Diversity Profile

Commitment to Equal Opportunity:

At the College of Charleston, we believe that fostering diversity in our campus community is essential to educating students for life in today’s global economy. If you share our goals of building a diverse, inclusive campus community and graduating responsible global citizens, consider a career at the College of Charleston.

It is the Policy of the College of Charleston to promote and protect a learning and living environment where civil discourse, respect for the individual, and appreciation for the diversity of human experiences are valued as compelling academic interests. We are committed to providing leadership in the attainment of equal employment rights for all persons. In order to establish equal opportunities, the Office of Human Relations and Minority Affairs ensures immediate response to complaints of discrimination based on age, disability, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, pregnancy, race/color, religion, sex, and veteran status and uniform services and protection against retaliation and sexual harassment for all persons, including students, employees, and/or applicants for employment and admission. Since its inception, the Office of Human Relations and Minority Affairs has sought to eliminate discrimination and harassment and has overseen the College's policies and investigation process for faculty, staff, and students.

As an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer, the College of Charleston is committed to nondiscriminatory practices consistent with federal and state requirements and objectives, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; Executive Order 11246, as amended; Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; South Carolina Human Affairs Law; Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as amended; Sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; and Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended.

AA/EEO Office:

Kimberly Gertner, Esq.,

Director, Office of Human Relations and Minority Affairs

Address: 66 George Street, Charleston, SC 29424

Office: Robert Scott Small Bldg, Room 112

Email: gertnerka@cofc.edu

Phone: 843.953.5758

Web: hrma.cofc.edu

Commitment to Diversity:

At the College of Charleston, diversity is more than just human differences. Diversity is our strength and the bond that unites us together as a campus community. Our students represent 49 states, several U.S. territories, and 62 foreign countries. You will meet students, faculty, and staff from different cultures, ethnic backgrounds, beliefs, and sexual orientations. We are specifically looking for future community members who will enrich our campus in a variety of ways and support our diversity goals.

Diversity by the Numbers:

62 countries represented

7 of 10 deans are women or minority

12 faith-based student organizations on campus

16% minority student population

12% minority faculty population

43% women faculty population

The Board of Trustees affirmed our institutional commitment to diversity when it adopted the College’s ten-year Strategic Plan in 2009. In 2010, the President formed the Commission on Diversity, Access, Equity, and Inclusion to act as a catalyst for the Institutional Diversity Strategic Plan with the goal of achieving “Inclusive Academic and Institutional Excellence” within a campus climate that is diverse, inviting, and supportive of social justice for all.

As outlined in our Diversity Strategic Plan, the College has prioritized the following seven goals:

Recruit, retain and graduate greater numbers of qualified minority, first generation and international students.
Recruit and retain greater numbers of women and minorities into faculty, staff, and administrative positions (including deans, chairs, and vice presidents).
Create a supportive environment that is diverse, inclusive, and welcoming to all.
Infuse diversity into the curriculum.
Collect and organize data to create data bases in order to systematically and effectively assess progress and align or re-align programs to achieve diversity goals.
Develop a financial plan for funding diversity initiatives in the diversity strategic plan.
Produce and disseminate an annual report on the status of diversity at the College.

(How are we doing? View our Diversity Scorecard.)

Diversity Resources:

With the support of, and in collaboration with the College community, the Office of Institutional Diversity promotes the total integration of diversity into the life of the College. The Office implements comprehensive programming that includes educational, cultural, social, and outreach events, diversity training workshops, and campus-wide intergroup dialogues.

Learn more about Diversity Initiatives, Diversity Programs, Diversity Events, and Diversity Education and Training at the College of Charleston. Contact the Office of Institutional Diversity at OID@cofc.edu or 843.953.5079, or visit us online at diversity.cofc.edu.

Campus resources:

Organizations/clubs/social networks:

Arabic Club
Asian Student Association (ASA)
Black Student Union
Baha'i Faith and Friends (BFF)
Gay-Straight Alliance
Jewish Student Union/ Hillel (JSU)
Hispanic Latino Club (HLC)
Indian Culture Exchange
LGBTQ Faculty/Staff Coalition
Muslim Student Association (MSA)
National Organization for Women (NOW)
Religious Life Council
Student Government Advocacy Committee for Diversity on Campus
Student Union for Multicultural Affairs (SUMA)
Women Reaching Independence Through Support and Education (WeRISE)
...and many more

Community:

The College of Charleston is located in heart of the city of Charleston. We welcome visitors to our vibrant, historic campus. Prospective students, faculty, and friends who visit our campus will find plenty of ways to enjoy it—from a stroll through the live oaks draped with Spanish moss, to a step back in time as they enter the threshold of Towell Library, to a glimpse of the future in the School of Business Beatty Center or the Cato Center for the Arts’ new performance, rehearsal, and studio space. In both the weathered buildings and state-of-the-art facilities, you can almost feel the presence of those who have gone before – students and faculty, who, like those today, questioned yesterday's theories and tested tomorrow's ideas.

Charleston is America's most beautifully preserved architectural and historical treasure. Our location on the best harbor along the South Atlantic coast has made it a notable port of commerce for three centuries. We are grateful to live, work, and study in one of the greatest cities in the world. In fact, Charleston was voted USA's No. 1 city for the third consecutive year and the No. 1 “Friendliest” city by the Condé Nast Traveler magazine’s prestigious Readers’ Choice Awards. Additionally, Travel & Leisure Magazine deemed Charleston the No. 3 destination in the world and the No. 1 city in the U.S. and Canada, leading the rankings over New York, San Francisco, Vancouver, and Montreal. (Read more about visiting Charleston here).

Charleston’s culture, history, and natural resources provide a strong foundation for the College's dedicated learning community, furthering exploration, discovery, and creativity. The College of Charleston fosters a culture that emphasizes experiential learning and development through participation in a supportive yet challenging environment where students benefit from a talented, accomplished, and diverse faculty and staff. With our stellar location, vibrant student life, and devoted faculty, the College of Charleston is truly one of the nation’s great public universities in the country’s finest city.