MEDIA CONTACT: Lisa Metcalf
561-297-3022, lmetcalf@fau.edu
FAU Recognized for its Commitment to Diversity
BOCA RATON, FL (October 20, 2010) – Florida Atlantic University recently was
honored by Minority Access, Inc. for its commitment to diversity at the 11th National Role
Models Conference in Las Vegas. FAU was recognized based on materials submitted
demonstrating the success of its diversity initiative and diversity committee, which provides a
forum and a comprehensive process that focuses on charting a course to enhance FAU’s strategic
goal of becoming comprehensively more inclusive and diverse.
“We will continue to value and promote diversity as the University grows in the years
ahead,” said Maria Santamarina, diversity officer of FAU, the only higher education institution
in South Florida to have this designated position. “There can be no higher standard for an
institution of higher learning to uphold than that which affirms the intrinsic worth and dignity of
all human beings.”
The list of highlights of FAU’s diversity initiative include its intercultural communication
internship; the women’s mentoring initiative; the interfaith initiative; a community forum on
racial profiling; and the creation of the South Florida Diversity Alliance (SFDA). The SFDA
seeks to unite the higher education community to support and promote diversity awareness,
competence and inclusion, and includes representation from various universities and colleges in
South Florida.
At present, minority and international students make up more than 40 percent of FAU’s
student body, and according to U.S. News and World Report, the University ranks 28th
nationally in student-body diversity. Additionally, a review of U.S. Dept. of Education data in
Diverse: Issues in Higher Education ranks the University 32nd nationally in the number of
bachelor's degrees conferred upon minorities.
Minority Access, Inc. is a nonprofit educational organization that provides support to
colleges and universities, federal, state and local governments, private agencies and corporations
to diversify their campuses and work sites by improving the recruitment, retention and
enhancement of minorities. Minority Access recognizes colleges and universities that are
committed to diversity at their annual National Role Models Conference, which assembles
researchers, faculty, administrators, students, mentors and alumni from throughout the United
States.
-FAUAbout Florida Atlantic University:
Florida Atlantic University opened its doors in 1964 as the fifth public university in Florida. Today, the University
serves more than 28,000 undergraduate and graduate students on seven campuses and sites. Building on its rich
tradition as a teaching university, with a world-class faculty, FAU hosts 10 colleges: the Dorothy F. Schmidt
College of Arts & Letters, the College of Business, the College for Design and Social Inquiry, the College of
Education, the College of Engineering & Computer Science, the Graduate College, the Harriet L. Wilkes Honors
College, the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing and the Charles E.
Schmidt College of Science. For more information, visit www.fau.edu.