College of LawDiversity, Equity, and Inclusion

A view of the Main Street Bridge in Downtown Jacksonville.

Our Commitment

The College of Law fosters a diverse school community comprised of students, faculty, and staff who represent the world around us. The institution values and embraces all forms of diversity and actively fosters an environment where all community members are encouraged and empowered to learn, grow, and thrive.

The COL fully participates in campus-wide initiatives that support a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace, facilitated by the Office of People and Culture and other resources groups that are part of the University community, including the Student Inclusion Center and Center for Gender + Sexuality.

Questions?

For more information, please contact the College of Law's Associate Dean of Students, Tom Taggart, at ttaggar@ju.edu.

Non-Discrimination Policies and Resources

The 91Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Non-Discrimination Policy applies to all students, faculty and staff of the institution. The policy applies to all aspects of educational and employment decisions, including recruitment, admission, hiring, as well as retention, compensation, transfer, and opportunities for advancement. Consequently, the College of Law closely adheres to this University policy for students, faculty, and staff, but also includes additional specific prohibitions against segregation and discrimination in its admissions, employment, and other practices related to the program of legal education.  

University Policy:

91Ï㽶ÊÓƵ values diversity, equity, and inclusion and strives to create a welcoming community where all stakeholders feel valued and a sense of belonging.  We believe in lifelong learning and preparing globally minded citizens for the real world. We recruit students, faculty, staff and leaders from all over the globe and respect differences in ability, age, appearance, athletic and student organization involvement, ethnicity, faith, gender, gender expression, immigration status, language, military/veteran status, nationality, political ideology, race, religion, talent, sex, sexuality, socio-economic status, and other personal identities and experiences.  

91Ï㽶ÊÓƵ is an equal opportunity institution and prohibits discrimination. We consider each stakeholder to be a key player in 91Ï㽶ÊÓƵ's civic responsibility and commitment to this work. 

College of Law Policy:

91Ï㽶ÊÓƵ College of Law prohibits discrimination, segregation, and harassment on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability military or veteran status in matters of admissions, employment, services, or in the educational programs or activities the College of Law operates.

Policy Compliance and the Office of People and Culture

Policy compliance is enforced by the Office of People and Culture. The Office of People and Culture introduces new faculty and staff to the JU culture during onboarding. The Office of People and Culture also provides faculty and staff with training and development opportunities, health and wellness programming, access to benefits, and support and action on submitted complaints and grievances. The Office of People and Culture accepts written complaints and grievances from faculty and staff, and those matters are reviewed and addressed by the appropriate leadership in the Department.

Student Support and Resources

Student Inclusion Center

Among other organizations, the Student Inclusion Center (SIC) raises the critical consciousness of University community members in terms of diversity, inclusion, and social justice. The SIC mission is to support underserved and marginalized populations, empower students to be their authentic selves, and advocate for the injustices of others through experiential learning and collaborative partnerships. The SIC offers events, workshops, a resource library, and opportunities for students, faculty, and staff to make connections, and it operates through an open-door policy for all University community members.

Events include, but are not limited to, Hispanic Heritage Month, Black History Month, National Coming Out Day, and religious observations. Workshops include Student Inclusion Center 101, Inclusive Leadership, and Understanding Microaggressions, along with other specialized training for students, faculty, and staff. The SIC also supports cultural, faith based, and LGTBQIAA+ student organizations at JU. The Director of the SIC works closely with the COL Associate Dean for Students/Associate Vice President of Student Experience to facilitate needs and support of law students while ensuring knowledge and access to available programming. 

Center for Gender + Sexuality

The mission of the Center for Gender + Sexuality (CGS) is to elevate diverse voices and perspective and to provide opportunities for all members of the University community to explore, organize, and promote learning around issues of gender and sexuality. The CGS generates opportunities to reframe perspectives on how the intersectionality of gender, sexuality, race, age, class, nationality, ethnicity, ability, and other identities impact the social, cultural, educational, and political experience of JU community. The CGS offers a welcoming location, and it plans and delivers panel discussions on policy decisions, small group conversations on topics relevant to LGBTQIAA+ and women’s experiences, cultural resources, mentorship, safe space study halls, health fairs, and resources for health and wellness specific to LGBTQIAA+ and women in partnership with the Student Health Center.

Veterans and Military Resource Center

The Veterans and Military Resource Center (VMRC) provides support and assistance to our many military and veteran students. The mission of the VMRC is to honor the incredible value that veterans' leadership, life experience and maturity bring to the educational environment on our campus by preparing each veteran or military student for life-long success in learning, achieving, leading and serving permeates every element of the University. The VMRC assists prospective and current students with admission, transition, academic success, and student involvement, helping students leverage University resources like Admissions, Advising, the Registrar, the Controller, Student Financial Services, the Career Resource Center, the Counseling Center, the Student Solutions Center, and others.

In addition, the Director of the VMRC manages the Defenders Den, a space dedicated to the military community for quiet study, open meetings, events, or relaxing between campuses. The University is privileged to have the support of the Greater Jacksonville Area USO providing comfort and support to our military students in the Defenders Den. As a founding member of the Northeast Florida Military Veterans College Network, the University leverages the educational expertise of partners at fellow universities, military installations, Veterans’ Service Officers, and other stakeholders to provide the best experience for our military students and families. 

The VMRC also delivers Green Zone training for faculty and staff at every level of the University to educate the school community about our veteran and military students and how to effectively serve them. 

The Office of Disability Support Services

The office of Disability Support Services (DSS) at 91Ï㽶ÊÓƵ works with JU faculty and staff to provide all students an equal opportunity to learn in the classroom and to have access to all areas of the Arlington and Law School campus facilities. The mission of the DSS is to support students with disabilities and medical conditions that may affect academic progress and success. The DSS collaborates with faculty and staff in removing barriers while pursuing excellence in education and service. Accommodations in the classroom include, but are not limited to, priority seating, additional time for testing and assessments, audio recording authorization, alternative test formats, and change of classroom. The DSS also assists students with course scheduling, coordination of services with other University departments, counseling in faculty/peer relations, guidance in lifestyle management, and community agency referrals. The Director of the DSS works closely with the Associate Dean of Students to coordinate law student requests, approval, and delivery of special accommodations at the College of Law.


Accreditation Information

Accreditation is the hallmark of quality and high standards for legal education and admission to the Bar. The 91Ï㽶ÊÓƵ College of Law is provisionally approved by the American Bar Association (Council of the American Bar Association Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar, 321 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60654, 312-988-6738), and, in accordance with ABA rules, will continue to pursue full accreditation. Law schools that are provisionally accredited are entitled to all the rights of a fully approved law school. Similarly, from an ABA perspective, graduates of provisionally approved law schools are entitled to the same recognition that is accorded graduates of fully approved law schools.

91Ï㽶ÊÓƵ
General Counsel
2800 University Blvd N, Jacksonville, FL 32211
904-256-7549