Anti Racism Statement

The Environmental Science program (ENVL) at Stockton University is committed to championing and supporting Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) in our program and across the University community as a whole. We recognize the long-standing colonialist and racist roots of environmentalism in the United States, and pledge to work diligently to change structural and societal injustices, break down inequities and barriers to BIPOC students in our field, and lift up and center BIPOC narratives and voices that are central to our country’s environmental history and its future going forward. Further, we are committed to making the ENVL program and the University overall a more welcoming and inclusive place by:

Creating an ENVL Standard of Community Conduct, which entails:

  • being mindful of our unconscious biases,
  • being aware of and avoiding microaggressions in the classroom and workspaces,
  • speaking up if you see or hear something unacceptable or inappropriate,
  • listening to voices and ideas different from your own,
  • advocating and speaking up for others who may not have the same privilege,
  • not degrading others for mistakes, ideas, or other points of view,
  • holding yourself and all community members accountable.

Making substantive changes to our course content and curriculum to incorporate issues of race, racism, and racial bias, including:

  • encouraging faculty to review their courses with a critical eye on focusing to de-colonizing and diversify the voices given a platform in their disciplines,
  • consideration of a common reading for 2000-level courses,
  • work with colleagues across NAMS and Stockton to increase offerings of courses centered on Environmental Justice and Environmental Racism

Developing targeted strategies for recruiting, retaining, and supporting BIPOC students and faculty within the program, including:

  • developing a support network for BIPOC students within the program (tutoring, mentorship opportunities, etc.),
  • working with the Admissions and Student Affairs Offices to develop recruiting materials, scholarship programs, and other opportunities for students from underrepresented high schools and community colleges in the region,
  • evaluating SAT and ACT requirements and other potential barriers to entry into the program,
  • working with the Student Affairs Office to develop retention initiatives and programs to support BIPOC students within the program,
  • developing and maintaining professional connections and relationships with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and other BIPOC professional societies, and work with diversity committees within our existing professional organizations,
  • working with MARS and other programs in pursuing cluster hires that could address deficiencies in topics including impacts of climate change, environmental racism, environmental justice, food justice and others.