Penn State Statement on Belonging
The Pennsylvania State University is committed to and accountable for advancing equity, respect, and belonging in all its forms.
We embrace individual uniqueness, as well as a culture of belonging that supports both broad and specific equity initiatives, leverages the educational and institutional benefits of inclusion in society, and provides opportunities for engagement intended to help all members of the community thrive. We value belonging as a core strength and an essential element of the university’s teaching, research, and service mission.
At Penn State:
- We strive to foster a safe environment of respect and belonging for faculty, staff, students, and members of the communities we serve.
- We encourage faculty, staff, and students to effectively work and learn in a diverse community.
- We continue to provide equitable and inclusive access to our facilities, programs, resources, and services, and work toward maintaining policies and practices that are inclusive.
- We advance and build our workforce by assessing hiring practices and performance review procedures to attract, retain, and develop talented faculty and staff from all backgrounds, circumstances, and experiences.
- We address intersectional and intergroup disparities in areas such as representation, retention, learning outcomes, and graduation rates.
- We embrace the rich spectrum of diversity within our community and across the globe, spanning differences in race, ethnicity, faith, sexual orientation, gender, socio-economic background, accessibility, political ideologies, or any other distinction among individuals. It is our firm stance to unequivocally condemn acts of harassment or expressions of hate directed toward individuals or groups on the basis of these differences.
Penn State Berks Land Acknowledgement
Penn State Berks resides on Lenapehoking (leh-NA-pe-ho-king), also known as the Land of the Lenape. We honor with gratitude the land itself and the Indigenous people who stewarded it throughout the generations. As a land grant institution, we acknowledge, honor, and respect the past, present, and future of the diverse Indigenous peoples connected to this land. We also acknowledge the longer history of these lands and our place in that history.
Consulted with the Widoktadwen Center for Native Knowledge, Reading, Pennsylvania.
Student Resources
Office of Inclusive Excellence (OIE)
The Office of Inclusive Excellence strives to provide educational and co-curricular programming to support the holistic development of historically marginalized students. OIE aims to assist all students in exploring their multiple identities and as a community celebrate the diverse experiences and cultures at Penn State Berks. To learn more about the OIE, contact the Office of Student Engagement and Leadership at [email protected].
International Student Support Services
Penn State Berks has a robust population of international students, with student scholars hailing from more than 20 countries. Traveling to and learning in a new country can be overwhelming, but we're committed to our students' success. Learn more about international student support services »
Student Disability Resources (SDR)
Penn State Berks is proud to offer support for students with disabilities. Whether you need testing accommodations, assistance with academic adjustments, accommodations in the residence hall, or anything in between, the SDR staff is here to help. Learn more about Student Disability Resources »
Health and Counseling Services
Enrolling in college comes with its challenges, but you are not alone. Get mental and physical health support in our Health and Wellness Center.
Faculty and Staff Resources
Anti-Racism Across the Curriculum (AAC)
Berks Antiracism Across the Curriculum (AAC) is a grassroots initiative striving to normalize the teaching of race, racism, and antiracism across courses in a variety of disciplines. The group works with instructors to integrate antiracist content in ways that make sense for each instructor’s class and pedagogy. Rather than a one-size-fits all model, we encourage, support, and assist instructors to make changes they feel comfortable with in terms of content and instruction. These collaborations have included faculty and courses across a wide range of disciplines and contexts.
For more information, contact AAC's co-facilitators: Guadalupe Kasper, [email protected]; Lolita Paff, [email protected]; and Jayne Park-Martinez, [email protected].
Anti-Racism, Intersectionality, Decolonialism Committee (ARID)
The ARID Committee seeks to recognize those members of the Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences Division who have dedicated themselves to integrating the values and principles of ARID into their teaching, research, and service. For more information, contact Maria Fellie at [email protected].
Social Justice Collaborative (SJC)
The Social Justice Collaborative at Penn State Berks works to further the principled exploration and engagement of critical social issues through programming, curricula, and college involvement. With an honest, evidence-driven understanding of history, oppression, and structural inequality, the SJC champions the ideals of equality and justice. Above all, they commit to a future in which all members of our college community and society have been empowered to reach their full potential.
Campus and University Resources
Basic Needs and Support
Penn State students facing challenges accessing adequate food, stable housing, or other basic needs can find support through the University's Office of Student Affairs. Follow the link to request resources for yourself or someone else.
Care Team
Whether our students have academic concerns, health and wellness issues, or are experiencing distress, our team can help. Get connected with resources for yourself or someone else.
Reporting Bias
Penn State 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 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 University.
Sensory Room
The Thun Library proudly offers a sensory room in support of neurodivergent students and those experiencing anxiety and other stressors. The sensory room is designed to foster wellness and support students' academic success by empowering them to manage stimuli in ways that help maximize their individual well-being and learning.
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.