Diversity Profile
Juniata College is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons, without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, disability, ancestry, marital status, veteran status, citizenship status, sexual orientation or any other protected class of an individual. Consistent with this commitment, the College will take positive steps to increase the ethnic and gender diversity among its employees.
Because of the ethical commitment of the College, and in order to provide equal opportunity, it shall develop special efforts in the recruitment and employment of minority persons to overcome inequities that may have resulted from past inabilities to recruit or retain such persons on the faculty and staff of Juniata College. In determining goals and objectives for its affirmative action, the College shall neither eliminate nor dilute standards which are necessary for the successful achievement of the institution’s mission.
Some members of the Juniata community, known as Stewards, have been trained specifically to help realize our goals. Stewards of Diversity are Juniata employees who have undergone training in diversity employment. They aim to assist members of the committee in their search, selection and retention of qualified candidates, especially those underrepresented populations. Stewards aims to eliminate any form of bias from job postings and interview questions, as well as suggest new ways to connect with a broader range of candidates through identifying innovative places to promote job listings.
To contact the Juniata College Office of Diversity and Inclusion, please email diversity@juniata.edu.
In Juniata’s strategic plan Courage to Act, one of our priorities states, “Juniata College will grow, nurture and support an inclusive, engaged, and vibrant community.” Juniata’s most distinctive asset is its people and community. A student-first approach is not merely a tagline but the lived experience for most everyone at Juniata. Students and their families become lifelong, integral pieces of the Juniata fabric.
Juniata’s community has long been described as welcoming, but as it has grown and diversified, our welcoming impulses have to adapt as contemporary students arrive with different ideas, challenges, and needs.
One of our key initiatives is to create a campus community of inclusiveness from the classroom to the residence halls and conference rooms. We are committed to ensuring diverse candidate pools, developing academic, employee and residential life activities, and educational opportunities that encourage dialogue, develop competencies, and foster interaction around diversity. Juniata also aims to strengthen international opportunities, programs and skills as a means to cement internationalism as a signature part of its offerings to students.
The Unity House: Since 2005, the Unity House has promoted a supportive, positive, and relaxed atmosphere for all students to engage with each other and also provides a flexible meeting space for many student organizations and groups, a private meditation/prayer room, and kitchen. This unique building houses both the Office of Diversity & Inclusion (ODI) and Campus Ministry. Additionally, ODI oversees the Bias Response Team, Diversity Committee, and Intergroup Dialogue Committee.
Gender Inclusive Housing and Bathrooms: Implemented in Fall 2011, the Gender Inclusive Housing policy permits male and female Juniata students, who would be uncomfortable in a traditional housing arrangement, to room together. This policy aims to be more inclusive and sensitive to the needs of all students, especially those in the LBTQ community. Across campus, there are more than 15 gender neutral restrooms.
Registered Student Organizations: Juniata’s club offerings change depending on interest, giving students the opportunity to evolve existing RSOs or create new ones. Some prominent organizations include Plexus (social justice), PRISM (LGBTQ advocacy), Umoja (African-American Student Alliance), Hillel (Jewish student engagement), and the Juniata College Student Government diversity council.
P.E.A.C.E. certificate: Overseen by the Office of Diversity & Inclusion and signed by the College President, the P.E.A.C.E. Certificate celebrates your commitment to reaching beyond tolerance and fostering a deeper understanding of a variety of identities and issues that marginalized groups face. Attend certificate eligible events, such as the Beyond Tolerance workshops, to move up from the Bronze to Silver, Gold and Gold Certified!
Plexus: Plexus is comprised of 3 components – a 1st year student Inbound program, a RSO, and a peer-mentoring fellowship that supports 1st generation students through their social and academic transition as they develop strong leadership skills.
Safe Zone: Over 25 administrators and Resident Assistants have undergone training to be Safe Zone certified. Training is available every other academic year.
Juniata College is located in a charming small town that is nestled in the leafy, rolling mountains of central Pennsylvania. Our tight-knit community consists of classmates from 34 countries and 39 states, 10% international students and 12% minority. As we strive to gain a global perspective, nearly 50% of our students have studied abroad on 6 continents, at programs in places such as the Gambia, India, Ireland, New Zealand and China. Additionally, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion partners with the Office of Community Service to provide the Cultural Learning Tour, an intensive service learning abroad experience that has traveled to India, Ecuador and the Dominican Republic.