine institution. An intentional focus on diversity, equity and inclusion at all levels of the College is essential to our mission as a Catholic Benedictine institution. Inclusion is at the very heart of what it means to be an institution committed to Catholic social justice.

Students gathered in the medicine garden

Multicultural Student Services

The Office of Multicultural Student Services provides leadership on student initiatives related to diversity, equity and inclusion. At our core, we are committed to supporting students through:

  • Advisement
  • Clubs, events and programming
  • Multicultural Leadership Orientation (MLO)
  • Social justice scholarships
  • Student Employment

Student Opportunities

Getting involved with Multicultural Student Services allows you to explore the specific resources designed for multicultural students and take advantage of advisement and regular check-ins. Our staff can also connect you with student resources across the larger St. Scholastica community.

You will be able to experience St. Scholastica with a community of students dedicated to further diversity, equity and inclusion through clubs, events and other programming.

Attend Multicultural Leadership Orientation

As a new incoming student, this five-day August Adventures orientation session gives you an opportunity to:

  • Strengthen your leadership skills
  • Explore and expand your understanding of social justice
  • Build lifelong relationships with other new and returning St. Scholastica students

You can also meet staff and faculty who will support you for the transition to college and support your academic success. This program is run primarily by current St. Scholastica students and is supported by the Office of Multicultural Student Services.

Explore Our Student Spaces

Your home away from home

The Center for Just Living

The Center for Just Living student spaceHang out, be yourself, build community, challenge yourself and learn from others. Located on the ground floor of Tower Hall (T25), the Center for Just Living (CJL) serves as a social gathering space for students. The CJL is a safe place for BIPOC students, LGBTQ+ students, other underrepresented students, and everyone involved with CJL clubs and activities. The CJL cannot be reserved for events or activities.

The Intercultural Center

Intercultural Center student spaceThe Intercultural Center is the bridge between the CJL and the student union on the ground floor of Tower Hall (T23 and T21). Students use this space for studying, fundraisers and club meetings. It is open to all students involved with the Office of Multicultural Student Services. The Intercultural Center (IC) promotes cross-cultural understanding and inclusivity by encouraging the campus community to socially engage and respectfully interact with one another in a diverse environment. Contact the Associate Director, Sarah Stewart, with any questions or to reserve the space for an event or activity.

Jiimaan Abiwin

Jiimaan Abiwin student spaceLocated on the third floor of Tower Hall (T3115), the Jiimaan Abiwin room (also known as the Canoe Room) is a place that centers Native American culture and community. Students practice their traditional spirituality and know that they are in a safe environment based on their unique needs and culture. Smudging is allowed in this space for physical and mental well-being.

Social Justice Clubs, Events and Programming

Multicultural Student Services oversees, supports and provides mentorship to a number of student clubs focused on social justice. These clubs are part of the Center for Just Living (CJL) and have a staff or faculty advisor, as well as a board of student leaders and student members. Each club also has a presence in the Justice League, which is a leadership cohort that meets regularly under the direction of the Associate Director of Multicultural Student Services. Explore the clubs below, check out SaintsLife for more information and join a group.

Social Justice Clubs

Asian Student Union

The mission of the Asian Student Union is to promote awareness of the cultures of Asia and foster understanding of cultural diversity in The College of St. Scholastica and the greater Duluth community. Planned club activities and community-wide events provide a safe, enjoyable and stimulating environment for club participants and visitors. All people from all backgrounds are welcome!

Black Student Union

The mission statement/purpose of BSU is to educate, celebrate, and support as well as to create a sense of community specifically related to Black identities at Scholastica. The club is focused on Black identities and all are welcome.

Earth Action

Coming Soon

International Student Association

The International Student Association is for all St. Scholastica students. The purpose of the club is to provide all students and the community the opportunity to better understand and to be more aware of different cultures throughout the world. We meet every other Thursday. Everyone is welcome to join the club! If you are interested, contact us to receive information about our meetings and events throughout the year.

Latinx Student Union

Latinx Student Union (LSU) upholds an appreciation for the richness and beauty of the Latinx culture. We want to assist fellow members in widening the knowledge and appreciation of the language and culture of Spain, Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean to the community.

