Student Diversity Resources

TU offers a wide range of services and resources that create a more diverse and inclusive campus to enhance your college life and to promote excellence and cultivate the intellectual and personal growth of our students.

Diversity at TU is broadly defined to include: race, ethnicity, country of origin, religion, gender identity, gender expression, ability and sexual orientation. Programs, resources, and opportunities are offered to foster a receptive environment; facilitate recruitment, retention and graduation of students; and promote multiracial learning for all students, faculty and staff.

Accessibility and Disability Services

Accessibility and Disability Services (ADS) serves students with various disabilities and some temporary impairments that substantially limit one or more major life activities. Our staff is available to answer questions about accommodations and services as well as to provide information about other resources on and off campus.

Asian Arts and Culture Center

The Asian Arts and Culture Center at TU engages the university and surrounding communities in cross-cultural dialogue through a broad range of artistic and cultural experiences related to Asia.

Career Center

The Career Center is committed to providing a welcoming, inclusive, and supportive learning environment for all students. We recognize, respect, and integrate students’ diverse backgrounds, identities, experiences and perspectives into quality career development and planning. Our events, resources, and opportunities are designed to ensure that all students have equal access, regardless of culture, national origin, race/ethnicity, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.

Center for Student Diversity

Center for Student Diversity (CSD) was established to aid the university in its efforts to foster inclusion, collaboration and relationship building. We provide academic, social, and transition support for underserved students and promote exchanges and dialogue between individuals of diverse backgrounds and identities.

CSD Resources and Programs

African American Student Development Program supports, promotes, and enhances the academic, social and personal development of students of African descent and heritage within a welcoming and nurturing environment.

Asian, Pacific Islander, Middle Eastern and Desi American Student Development Program offers programming and activities that focus on creating dialogue and awareness around issues pertaining to the APIMEDA and diaspora communities. We empower students to explore leadership roles through community service, student organization membership and co-curricular involvement.

The Religious and Spiritual Coordinating Council (RSCC) represents a variety of faith communities on campus through support staff assigned to the university. RSCC members advise religious and spiritual student organizations as well as provide counseling, theological discussions and support students in other areas. In addition, RSCC members lead discussions on contemporary issues and sponsor guest speakers or social events.

Latine/x Student Development Program works to recruit, engage, retain, and graduate students from Latine/x backgrounds and to ensure their academic, sociocultural, personal and professional success.  We advocate for the Latine/x community, encourage K-12 students to attend college, advocate for Latine/x students to take on leadership and service roles and nurture students' during their adjustment to college life.

The Sexuality and Gender Diversity Development Program provides events, education and resources for a diverse population of students that includes Tigers from various sexual orientations, gender identities, gender expressions, abilities, races and ethnicities.

The Mature and Non-traditional Students Development Program is committed to your success as an older or non-traditional student. We offer a number of services and resources tailored to your needs as we know it can be challenging to balance the demands of a job or family while pursuing your education.

Students have an opportunity to get involved and meet new people in more than 30 multicultural student organizations.

TU is committed to its undocumented, immigrant, and DACA students and has dedicated itself to ensuring all members of the TU community can thrive and achieve their potential.

Counseling Center

The Counseling Center is proud to offer care that is flexible, culturally responsive, solution-focused, and tailored to every student’s unique needs. Students have access to same-day appointments so that they can speak with a therapist the very day they seek help. Students will also be able to receive support in an expanded variety of ways, including workshops, groups and peer support.

Gender-Inclusive Housing

Gender-Inclusive Housing is a voluntary housing option where students can be assigned to live in the same room with any other student regardless of sex, birth gender, biological gender, gender identity, gender expression or sexual orientation.

International Initiatives

TU is home to over 400 international students from over 80 countries and to 30 foreign faculty, exchange scholars and visiting faculty each year. The Office of International Initiatives is dedicated to cultivating a global learning community and international focus in programs and curricula at TU.

Military and Veterans Center

One of the top initiatives of TU is to provide outstanding support and services to all student veterans and qualified dependents. The Military and Veterans Center promotes a safe and like-minded community, personal growth and career development opportunities and comprehensive in-school support.

Military and Veterans Center Resources and Programs

TU is recognized by GI Jobs magazine as one of the top military-friendly universities in the United States. Extensive course offerings, flexible class schedules, and veteran support services make TU a great choice for pursuing your education.

