Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Access & Social Justice (IDEAS) Center

At Allegheny College, we recognize and convey:

• Black lives matter.
• BIPOC (Black, Indigenous & People of Color) deserve equity in the classroom and throughout the campus community.
• Being performative is short term and well-intended, but being substantive creates real and lasting change. We are focused on substantive change.
• Creating change takes time; now is a crucial time in continuing to work on the needed change to create a more accepting campus community. The work that we have done, will continue to do, and commit to moving forward will have a lasting and monumental impact on our campus community.
• The IDEAS Center and other spaces designed to be intentional in support of BIPOC and other historically marginalized students are also spaces for our white student body to learn about and engage in conversations around issues of social justice and anti-racist work.
• Creating an inclusive campus is not the sole responsibility of BIPOC students. It is the work of an entire campus community.

Everyday, we continue the work by:

• Advocating for BIPOC and other under-resourced student populations at Allegheny College, and continuing to provide comprehensive support, guidance, and a space in which students feel they can come to share.
• Educating students who do not understand white supremacy, microaggressions, and unconscious bias, and providing the information to become better allies within the Allegheny College community.
• Being an open resource during tabling events across campus.
• Keeping under-resourced students at the center of our thinking and conveying their needs in intentional ways when working directly with/alongside campus partners.

Programs managed by the IDEAS Center:

• Facilitated educational programs in collaboration with athletic departments to bring awareness of the harm inflicted through microaggressions, unawareness of white supremacy, and privilege through raising cultural humility, and how to be a better ally.
• Collaboration with the Student Life Coordinator for Leadership and Involvement and students to develop training for fraternity and sorority life on privilege and racism to create a more inclusive environment for all fraternity and sorority life members.
• Began instruction of module courses (LS 190 Fall – Student Success as a Student of Color, LS 190 Spring – Cultural Competency) intentionally designed for BIPOC to engage in conversation in a brave environment where they can discuss the challenges of attending a predominantly white institution.
• Provided opportunities for students to have an influence on how the IDEAS Center functions and how to continue to improve the work the center does through student employment, leadership development of our Culture, Identity & Leadership Coalition (CILC) organizations, and engagement with students who frequent the space.
• Created a monthly newsletter highlighting our Culture, Identity & Leadership Coalition organizations as well as the workshops, etc., that are being sponsored by the center to share with faculty and staff to increase the awareness of our under-resourced student populations.

A commitment to the work means we will:

• Increase awareness for the campus community on anti-racist work, social activism, allyship, and cultural awareness.
• Have available spaces for students to share in conversation regarding anti-racism, social justice, and activism and encourage students to utilize these spaces.
• Create interactive and engaging opportunities for students to think critically about identity, social movements, and how historically marginalized people have been impacted by systemic racism both within our campus community and globally.
• Host cultural heritage month events in collaboration with student organizations to increase awareness of the diversity on campus.

The Maytum Center for Student Success draws together a variety of academic support services to create a “one-stop shop” for students in Allegheny’s Pelletier Library. Peer consultants assist students with writing, public speaking, and study in a variety of academic subjects.
Our professional staff arranges accommodations for students with disabilities; consult with students on study skills such as time management, effective reading, and test taking; coordinate new student registration; and support the academic advising program.

The Maytum Center for Student Success is located on the main floor of the Academic Commons, which also includes the Pelletier Library. This space provides great opportunities for student tutoring, consultations, and group or personal study.

Please stop by and visit us! We hope to see you soon!

Allegheny provides free individual and group counseling and psychological services to students in a confidential setting. The college years are a time of growth, significant challenges, and considerable stress. We are here to help you with the variety of concerns by listening, thinking together, developing an understanding of your concerns and determining how best to proceed.

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The Center for Career and Professional Development is committed to facilitating student success by connecting students and alumni with resources that support career and life planning. Career educators network with alumni professionals and other partners, both on and off campus, to develop internships, and job shadowing opportunities, educational programs, and employment leads to help students attain their personal and professional goals.