The Power of Inclusive Academics

Issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion don’t stop at the edge of campus—they continue to evolve in social, political, economic, and other contexts across our country and the world. That’s why Suffolk students engage these questions in myriad ways throughout our curricula.

Suffolk students gathered with a professor in the Law Library in Sargent Hall.

The academic work our students do lays the foundation for meaningful change in the world. By viewing their majors and areas of study through a more inclusive lens, and questioning long-held assumptions about them, they are able to transform their studies in ways that benefit a wider range of people.

  • Business students learn not only how to manage workplaces, but how to make them more equitable and welcoming to employees of all identities.
  • Government students learn not only political science, but how to engage diverse constituencies and craft public policy that benefits all.
  • Psychology students learn not only cognition and personality development, but how to build resiliency in minority and immigrant communities facing racist speech and acts.
  • Law students learn not only the intricacies of statutory and case law, but how to use them to combat housing discrimination and overturn wrongful convictions.
  • Undergraduate students choose to pair these and other areas of study with interdisciplinary programs like Black Studies, Asian Studies, Women’s Studies, and Global Cultural Studies.

Suffolk students, across areas of study, are preparing for life and work in a world that is both increasingly interconnected and increasingly diverse. We invite you to learn more about how we’re adapting our academic programs to make sure they’re successful.

Faculty and Teaching

Students learn best when they feel respected and when they can share their perspectives openly. That’s why Suffolk faculty are continuously reassessing and updating curricula to increase representation in their course design and content, as well as equity in the classroom experience. Assisting them in these efforts are:

Equity in the Curriculum Series

All students and faculty members benefit from an equitable approach to curriculum design, not just students and instructors of color. Suffolk continuously updates curricula by creating a repository of diversity and inclusion teaching materials and curriculum enhancements found on LinkedIn Learning that contains submissions from Suffolk faculty.

Throughout the year, workshops are delivered by instructors on best practices as the toolkit is updated with new resources over time. Log in to LinkedIn Learning and learn more about the Equity in the Curriculum Series.

Race on Campus

The Race on Campus Faculty Professional Learning Community (FPLC) is a cross-disciplinary group of faculty, staff, and administrators who meet throughout the academic year to share their experiences and learn from one another.

The Race on Campus group explores strategies and tools that can be used by faculty and staff to effectively engage Suffolk students in courageous discussions about race and the development of an anti-racist framework. Learn more about the Race on Campus FPLC or get involved.

Centers & Institutes

  • The Sawyer Business School’s Institute for Public Service integrates study of diversity and inclusivity into its Master of Public Administration curricula, and explores them through its Public Service Symposia.
  • Our Rosenberg Institute for East Asian Studies was established to promote an awareness of Asian Studies to the university community and to the general public of Boston and New England.
  • The Center for Women's Health and Human Rights (CWHHR) focuses on women's health and human rights in the social sciences, arts and humanities, and public policy.
  • The Center for Restorative Justice (CRJ) was founded to foster collaborative partnerships to institutionalize restorative approaches to problem-solving, harm, and violations of legal and human rights and to support a growing social movement to build just and equitable communities.
  • Doctoral students and faculty in our Psychology department seek to support and advocate for diverse communities in conjunction with their research projects, especially in the HEART lab and the REACH lab.
  • The Suffolk University Law School is committed to preparing successful legal professionals who are socially and culturally conscious and to recognize that our community’s success is greater when we appreciate diverse perspectives, values, identities, and lived experiences.

Learn More

Leading for Change Diversity Consortium
Access & Opportunity Provost Fellowship Program
Publications