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Why Do We Value Diversity?

A Message from Regis University President
Father Michael Sheeran, S.J.

A Catholic University must become more attentive to the cultures of the world today, and to the various cultural traditions existing within the church in a way that will promote a continuous and profitable dialog between the Gospel and modern society.”
-Ex Corde Ecclesiae, 45

Why do we value diversity?

Throughout our 400-year history, members of the Society of Jesus have held a commitment not just to quality education, but as well to valuing diversity and “finding God in all things.” Pope John Paul has written that “this heightened sense of the dignity of the human person and of his or her uniqueness… certainly represents one of the positive achievements of modern culture.” (Veritatis Splendor no. 31). We are proud to be a part of a legacy which stands up for its beliefs and the rights and values of all members of society.

The Regis University mission affirms the importance of diversity in many ways.

• “We encourage the search for truth, values and a just existence.” The search for truth requires that all perspectives be subject to critical examination and exploration. Only then can we really seek the truth.
• “Regis University educates men and women to take leadership roles and to make a positive impact in a changing society.” Our students will be better prepared to do these things having learned and lived in a multicultural community.
• “We nurture the life of the mind and the pursuit of truth within an environment conducive to effective teaching, learning and personal development.”

It is also essential to be able to recruit and retain the best students, faculty and staff, realizing fully that excellence and quality are not limited to a single race, gender, ethnic group, religion or sexual orientation. To achieve this, Regis University needs to be a welcoming place where the success of each individual is a priority and so that no one in the university community feels isolated. Our mission implies it. Our sense of justice demands it.

We are doing a number of things to demonstrate and refine our commitment to diversity. For example, over the past few years several groups such as the Diversity Facilitators, Asian American Association and the Black Student Alliance have been formed which help to support, empower and educate our community about various aspects of diversity. The mission-based commitment to justice and diversity is now an integral part of the curriculum of each of our three schools.

As we reflect on our achievements thus far in the area of diversity and look to the challenges ahead, we should also be attentive to what diversity means at Regis University.

• Diversity is not just about numbers. Although we want our campus to visibly reflect the diversity of our broader community and continually measure dimensions of diversity among students, faculty, and staff, we don’t do this by quotas. Instead, the university community as a whole commits to the proactive search for qualified and diverse people, so that every person who is invited to join the university (in any capacity) has been invited on their own merits and will be given a reasonable chance to succeed through their own efforts.
• Our commitment to diversity is and must be viewed as long-term. This is an institutional commitment now and will endure until we become the university that we envision- one that is responsive to and reflective of our diverse society in our thoughts and actions.
• Diversity is everyone's responsibility. Although we have designated the Associate to the Provost for Diversity to lead the University in these initiatives, everyone must act together or the initiatives will fail. One person cannot serve on all search committees, recruit students, allocate resources and create an environment conducive to student and community success.

Meeting this challenge requires each of us to recognize and examine our own biases and limitations, to see Regis University through the eyes of others, and to create an environment of mutual respect. Our work together will guide the future of Regis University.

Sincerely,


Michael J. Sheeran, S.J.
President

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