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Who We Are

The Office of Inclusive Excellence supports the successful transition, engagement, and persistence for historically underrepresented communities such as racially diverse student populations such as Asian/Pacific Islander, African American/Black, Hispanic/Latinx, and Multiracial students; students within the LGBTQ+ community; and/or students who are first in their families to attend college.

The Office of Inclusive Excellence also provides educational outreach to the entire campus community through programming, awareness months and collaborative efforts with student organizations and university departments. With the goal of “creating meaningful connections,” the Office of Inclusive Excellence focuses intensely on the promotion of an inclusive campus environment for all students to enjoy.

As students learn more about issues facing other cultures, they can explore their own life journeys through new perspectives.

Inclusion

It’s in our name and it is our game. Inclusivity ensures that all students feel welcome, valued, and empowered to succeed. It’s the lifeblood of the office, fostering a sense of belonging.

Advocacy

Whether we’re advocating for students, staff or faculty, we want to make sure everyone is heard. Advocacy underscores the proactive role the office takes in pushing for systemic change both within and beyond the university’s walls. It’s about being the voice for those who’ve been historically silenced or marginalized.

Empowerment

Empowerment is about giving students the tools they need to succeed, not just academically but also personally and socially. Empowerment turns the transient college years into a launching pad for lifelong success.

Hometown Scholars

The Bradley University Hometown Scholars Program (BUHSP), is a groundbreaking initiative exclusively designed for students who attend highschool in Peoria or neighboring cities. Our program seeks to bridge the educational and financial gaps that can stand between hard-working students and their dream of a college education. We won’t only unlock doors for you; we’ll walk you through them with the support of the staff from our Office of Inclusive Excellence. We offer an enriched support system, from a low counselor-to-student ratio to an array of academic services, ensuring you’re not just attending college but excelling in it.

  • Must attend and graduate from East Peoria High School, Limestone High School, Manual High School, Pekin High School, Peoria High School, Quest Charter Academy, or Richwoods High School
  • Have a minimum 3.25 GPA
  • Have applied and been admitted to Bradley University
  • Belong to an underrepresented population at Bradley University
  • Have demonstrated financial need and filed the FAFSA

Programs

Each year during Welcome Week, the Office of Inclusive Excellence sponsors a Welcome Back Mixer for all students to provide incoming and continuing students with the opportunity to mix and mingle in a more personal setting.

Another goal of the mixer is to expose incoming students to the great variety of multicultural student organizations on campus. Each multicultural student organization is represented at this event with a table to inform students about the different events, programs, and activities they are known for. Refreshments are provided as well as a ton of information about avenues where students can get involved within the variety of student organizations. A number of faculty, staff, and community members are also invited to connect with students prior to the start of the semester.

Garrett Week is held in honor of Dr. Romeo B. Garrett the first African American professor at Bradley University. During this week a host of events, open to all students, are held to educate the campus about Dr. Garrett’s accomplishments as well as promote multicultural awareness around the community.

The Circle of Brotherhood is a weekly meeting that provides men from racially diverse backgrounds with opportunities to discuss life as a college student, leadership, and current events that impact their lives. This program is open to all male students. For more information contact Tahalia McGowan, Associate Director via email at [email protected] or by phone at (309) 677-2906.