Loyola asks 'each academic unit' to teach 'identity and privilege'

Loyola University Chicago has announced plans to have every academic department perform a “Racial Justice Examen,” in which those departments will evaluate and reflect how they are doing when it comes to racial justice. 

According to the Loyola University Division of Academic Affairs, the ”Racial Justice Examen” is part of a broader plan to create a “safe, respectful, and inclusive environment for students, staff, and faculty of color.” The university will create this environment by reviewing campus procedures and providing diversity training to help students, staff, and faculty “identify and interrupt bias” and learn about “identity and privilege” on campus.

To accomplish this, the university will move in three phases. In summer 2020, the university focused on examining the current diversification and equality efforts in every academic department.

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From fall 2020 through fall 2021, the university will have every “academic unit” undergo the “Racial justice examen,” asking each to perform a “deep reflection of current practices around race and racial justice.”

The last phase will focus on creating solutions “for racial justice to address the identified problems,” which is planned to be completed by the end of 2021.

These goals were developed by the university’s Anti-Racism Initiative Working Group, with the goal of bringing “students, staff, and faculty together to address issues raised by our community.”

In addition, the university will conduct a “faculty climate survey” and an “institute survey,” with the goal of helping “the strategic planning process” surrounding their anti-racism initiatives.

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Campus Reform reached out to Loyola University Chicago for comment but did not receive a response in time for publication. 

Follow the author of this article on Twitter: @RachelLalgie