DEI
Living Out Our Mission:
Fordham Prep’ s Approach to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion( D. E. I.)
In the summer of 2020, Fordham Prep’ s administration engaged in conversations with a group of recent alumni, current and past parents, and faculty regarding their experience of belonging and sense of community based on differences of race and identity. These conversations affirmed that most students feel respected and cared for during their Prep experience but also revealed areas where our community needs more growth.
Following these conversations, the administration developed a new Action Plan reminding us that this important work is grounded in our mission:
Diversity, equity, and inclusion are core values embedded within Fordham Prep’ s Catholic Jesuit mission and tradition. These values flow from our faith in God, in whose own image and likeness each person is created and imbued with dignity.
In order to explore necessary next steps to implement the Action Plan, the Prep formed a Task Force composed of trustees, faculty and administrators which met during the 2020-21 academic year. The Task Force studied our current efforts and programs in this area along with best practices at other Jesuit, private and public schools. It also sponsored focus group conversations with three distinct and diverse groups: current parents; current students; and young alumni. An outside consultant conducted the parent and young alumni conversations. In addition, the Task Force studied academic performance and analyzed overall student engagement in formation and extracurricular programs.
This careful and prayerful study and discernment resulted in several new strategic goals to enhance the Prep’ s efforts to foster a greater sense of dignity, belonging and justice for all members of the community and to strengthen our mission effectiveness in these areas. These strategic goals-- all based on Catholic Social Teaching-- focus on the areas of curriculum and pedagogy, professional development and hiring, student equity and inclusion, diversity training, and institutional policies and assessment. The plan was presented to the Prep’ s Board of Trustees in March 2021 and unanimously approved.
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