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 If you stepped on Towson’s campus 20 years ago, you would have noticed that something was missing...figuratively speaking, you could say that Towson was a place not representative of the human ‘colors of the rainbow.’ There was something that the university lacked which was blatantly obvious. If you guessed diversity, you guessed right. However, since that time, Towson University has taken on a new face. The university has been committed to making the campus more representative of the different colors of humanity. While Towson is a long way from being the most diverse university in the nation, it has taken a step in the direction or multiculturalism.
When Towson first opened its doors on January 15, 1866, it was called the Maryland State Normal School. There were only 11 students and three faculty, all of whom were white. It was the first teacher-training school in Maryland which at first excluded minorities and males in the enrollment process. The first black student was admitted to Towson in 1962. As the school grew from 206 students in 1876 to more than 20,000 in 2007 Towson has been increasing diversity in its students, faculty and staff.
Over the years, Towson has developed several programs to help facilitate the growth of diversity on the campus. “Our diversity initiatives will result in a learning community which mirrors the face of the population surrounding us in our region and state,” said Dr. Robert Caret, President of the University. “As new campus community members join us from various cultural, racial and ethnic groups, we will infuse the curriculum and environment with culturally responsive actions to foster broadened perspectives and high achievement for all members of our community.” With the help of the Diversity Coordinating Council that includes the Provost, Dr. James P. Clements, the Vice President for Administration and Finance, James Sheehan, the Vice President for Student Affairs, Dr. Deb Moriarty and the Special Assistant to the President for Diversity and Equal Opportunity, Debbie Seeberger, the university’s administration has made diversity a campus-wide priority.
“Towson University values diversity and fosters a climate that is grounded in respect and inclusion, enriches the educational experience of students, supports positive workplace environments, promotes excellence, and cultivates the intellectual and personal growth of the entire university community,” so states the university’s diversity vision statement. To encourage all faculty and staff to be accountable for diversity and inclusion, the president has entitled his plan for diversity, “ Reflective Process for Diversity,” a five-phase plan that is a critical component of his Towson 2010 vision. “Diversity is a key component of Towson 2010,” says Debbie Seeberger, Special Assistant to the President for Diversity and Equal Opportunity. “President Caret is very serious about this issue, so he built it into our strategic plan.”
To ensure implementation of the university’s diversity vision, several programs/departments were established. The Center for Student Diversity, the Diversity Action Plan, the Diversity Advancement Committee, the Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity, International Student and scholar Office, the Multicultural Institute and many more. The Center for Student Diversity is a key player in the diversity vision because it provides a direct link to the students. When it first opened its doors in 1969, it tried to help facilitate the access and integration of black students into the university and to campaign on their behalf. Today, we see that mission statement has evolved to encompass the well-being of all minority students on this campus and to ensure that they have more than adequate resources to succeed in the university and in the community-at-large. The mission of the center is to provide intellectual, social, personal, and cultural enrichment programs and services that build community and create civility. Under the Center for Student Diversity you find the newly-established Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Student Development, Student Success Programs, the African American Cultural Center, the Women’s Center and the Asian/Hispanic Student Development program.
The different cultural organizations on this campus give insight into how diverse the university has become. They include: the African Diaspora Club, the Black Student Union, the Brotherhood, the Caribbean Student Association, Feminist Collective, Filipino Cultural Association, Hillel ( Jewish Cultural Center), IMPACT Movement, Infinite Praise Ministries, International Student Association, Latin American Student Organization, Queer Student Union, South Asian Student Association and The Sisterhood. These organizations strive to empower their students and contribute to the strengthening of the multicultural voice of the university.
Phase one of President Caret’s diversity action plan began implementation in 2005. The first phase consists of five specific goals and various action items that will facilitate the development of a stronger, more welcoming, academic and social community. The purpose of the first goal is to develop and promote a respectful campus climate and provide services that appreciate and celebrate difference. The second goal focuses on developing programs and initiatives that promote diversity and inclusion in all students/student groups. The focus of the third goal is to provide professional development activities that assist staff and faculty in understanding their own and other cultures. The fourth goal highlights the importance of enrolling, retaining and graduating culturally diverse students to support Towson University’s mission as “Maryland’s Metropolitan University.” Lastly, the fifth goal discusses the university's desire to recruit, hire and retain culturally diverse employees across all levels and areas of the university.
One of the worst things your boyfriend can say to you is “you are acting like my mother” or worse, “you are acting like your mother!”
Enough said.
We haven’t always had this kind of high-level support for diversity, and it makes all the difference in terms of what can be accomplished,” Seeberger, who has worked at the university for 24 years, said. “It is critical that as a community we begin to see the various diversity markers, not just color of skin because other things contribute to the uniqueness of an individual,” she states. The university has an administration that is dedicated to embracing multiculturalism and making it a part of campus-reality. “Diversity goals aren’t a wish-list anymore,” Seeberger emphasizes . “They’re our road map to the future.
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