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Culture & Diversity

Students raising hands in a circle

Greenville University, because of its love for God and its commitment to pursuing Christ-like higher education, is committed to furthering diversity within its staff, faculty, and student body.

 
Students sit with a sculpture of jesus
 

Office of Culture & Diversity

The Office of Culture and Diversity exists to facilitate a Christ-centered community that explores the diversity of God’s kingdom in order to learn, educate, worship and live together in unity. We believe we are better able to understand and adapt to the world around us through the Biblical framework of the Imago Dei principle found in Genesis 1:27.

We collaborate within the University to provide immersive experiences for students and employees to build a stronger Christ-centered community that celebrates the diversity of each of us.

Our Commitment

Greenville University, because of its love for God and its commitment to pursuing Christ-like higher education, is committed to furthering diversity within its staff, faculty, and student body. We believe our institution is at its strongest when we are able to listen, learn from, and live in community with people of varied national origin, language, race, color, ethnicity, gender, age, religion, socioeconomic status, family structures, and more.

We desire that Greenville become a more diverse community that strengthens a vibrant educational and spiritual environment where all members are critically involved in the life of the community. We seek to live this commitment out by strategically and intentionally seeking out diverse people groups and welcoming them into our community. Through programming designed for our students, faculty, staff, and community, we continually create and imagine ways to diversify our community.

Biblical Foundations

We believe there is a strong witness across the whole of scripture that suggests God loves diversity and desires for God’s people to pursue diversity within their communities. This love and desire for diversity is seen clearly in 1 Corinthians 12:12-26, Revelation 7:9-10, 1 John 4:11, and John 13:34.

Additionally, as an affiliate of the Free Methodist Church, we desire to follow its lead. The FMC has made it clear that we should pay special attention to the needs of the traditionally disenfranchised people of the world, and how these diverse people groups strengthen our own communities in many ways.

 
Workship at greenville
 

Living out Diversity

The Office of Culture and Diversity exists to facilitate a Christ-centered community that explores the diversity of God’s kingdom in order to learn, educate, worship and live together in unity. We believe we are better able to understand and adapt to the world around us through the Biblical framework of The Imago Dei principle found in Genesis 1:27.

There are multiple programs within our institution that allow us to continually pursue diversity. The MOSAIC Diversity Scholarship offers scholarships to ethnic minorities and seeks to cultivate a welcoming atmosphere of diversity.

The James F. and Leona N. Andrews Endowed Chair for Christian Unity within the Bastian School of Philosophy, Theology, and Ministry seeks to promote unity within diverse groups of people within the Church. Finally, the Faculty Diversity Committee of Greenville University seeks to lead this effort toward further diversity within the institution.

The Free Methodist Church has developed the Free Methodist Way where love-driven justice and cross-cultural collaboration are at the core. https://fmcusa.org/the-free-methodist-way . At the core of our spiritual formation is to better understand God and our mission identity founded in the Free Methodist Church.

Greenville University Student Government Association (GSGA) supports the relationship between students and faculty, as well as the administration of the university. Our campus community is enriched and nurtured by several organizations and clubs.

 

How the Office of Culture & Diversity functions with Residence Life

  • Collaborating on events
  • Creating spaces where students can be seen and heard
  • Learning how everyone is more alike than different. Aka celebrating differences and uniqueness in cultures represented on campus.

Activities

  • Circle Talks
  • Mental Health Days
  • Karaoke Night
  • Fusion Dance Night
  • Small Groups
  • Study Night

Holidays & Events Celebrated

  • Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept-Oct)
  • Christian Higher Education Month (Oct)
  • Black History Month: (February)
  • Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (AAPI)
  • Women’s History Month: (March)
  • First Generation College Students: (Nov)
  • Mental Health Awareness Week (1st week of Oct)
  • Juneteenth (June)
  • Disability Awareness (Oct)

Diversity Within Christian Community

Greenville University has a long-standing commitment to fostering an authentic, Christ-oriented community. We believe this vision is more fully realized with a strong commitment to diversity. When we are able to learn, educate, worship, and live with people who are different than us, we believe we are better able to understand and adapt to the world around us. Greenville University is committed to doing whatever is necessary to ensure diversity within our community is always a priority.

Contact Charity Stafford

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