Native American Student Alliance

The Native American Student Alliance strives to be a safe and engaging group for Native students as well as non-Native students on campus. Native American Student Alliance provides a space for Indigenous peoples attending The College of St. Scholastica to connect and share our unique, authentic indigenous ways of knowing with each other and with non-indigenous peoples within the community. As a club, we participate in group bonding activities and volunteering within the community. All self-identified Native students and non-Native allies are welcome to participate in club activities. Please contact us for more information or to connect with the club.

Queer Student Union

Coming Soon

United for Africa

United for Africa is a student-led club at The College of St. Scholastica that seeks to raise awareness and foster an in-depth analysis of issues affecting Africa and the African Diaspora. Club membership is open to all students, staff and faculty and currently includes members from many countries in Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean and the United States. United for Africa works to clear prejudices and stereotypes, have meaningful discussions, empower future leaders and celebrate cultures. The club holds events throughout the year that are both educational and fun, and meets one day every other week.

Student Employment in Multicultural Student Services

Consider joining the Multicultural Student Services team! As a student employee, you would work with the office’s associate director to plan and implement programming, make appointments, and manage office duties. Apply today and gain skills and knowledge in the work of social justice. Your experience as a student employee will also give you the opportunity to utilize the associate director of the office as a reference for other jobs, specifically after college graduation.

Native drum with sticks.

Native Initiatives

Native Initiatives embodies St. Scholastica’s commitment to be a partner with regional Minnesota tribal communities. The purpose of Native Initiatives is to engage and speak to the historical and contemporary affairs facing Native communities and to create academic programming, community outreach, and student support that honors the unique and distinct attributes of Native students and communities. The College is committed to being a partner in celebrating and supporting tribal sovereignty through the following efforts:

Community Resources, Outreach and Training

Community outreach and engagement are crucial endeavors in our Inclusive Excellence work. Through proactive outreach and a spirit of collaboration, we reach beyond campus borders, forging meaningful connections with diverse communities and supporting diverse community initiatives. Such efforts enrich and contribute to the broader efforts to create a more just and inclusive community. We particularly aim to amplify and support the voices of underrepresented groups and champion inclusivity in all its forms.

Employee Engagement and Professional Development Programs

Employee engagement and professional development are at the heart of our inclusive excellence efforts. St. Scholastica encourages and empowers employees to explore and grow in their understanding and application of diversity, equity and inclusion. As an employee, you can increase your cultural fluency through the programs below, as well as support and advance inclusive excellence initiatives as part of the College community.

Photo of a group of people discussing a book

One Campus One Read (OCOR)

The annual OCOR program connects employees around a social justice-themed book. These events create shared and meaningful dialogue on campus around a common topic and bring people together.

Photo of Staff in an EUE Fellowship workshop

Eue Faculty and Staff Fellows Program

Each individual in the employee fellows program identifies a problem of practice related to diversity, equity and inclusion in their department. They focus on resolving or improving that challenge/barrier throughout the year.

Anti-bias search team in a discussion.

Anti-Bias Search Advocate Program

The Anti-Bias Search Advocate program trains employees to use a research-based model to aid in minimizing the impacts of cognitive and structural biases in our search process. To date, we have trained around 40 advocates.

Staff and Faculty in a workshop

L.E.A.D Certificate

In the Leadership, Education, Advocacy and Diversity program, participants complete 9 workshops, an IDI and a final reflection. This training empowers employees to create a more just and equitable community.

Photo of staff involved in DEI Conversations

DEI Conversations

The College community collaborates with campus offices and community partners to promote inclusive practices across campus. Through these intentionally inclusive conversations, we’re able to implement these efforts.

Presenter speaks at Diversity Dish event

Diversity Dish

Employees gather at Diversity Dishes to learn and explore a DEI topic in a low-key, relaxed atmosphere. Presenters include College and area community members sharing their best practices around accessibility and inclusion.

Information and Resources

Diversity and Inclusion Resources

The work of diversity and inclusion belongs to all of us. To support making St. Scholastica a welcoming place of inclusion the Office of Multicultural Student Services has collected a variety of helpful learningteaching and development resources for the community. You’ll also find recommended reading and accessibility resources.

The College of St. Scholastica

Nondiscrimination Notice: The College of St. Scholastica is committed to fostering an inclusive and respectful environment free from discrimination and harassment. We prohibit discrimination based on race, color, national origin and other protected statuses. View full statement.