Welcome to Penn State Berks! The college is committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive campus that celebrates the unique strengths of each and every culture. At Penn State Berks, we embrace diversity as an essential part of building a rich and vibrant community. We believe that diversity and community are mutually dependent, and we strive to create an environment that promotes respect for differences while fostering caring relationships, cross-cultural understanding, and appreciation across the campus.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) Committee
Our DEIB Committee is comprised of students, faculty, and staff who are committed to celebrating diversity in all its forms on campus. Their mission is to engage the campus and local community in promoting inclusion and supporting diversity at Penn State Berks. The committee works to educate, train, and provide activities to the campus community to ensure inclusiveness and cultural understanding that recognizes values and differences.
Resources for Students
International / Multicultural Students
Penn State Berks offer a vibrant, diverse community for international students. Students have come from countries including Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Ecuador, France, Gambia, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Israel, Mexico, Morocco, Nigeria, Norway, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, and Zimbabwe. The college provides many programs and resources that address the unique needs of international students.
The Office of Diversity and International Programs supports and serves as an advocate for diverse populations within the college community, from helping students to find scholarships, to providing mentoring opportunities, to identifying programs and services that support student success.
LGBTQA Students
Safe Zone is a campus-wide program designed to raise visibility about the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning, and advocate (LGBTQA) population, to understand the issues facing LGBTQA students, and become aware of the various LGBTQA resources at Penn State.
Student Disability Resources
At every Penn State location, there is an office designated to provide services for students with disabilities. Each designated office requests and maintains disability related documents; certifies eligibility for services; determines academic adjustments, auxiliary aids, and/or services; and develops plans for the provision of academic adjustments, auxiliary aids, and/or services as mandated under the Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act (ADAAA) of 2008 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
For more information on Student Disability Resources, contact the office at bksdr@psu.edu or visit 161 Franco Building.
Student Clubs and Organizations
- African Student Organization
- Black Student Union
- Christian Student Fellowship
- Latinos United for Change
- Muslim Student Association
- Rainbow Alliance
Programs and Events
There are a number of activities planned specifically for international students, including trips to major metropolitan areas such as New York City and Washington, D.C., as well as celebrations for Halloween, Día de los Muertos, Thanksgiving, Lunar New Year, Holi, Garba night, and so much more. Unity Day provides an opportunity for the entire campus to celebrate the differences in cultures and ideas among the members of our community. Penn State Berks also proudly celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month each year, with a host of events exploring Latin culture and cuisine.
Resources for Reporting Discrimination and Bias
The Pennsylvania State University is committed to the policy that all persons shall have equal access to programs, facilities, admission, and employment without regard to personal characteristics not related to ability, performance, or qualifications as determined by University policy or by state or federal authorities. It is the policy of the University to maintain an academic and work environment free of discrimination, including harassment. The Pennsylvania State University prohibits discrimination and harassment against any person because of age, ancestry, color, disability or handicap, national origin, race, religious creed, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status. Discrimination or harassment against faculty, staff, or students will not be tolerated at The Pennsylvania State University.
Title IX
Title IX is a federal law prohibiting sexual harassment and sex discrimination in education. Penn State’s Office of Sexual Misconduct Prevention & Response (OSMPR) addresses Title IX reports involving students, as well as other reports of student sexual misconduct otherwise prohibited by University policy. Penn State’s Affirmative Action Office (AAO) addresses reports involving employees, including faculty. On- and off-campus behaviors including sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, sexual exploitation, and stalking, as well as retaliation for reporting any of these acts violate University policy and/or Title IX and are not tolerated.