About the College of Arts and Sciences Today
Diversity and Outreach
- Programs in the community
- Programs for African American high school students
- Diversity programs and services on campus
The College of Arts and Sciences offers a number of Diversity and Outreach Programs in the community as well as professional development opportunities for faculty and staff on campus.
Diversity and Outreach Programs in the community
Saturday Academy
The Saturday Academy is a community-based enrichment program in African World history and culture for older adolescents and adults sponsored by the U of L College of Arts and Sciences, Cheri Bryant Hamilton (District 5 Metro Councilwoman), the Jefferson County Public Schools, the Louisville Urban League, and the Kentucky Center for African American Heritage. The Saturday Academy meets at the DuValle Education Center, 3610 Bohne Avenue (use rear entrance). The Academy is free and open to the public and meets each Saturday during the academic year.
The Yearlings Club series
This is a monthly public lecture series, designed to bring U of L faculty and staff together with the African American community to forge common bonds and share expertise.
U of L NETWORK
This affiliate of NETWORK (New Energy To Work Out Racial Kinks) hosts monthly luncheon dialogues on racial and diversity issues on the Belknap campus and within the Metropolitan community. Since its inception, NETWORK's mission has been to bring people from diverse backgrounds and cultures together in a public forum to participate in an ongoing dialogue about issues relevant to race relations and to explore common characteristics by sharing personal experiences and perceptions about current racial relations and issues. http://www.louisville.edu/provost/diversity/A&S_diversity/network.htm
Enrichment for high school students
A&S faculty and campus facilities are part of the mathematics and science enrichment activities for Whitney Young Scholars offered through the Lincoln Foundation.
Programs for African American high school students
In connection with the Freshman and Sophomore Division of the College’s Center for Advising and Student Support Services, the College offers a number of academic enrichment programs to high school students from our community. Programs include:
Future Scholars Program
Formerly the Young Minority Scholars Program, this is an initiative based in the Department of Pan-African Studies and sponsored by the College of Arts and Sciences. The Program is a five-week summer academic enrichment experience for local African American high school students designed to cultivate the talents of participants and to prepare them for higher education, ideally at the University of Louisville. For each participant, the Program is structured around a research project supervised by a University faculty mentor and a daily research class (at the Writing Center) in which students learn to use college-level research methods and appropriate technological aids. http://www.louisville.edu/provost/diversity/A&S_diversity/future_scholars.htm
E.S.S.E.N.C.E. Program
E.S.S.E.N.C.E. (Encouraging Sisters to Strive for Each Chance for Excellence) provides an opportunity for senior division African American college women at the University of Louisville to assist their younger sisters in making the transition to adulthood. Specifically, the Program creates both a support network and an avenue for high school and college-age African American women to provide service throughout the metropolitan area. Through this service commitment and the role models and mentoring relationships it establishes, the Program enables younger African American women to enhance their leadership skills, interpersonal strengths and academic abilities and creates opportunities for them to serve as big sisters to younger African American women who may be at risk of school and/or personal failure. E.S.S.E.N.C.E. staff devote particular attention to helping the high school participants make connections with various colleges and universities. www.louisville.edu/provost/diversity/A&S_diversity/essence_program.htm
E.B.O.N.Y. Gents Program
The E.B.O.N.Y. Gents Program (Excellence Beyond Our dreams of Nubian male Youth) is designed to build character, social grace, and self-esteem of young, black men that help prepare them for productive leadership roles in their professions, homes and communities. The young men who are selected to participate in the E.B.O.N.Y. Gents are juniors in high school who exhibit good academic skills and moral character. The participants take part in community service projects, social activities, workshops and bonding experiences beginning in the summer and following through the spring. The accomplishments of the participants are highlighted at the E.B.O.N.Y. Gent Ball in April when the participants and their escorts are presented in this elaborate event of celebration.
Diversity programs and services on campus include:
Inclusive Teaching Circles
These informal groups of faculty and staff meet monthly over lunch to discuss readings on inclusive education, share ideas and teaching strategies, and provide mutual support for the work of educating.
Other Faculty Development initiatives
The College offers a number of programs that serve faculty including diversity and faculty development workshops, mentoring of junior faculty, African-American Faculty Development mini-grants and support for other community outreach and diversity programs at the University of Louisville.
For more information about Diversity and Outreach Programs in the College, visit the website
http://www.louisville.edu/provost/diversity/A&S_diversity/diversity_intro.htm