Office of Student Diversity Programs

"Diversity is centered in moving students from their own embedded worldviews to embrace those of another - a core tenet of liberal education" - Dr. Sylvia Hurtado

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Mission Statement

The Office of Student Diversity Programs (OSDP) promotes cross-cultural understanding and positive relationships in support of student success and an inclusive campus community. OSDP programs are grounded in an understanding of diversity that includes people of all races, ethnicities, sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, socio-economic classes, religious and spiritual traditions, ages, and abilities. The office fosters student leadership and personal engagement by providing support, access to resources, and increasing campus awareness of diversity. We do this by advocating for students, creating spaces for cultural celebration, promoting leadership development and providing opportunities for education and reflection.

Programs and Services

The Office of Student Diversity Programs advises and facilitates diversity-focused student organizations and collaborates with academic and other departmental programs concerned with diversity. OSDP sponsors speakers, performers, art exhibits, dinners, films, and forums. Our services include:

Advising and Support
Week and month long programs such as: Culture Fest, Caribbean Awareness Week, Coming Out Week, Hip Hop Awareness Week, Hayat Week, Hispanic/Latino Heritage Month, Black History Month, Asian Cultural Awareness Month, and Pride Month.
Intercultural Center Library
Leadership Retreats
Networking Opportunities

Diversity and Inclusion at Skidmore College

Skidmore College is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive community in which members develop their abilities to live in a complex and interconnected world. Consistent with our educational mission, we recognize ourselves as a community that respects individual identities based on varying sociocultural characteristics, such as race, ethnicity, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, national origin, first language, religious and spiritual tradition, age, ability, socioeconomic status, and learning style. We strive to create a socially just world that honors the dignity and worth of each individual, and we seek to build a community centered on mutual respect and openness to ideas—one in which individuals value cultural and intellectual diversity and share the responsibility for creating a welcoming, safe, and inclusive environment. We recognize that our community is most inclusive when all members participate to their full capacity in the spirited, and sometimes challenging, conversations that are at the center of the College’s educational mission.

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