DIVERSITY PEER EDUCATION
PROGRAM
One Campus One Vision for Diversity and
Inclusion
Mission
The mission of Diversity Peer Education Program is to help create a
learning environment that celebrates diversity, builds
partnerships, and provides support to enhance the success of an
inclusive and culturally respectful university campus.
Vision
The Diversity Peer Education Program strives to promote experiences
characterized by open communication that deepens understanding of
culture and heritage, to promote respect for commonalities and
differences in historical and cultural contexts, to encourage civic
and social responsibility within our communities, and to help make
the campus a welcoming place for everyone.
Objectives
We commit to help our students to gain insights, value diversity,
and take actions by:
• Creating a cultural surrounding where diversity
is a driving force
• Increasing appreciation of differences
• Limiting the influence of stereotypes
• Transforming knowledge into acceptance and
empathy
• Understanding the impact of their behaviors on
others
Student Learning Outcomes
- Students will develop a sense of responsibility to social
justice and diversity issues and service to others both in and out
of the classroom
- Students will have the opportunity to enhance cultural
sensitivity and competence through the formal and informal
interactions with diverse peers, faculty members, administrators,
and staff
- Students will gain a better understanding of the cultural
challenges facing multicultural environment
- Students will articulate issues related to diversity in their
surroundings through the reflections on one’s own understanding and
experience
- Students will show greater openness and willingness to engage
in respectful communication across social differences
Programs and Services:
• Diversity Peer
Educators: All St. John’s full-time students who have a
cumulative grade point average 2.75 or higher, good disciplinary
standing as per the Dean of Students, highly self-motivated, a
strong sense of diversity awareness, and good presentation skills
are eligible to apply to be a Diversity Peer Educator.
Our Diversity Peer Educators are trained to design and facilitate
diversity workshops, games, and activities as requested by STJ
faculty members, student organizations, and local communities; and
to assist in programming cultural diversity events and
activities.
Services include:
- Develop and facilitate diversity awareness
workshops for the interest groups at St. John's and the "Don't
Cancel That Class" (DCTC) requested by faculty members.
- Design and conduct cultural diversity classes
and activities for local communities
- Plan and coordinate Diversity Week events
collaborating with St. John’s student organizations
• Coping strategies for
cultural shock Sessions: Four one-hour sessions to learn
about cultural shock phases from conflict to acceptance and copies
strategies that help international students prepare for adjusting
to life in the US and American students for study abroad. Sessions
will be scheduled based on requests, and a minimum of 10 students
is required.
• Intercultural
Dialogue: The Dialogue is to encourage harmonious
interaction and equitable exchange and conversation among
people with plural and dynamic cutlural identities at St. John’s
University, and to provide an opportunity for our students and the
univeristy community members to deepen their understanding of
cultural diversity values based on mutual understanding and respect
of all cultures. Topics and sessions based on requests by
interest groups.
• Ronald H. Brown Summer
Law School Prep Program: The Summer Law School Prep Program
sponsored by the Ronald H. Brown Center for Civil Rights and
Economic Development through the St. John’s School of Law is
designed for college sophomores who are either low-income or
first-generation college students or members of a group
underrepresented in law school education. Program application info
session is scheduled for all St. John’s sophomores in early
December of Fall semester.
Additional Information
Rosa C. Yen
Associate Director, Leadership Development & Multicultural
Affairs
(718) 990-5023
yenc@stjohns.edu