Diversity and Contemplative Education

Diversity at Naropa University is a varied landscape that traverses the visible and invisible aspects of our individual and collective difference. In its most fundamental terms, diversity refers to human differences such as race, ethnicity, class, gender, sexual orientation and identity, religion, disability, age, nationality, ideology and tradition.

According to the university’s mission statement, Naropa draws on vital insights of the world’s wisdom traditions and is simultaneously Buddhist-inspired, ecumenical and nonsectarian. A commitment to diversity flows from these overarching values and is carried forward throughout the institution, informing a student’s course of study and encouraging openness, understanding and cultural competence.

“Naropa University values ethnic and cultural differences for their essential role in education. It embraces the richness of human diversity with the aim of fostering a more just and equitable society and an expanded awareness of our own common humanity.”

Through a contemplative education, Naropa students seek compassionate and active means for addressing the essential issues of diversity and difference.

Why Study Diversity

The study of diversity is central to a liberal arts education. At Naropa University, students develop the tools necessary for living and working in a diverse world through the cultivation of knowledge, critical thinking and inquiry, and intercultural communication. More broadly, a mindful study of diversity awakens a greater understanding of others and helps uncover self-understanding and an understanding of self in relation to others.

To Study Diversity is to

Awaken a deeper understanding of self and others
Listening and responding to viewpoints that are different from your own helps you examine assumptions, clarify your beliefs and, most importantly, open yourself up to the many different ways that others live in the world.  

Think critically about living in a global society
Comparing what you know about the world to new research and theory about culture, communications and other important subjects develops a greater understanding of the interdependence among various cultures worldwide.

Practice responsible citizenship
Understanding multiple perspectives expands and changes how you act and react in the world. These skills and abilities help you practice responsible citizenship and actively engage in a socially just and diverse democracy.

Grow in cross-cultural competency
The mindful study of diversity and pluralism—across many disciplines—gives you the knowledge, understanding and analytical skills necessary to communicate cross-culturally in an informed, useful and compassionate way.

Naropa's Commitment to Diversity

Central to Strategic Planning

Diversity is central to our mission, and diversity issues intertwine at every step with Naropa University’s commitment to and increasing embodiment of contemplative education. The strategic planning process embeds diversity issues throughout the themes and goals of the plan. This requires all those involved in the planning process to address diversity issues throughout their work, to develop goals, actions and accountability that directly advance our values and commitment to diversity and that fulfill our educational mission.

Cultural Appropriation Statement

Cultural appropriation is the taking or use of elements of another people's culture. Where there is an unequal distribution of money, education and political power between groups of people, as there is here in the United States, it is common for cultural exchange and appreciation to turn into cultural appropriation, in which a member or members of the more powerful group use what they have borrowed, taken or learned from the less powerful group in an inappropriate, disrespectful, exploitative or destructive way, whether with conscious intention to do so or not.

The policy also contains a complaint procedure, which can be found in the student handbook.