Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

As a public university and institution of higher education, Maritime College must make every effort to become a safe and inclusive campus community that is anchored in respect, civility, and compassion and free from bias, discrimination, and harassment. While the free exchange of ideas is encouraged at Maritime College, it is important to note that bias and hate speech tear apart the substance of our College identity and deeply harm every member of the campus community. 

Goal

A diverse Maritime College is a stronger and better Maritime College. The College is continuously striving to be a college community where diversity in all its forms is embraced and valued. Diversity of backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences. Diversity of gender, sexual orientation, race, and ethnicity. This collective goal cannot be achieved and the strength of the College's diversity cannot be completely realized unless the campus is fully safe and inclusive. Only through meaningful inclusion can the transformative power of the College's diversity be activated.

Maritime College has committed to further strengthening an inclusive campus community that reflects a diverse faculty, students, and staff in its Strategic Plan. Building a more inclusive campus community ensures that graduates possess the understanding, empathy, and cultural fluency to thrive in an increasingly diverse society.

LEADing Change

This framework, which directly aligns with the goals expressed in the Strategic Plan, is designed to LEAD to the systemic changes needed to make Maritime College a safe and inclusive campus where each person is valued and respected. The intent is to Listen, Educate, Act, and Discuss. 

Through the LEADing Change framework, Maritime College recommits itself to making the campus safe, diverse, and inclusive for all students, faculty, and staff.  The College is committed to cultivating a visible culture of respect, civility, and inclusion among students, faculty, and staff, and vehemently condemns all forms of bias, discrimination, harassment, and hate speech. 

LEADing Change is a means of realizing the vision of a safe and inclusive campus climate at Maritime College.
 


Safe Space Training for Faculty, Staff, and Students

Maritime College is proud to foster and facilitate Safe Space Training for Faculty, Staff, and separate sessions open to educating the student body. Safe Space was created to support the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, Asexual, and Intersex (LGBTQQIA) community by providing allies that students can reach out to, while also providing resources for them to refer to.

Maritime College allies are a community that has undergone Safe Space training and considers themselves open and knowledgeable about LGBTQQIA topics. These allies are representatives for students that identify themselves as LGBTQQIA members. Safe Space trained members may be noticed by the "Rainbow M" Safe Space sticker located in offices. 

The Safe Space Training program has been on campus since 2014 and consists of a training program, which culminates in participants signing a pledge and receiving a sticker to place on their doors, signaling that the space and the person inside welcome open conversation. Nearly 100 faculty and staff members have completed the training.

Inquiries regarding upcoming training sessions may be directed to Arianne Romeo, Assistant Dean of Student Life & Orientation at aromeo@sunymaritime.edu.

Resources