Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Mission Statement
At the outset of 2021, Christian Brothers University established an Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ODEI) to facilitate a more diverse, inclusive and supportive campus climate, to promote greater and deeper cultural understanding among the diverse members of our Lasallian community, and to develop campus collaborations and community relationships that will enrich the intellectual, developmental and multicultural experiences of all CBU students, faculty, staff, and administrators.
We are committed to enriching the University community through diverse and inclusive programming; providing opportunities for engagement and personal development; enhancing the campus experience for students, faculty, and staff from marginalized identity groups; and fostering a campus environment that creates opportunities for identity expression.
Signature Programs and Events
Speaker Series
Our office will be offering a speaker series to provide students, faculty, and staff with the opportunity to discuss various multicultural and diversity related topics. Each session will explore various ideas, and all are facilitated to help foster meaningful dialogue and enhance cultural awareness. We encourage all CBU community members to join us for this informative dialogue series. Please visit the Events at CBU calendar to learn more about upcoming events.
Diversity Heritage Months
Our office facilitates programming and events during widely-recognized awareness months that are intended to raise awareness and enhance understanding for different ethnic groups, cultures, and causes. These include:
- Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15-October 15)
- National Disability Employment Awareness Month (October)
- Native American Heritage Month (November)
- Black History Month (February)
- Women’s History Month (March)
- Celebrate Diversity Month (April)
- Asian-American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (May)
- LGBTQ+ Pride Month (June)
- Immigrant Heritage Month (June)
Please visit the Events at CBU calendar to learn more about upcoming events.
President’s Commission on Social Justice
The mission of the President’s Commission for Social Justice is to assist the President in ensuring the University’s ongoing fulfillment of our Lasallian core values of respecting the dignity of all persons; being a united community where diversity is respected, where no one is left out, and where everyone finds a place; demonstrating a sensitivity toward the poor and those suffering from injustice; and providing an educational experience that prepares students not only for success in college, but also for success in all of their future endeavors.
In furtherance of this mission, the Commission for Social Justice fulfills the following roles and responsibilities:
- It serves as an advisor, resource and sounding board to the President on matters of social justice, equity and inclusivity;
- It assists the President in first formulating and then executing upon an annual plan and schedule of community dialogues, educational programming, and speaker/forum events focused on advancing social justice, equity and inclusivity, both on and beyond the campus;
- It supports the President and the Vice President for Academic Affairs in collaborating with the Deans and the faculty to infuse the topics of social justice, equity and inclusivity within the University curriculum; and
- In collaboration with the Lasallian Social Justice Institute, it aids the President in identifying, facilitating and optimizing potential partnerships between the University and local, national and international organizations whose work is focused on advancing social justice, equity and inclusivity.
Student Clubs and Organizations
At Christian Brothers University, student clubs and cultural organizations provide students with the opportunity to become involved on campus and in the Memphis community. We strongly encourage you to learn more about the different clubs and organizations. Whether you join as a member or choose to lead a student group, being active in an extracurricular group will enhance your academic experience.
- Asian Student Association
- Black Student Association
- Gay Straight Alliance
- Hola CBU
- Muslim Student Association
- NAACP
- Nations United
- Voices United
Equity, Inclusion, and Justice Studies Minor
Christian Brothers University offers an interdisciplinary minor in Equity, Inclusion, and Justice Studies (EIJS) that is intended to complement progress toward completion of a bachelor’s degree in the student’s major field of study. The minor is designed to encourage students to apply practices that promote equity and to consider and understand the importance of diversity and the value of inclusive groups, institutions, and communities. Courses contributing to the EIJS minor cover topics on race, sexuality, ethnicity, religion, class, mental and physical ability, indigeneity, language, age, faith, and/or gender identity.
The Equity, Inclusion, and Justice Studies minor is intended to operate apart from the Global Studies and the Women’s and Gender Studies minors. A course taken as part of the requirements for the EIJS minor cannot also count toward either the Global Studies or Women’s and Gender Studies minors. A minor in EIJS requires 18 credit hours.
For more information, please contact the EIJS Program Director, Dr. Tawny LeBouef Tullia. She can be reached by email at tltullia@cbu.edu.
Other Resources
Our office works with various campus departments and stakeholders to provide support and collaborative alliances designed to help you achieve your academic, professional, and individual goals through collaborative efforts with the following campus resources:
