Diversity Matters
Diversity in Teaching
Our faculty come from four continents and numerous states, and the exchange of ideas that results is vital to the character of the CHC. Such differences carry over into the classroom: Each course syllabus reflects the training and background of its professor, and every class discussion, the range of experiences of the students in the room. Rather than seeking standardization, the CHC celebrates diversity.
Diversity in Students
The CHC's commitment to difference is not limited to our faculty. Past and present CHC students include individuals from urban and rural Oregon, from across the United States, and from around the world. Such geographic diversity is paralleled by ethnic and racial diversity. Students from diverse backgrounds contribute in many different ways to a vibrant and dynamic environment within the college and the university as a whole. As a college we are pleased to reach out to the growing Spanish-speaking communities within Oregon. The CHC strives to provide a welcoming home for students from every background: A multiplicity of perspectives enriches and informs our lives as well as our classroom discussions.
Diversity Programs
We seek to engage our students and our communities in discussing diversity in its broadest and most comprehensive forms including race and ethnicity. CHC admissions workshops will bring local students to Chapman Hall to ensure potential applicants can make an informed choice about the CHC. Kaleidoscope, a student organization created in the 2010-2011 academic year, is committed to raising awareness and fostering appreciation for the unique diversity of each individual.
Study Abroad
Expanding a student's world view is not just a good idea—it's a crucial component of the undergraduate educational experience. We strongly encourage CHC students to look beyond the CHC for a global perspective. Even as our faculty conduct international research, our students spend summers, terms, or entire years abroad, and often integrate their time overseas with their thesis projects. The UO offers dozens of study abroad programs; CHC and departmental advisers can help interested students find a program to advance their interests and academic goals.
