Core Component: Through its mission documents and the direction they provide, Notre Dame College recognizes the diversity of its learners, other constituencies, and the greater society it serves.

The College currently ranks fourth in the Midwest for diversity in the U.S. News and World Report survey of comprehensive colleges- Bachelors for the 2005 - 2006 academic year.

Diversity is a characteristic that Notre Dame College is proud to publicize. Photographs taken of the student population at different times in the past several years illustrate this diversity. The College currently ranks fourth in the midwest for diversity in the U.S. News and World Report survey of comprehensive colleges– Bachelors for the 2005 – 2006 academic year. This report indicates that 20 percent of the undergraduate student body, omitting international students, is African-American.

A survey was conducted in Spring, 2006 to gather demographic information about the student population. Participants included approximately 73 percent full-time traditional-aged students, 24 percent WECO and adult students, and three percent graduate students. The respondents to the survey report the following diversity information:

Table 2.1: Student Diversity
Source: Spring, 2006 Survey

Race Frequency Percent
American Indian, Alaskan Native 1 .5
Asian 7 3.2
Black, African-American 49 22.6
Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander 1 .5
Caucasian, white 143 65.9
Other 11 5.1
Total 212 97.7

2006 IPEDS data is consistent with the Spring survey. Table 2.2 shows the various diversity for undergraduate groups, frequency of students within each group, and the percent of the total that the frequency represents. Black or African-Americans represent 19 percent of undergraduates. If other minority groups are added to the Black or African-American segment, the percentage of racially diverse undergraduates grows to slightly more than 21 percent.

Table 2.2: Diversity
Fall, 2006 men and women undergraduates
Source: IPEDS data

Race Frequency Percent
American Indian, Alaskan Native 2 .2
Black, African-American 231 19
Asian 5 .4
Hispanic 27 2
Nonresident Alien 33 3
Caucasian, white 749 63
Mixed Ethnicity, Other 18 1.5
Unknown, Chose not to respond 130 11
Total 1195 100.1
Black or African-American students are also the largest minority of graduate students at Notre Dame College, representing 20 percent.

Table 2.3 shows for graduate students the various diversity groups, frequency of students within each cohort, and the percentage of the total that the frequency represents. Black or African-American students are also the largest minority segment of graduate students at Notre Dame College, representing 20 percent. If the Hispanic segment is added, the percentage of racially diverse graduate students grows to almost 21 percent.

Table 2.3: Diversity
Fall, 2006 men and women, graduate students
Source: IPEDS data

Race Frequency Percent
Black, African-American 21 20
Hispanic 1 .9
Unknown, Chose not to respond 17 16
Caucasian, white 67 63
Total 106 99.9

Members of the Notre Dame College Board of Directors are racially diverse. Of the 28 members, two are African-American, one is Hispanic, and two are Asian. This represents approximately 18 percent of the Board. Religious diversity is also part of the Notre Dame College culture. Data describing first-time, first-term freshman and transfer students indicate that approximately 50 percent of each of the last four classes identify themselves as Roman Catholic.

Table 2.4: Religious Preference
as reported by first-time, first-term freshmen and transfer students
 Source: Admissions Office

Religious preference 2003 (%) 2004 (%) 2005 (%) 2006 (%)
Roman Catholic 47.5 47.5 54.2 47.8
Protestant 13.8 29.5 25.7 30
Other 16.3 2.5 2.3 5.6
Unknown/Chose Not to State 22.5 19.5 16.4 14.1
Total 100.1 99 98.6 97.5

In its mission documents Notre Dame College addresses diversity within the community values and common purposes it considers fundamental to its mission.

  • The Mission Statement avers that the College “educates a diverse population in the liberal arts for personal, professional, and global responsibility.” Using the umbrella of the liberal arts, the College exposes students to the wisdom and accomplishments of the peoples and civilizations who have preceded them and who continue to shape the peoples and societies of today. Using this context, the College prepares students to live, thrive, and exercise personal, professional, and global responsibility in a multicultural nation and world. The general education requirements flow from our Mission Statement and connect students with a global and multicultural perspective.

  • Diversity is addressed in the Statement of Purpose. Notre Dame College students are encouraged to “pursue their personal spiritual development” and to “share talents and gifts in the spirit of friendship and compassion”.

  • The Catholic Identity Statement indicates that “Notre Dame College…realizes that true learning orients the human person…to the wisdom of our ancestors, respecting the traditions of every people and every age…and to the self and the environment.”