At TU, we take pride in partnering with veterans and military-dependent students to make sure you get the most of the veterans benefits available to you.

There are many ways to supplement your Veterans Affairs educational benefits, including financial aid and scholarships. It is advised that all student veterans apply for both.

Office of Inclusion and Institutional Equity

The Office of Inclusion and Institutional Equity (OIIE) strives to foster a culture of integrity that values shared responsibility as a critical element of an inclusive, equitable and diverse community. This vision, built on the belief that a diverse and inclusive campus community enhances our institution, will strengthen us all in immeasurable ways.

OIIE Resources and Programs

TU's inaugural diversity strategic plan, A More Inclusive TU: Advancing Equity and Diversity (2020–25), is firmly grounded in the premise that TU's ongoing success is dependent on our capacity to shift perspectives and approaches and strategically place diversity, equity and inclusion at the core of our mission

TU values diversity and fosters a climate that is grounded in respect and inclusion, enriches the educational experience of students, supports positive workplace environments, promotes excellence and cultivates the intellectual and personal growth of the entire university community.

Resources Offered Include:

  • TU Allyship and Advocacy Trainings
  • Chosen and Preferred Name Resources
  • Gender Identity Resources

TU is dedicated to creating a diverse space where all feel welcomed and to strengthening our efforts to fight hate and bigotry. We continue to develop our response and prevention efforts to best meet the needs of our diverse community. All reports and incidents of hate or bias are taken seriously with a focus on providing support to affected parties. We ask that all members of our community embrace the challenge of speaking up and seeking help in the face of hate and bias.

TU does not discriminate against students, faculty or staff based on sex in any of its programs or activities, including but not limited to educational programs, employment, and admission. Sexual harassment, including sexual violence, is a kind of sex discrimination and is prohibited by Title IX and the university.

TU is an Equal Opportunity Employer. This policy prohibits discrimination on the grounds protected under Federal and Maryland law and Board of Regents policies. To the extent protected by law, university programs, activities and facilities are available to all without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, and religion.

Want to learn more about sexual violence, Title IX, discrimination, inclusion or ADA? Request a training.

Living Learning Communities

Living Learning Communities are intentional communities within the residence halls that enhance a student's TU experience in a variety of ways. The learning and academic activities within the community are structured around an assortment of themes and student interests. Additionally, the specialized Residence Life Staff in these communities work continuously with campus partners to create a meaningful and unique learning environment.

Student Success Programs

At TU, the success of our student population matters. From encouraging personal and academic development through mentorship to providing a family-oriented community, Student Success Programs are dedicated to serving TU students.

Student Success Programs and Resources

Students Achieve Goals through Education (SAGE) program is one component of TU's cultural diversity and student retention plan, fostering academic achievement, personal development, and campus-wide involvement among entering students from diverse backgrounds.

The College Readiness Outreach Program (CROP) program connects 9th graders from Baltimore City Public High Schools with TU students who serve as mentors. The program also provides a series of college readiness workshops.

Offered in collaboration with the Student Success Programs and Counseling Center, Man 2 Man is a peer program geared toward men of color at Towson University. This support group serves as a confidential space for male-identified students of color to develop a better understanding of themselves and other in the context of gender, race, culture and social pressure.

Generation One connects students who share similar experiences to share strategies to deal with difficult situations, and provide encouragement during challenging and rewarding times. The Generation One group meets on the second and fourth Thursday each month during the fall and spring semesters.

  • The Community Enrichment and Enhancement Partnership Award (CEEP) is administered by TU's Student Success Programs. CEEP (pronounced KEEP) is designed to increase the access and success of culturally diverse undergraduate students attending Towson University.
  • The Barnes-Harris Scholarship was established in the names of Marvis Evon Barnes ’59 and Myra Ann Harris '59, Towson University's first African-American graduates. Both Ms. Barnes and Ms. Harris wanted the scholarship, set at $500 per academic year, to be awarded to a freshman who possessed “a strong allegiance to the African-American culture.”

Women In Science Program

The Women in Science Program creates a cooperative and women-friendly learning and working environment for both students and faculty while increasing the enrollment and retention of female students in the experimental sciences.

Women's Leadership Collective

The Women’s Leadership Collective at TU provides leadership skills and experience to women throughout their academic and professional lives—while creating a collective of women supporting women.

TU DIVERSITY PROFILE

See data about TU's diverse student population using the student enrollment data provided by the Office of Institutional Research.