PHILOSOPHY
Keuka College is committed to the values and ideals of human dignity, equality, autonomy, and ethical conduct. This mission embodies an institutional acceptance and affirmation of diversity as an existent and valued feature of human reality. All members of the College are expected to treat each other in a manner which acknowledges the legitimacy of alternative value systems, approaches to knowledge, and varied cultural and historical backgrounds.
GOAL
The goal is to realize this vision of diversity in the day-to-day activities of faculty, students, and staff. Curricular, pedagogical, and scholarly endeavors which exemplify this commitment must be actively acknowledged, encouraged, and supported. Ideas, structures, and practices that deny, restrict, or demean human dignity, equality, autonomy, and ethical conduct are unacceptable.
DEFINITION OF DIVERSITY
At Keuka College we believe that diversity is multifaceted and a naturally valuable asset. We acknowledge, respect, and celebrate our differences. We believe that diversity encompasses the awareness and celebration of the many identities that make up our community including, but not limited to, race, ethnicity, religious status, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, socio-economic status, age, culture, language, physical or mental ability, gender identity and expression, and region of origin. In a world where the pursuit of safety and well-being are central, we will foster an inclusive environment in which we actively and intentionally work toward understanding, respecting, and appreciating diversity. We will accomplish this by increasing our awareness, content knowledge, cognitive sophistication, and empathic understanding of the complex ways individuals interact within systems and institutions. In doing so, we will move beyond tolerance to understanding, accepting, and celebrating our differences.