  • Numbers 1 through 3 of the “Social Responsibility” section of the Core Objectives of the General Education Curriculum demonstrate diversity within the community values and common purposes:

  1. Appreciate cultural, group and minority differences in order to strive to overcome prejudice and eliminate unfair treatment.
  2. Develop the ability to work with persons of various races, beliefs and cultural values.
  3. Demonstrate respect for persons as individuals and members of groups by actively supporting human rights and social justice.

David A. Armstrong Dean of Admissions

DAVID A. ARMSTRONG, ESQ
DEAN OF ADMISSIONS

Given the mission of the College, it was obvious that forming a relationship with City Year would help to “educate a diverse population in the liberal arts for personal, professional and global responsibility.”

Notre Dame Today
Spring/Summer 2006
Page 5.

A community is enhanced by the power that comes from uniqueness. Each person:

  • Affirms others,

  • Appreciates the variety of skills, talents and gifts in the College community,

  • Respects the diversity of race, culture, religion, age and gender in the College community, and

  • Shows special regard for all expressions of religious faith and spiritual value.

The College promotes diversity by offering scholarships to minority students. Notre Dame College was the first in the country and is the only college in the Cleveland area that offers up to a half-tuition scholarship through the City Year Scholarship Program. City Year, a division of Americorps, is a community volunteer agency that offers 17 – 24 yearolds a year of full-time service in urban renewal, public education, leadership development, and civic engagement. At a City Year’s Idealism in Action Luncheon the Dean of Admissions for the College felt compelled to build a relationship with the leaders of City Year because of its synergy with the College’s mission. At the same time as the luncheon, Cleveland was ranked first in poverty in the nation. A partnership with City Year could benefit the region. Therefore, in May, 2005, Notre Dame College pledged to offer graduates of any City Year chapter a half-tuition scholarship.

The Cleveland Foundation also supports a minority student scholarship program. The Falcon Foundation, through an OFIC grant, encourages retention of minority students. The Black Scholars Group is one of several service and cultural organizations on campus.

The mission documents affirm Notre Dame College’s commitment to honor the dignity and worth of individuals.

The Mission Statement says “Notre Dame College is a Catholic institution in the tradition of the Sisters of Notre Dame.” Key to this tradition is “the two-fold guiding purposes and founding principles of the College: loyalty to the Church of Christ and its teachings, and the development of the human potential through education.” The Sisters’ intent for the College “was to let God’s goodness and provident care work through them, helping people come to the full human life God wants for each one… They realized that people learn and grow best when they are respected and loved. At Notre Dame College, the spirit of those early Coesfeld

sisters is still discernible in the warm, hospitable atmosphere of a supportive and challenging faith community. Today, more than ever, the College continues to meet the educational needs of students and assists them in the development of their individual gifts and talents.” (Academic Calendar and Student Handbook, 2006 – 2007 ed., page 56 – 58)

The Statement of Purpose and much of the reflection contained in the Catholic Identity Statement are focused on the development of the whole student and each member of our College community to truly honor the dignity and worth of individuals.

The worth of the individual is recognized in the Values List:

Each student, colleague and visitor is of equal worth. Each person:

  • Treats each person fairly,

  • Communicates directly,

  • Asks questions of fact rather than makes assumptions, and

  • Adheres to objective standards, policies and procedures.

The College community honors the dignity of each person. Each person:

  • Encourages the free expression of differences,

  • Shows patience and courtesy,

  • Maintains cordial professional relationships,

  • Responds to requests in a timely manner, and

  • Sets reasonable and achievable goals.

Notre Dame College’s required codes of belief of expected behavior are congruent with its mission.

Three resources refer to expected behavior. The Student Handbook provides the history of Notre Dame College, the Statement of Purpose, and the Core Objectives of the General Education Curriculum of Notre Dame College. It also informs students about Notre Dame College’s Catholic identity and the traditions of the institution. The students are expected to follow the handbook’s Code of Conduct.

Section 4.8 of the Faculty Handbook describes faculty rights, responsibilities, and a professional ethics code. The handbook includes a process for addressing violations of the expected behaviors and an appeals process.

The Employee Handbook for Administrative Staff and the Employee Handbook for Support Staff advise employees to adhere to the ethics and morals of the institution, promotes hiring a diverse mix of employees, and encourages employees to develop professional and ethical relationships. The Employee Handbook should be evaluated. It has not been revised since the College was a single-sex institution. This is an item that will be forwarded to the Institutional Policy and Planning Committee for its consideration.

The primary purpose of the Values List is to guide behavior according to service to students, fairness, honesty, respect, diversity, collaboration, excellence, creativity, and celebration.

The mission documents clearly commit the Notre Dame community to respect the uniqueness of each person as well as to actively recruit students, faculty, and staff who embody the pluralism of our global society.

 

<< Previous | Next >>