Our Quaker founders believed that the divine light lies within each person and that all individuals should be treated with dignity and respect. This belief translated into a tradition of admitting students from all backgrounds.
As a result, over our 130 years of existence, Whittier has been on the forefront, among liberal arts colleges, in creating a campus that reflects the ethnic diversity of our nation. Currently, more than 50 percent of students at Whittier and a quarter of our faculty are people of color.
Today, students of all denominations make up our welcoming multicultural community and the College's roots in Quaker values are still very much in evidence. These values are deeply embedded here and are woven into our community. Respect for the individual, commitment to a diverse student body and faculty, freedom of conscience, and respect for human differences are in evidence in every classroom, laboratory, and all across campus.
A gift to the Office of Equity and Inclusion supports our historically marginalized students and the following programs:
- The Brotherhood Leadership Program (BLP) began in 2018 as an orientation program for first-year and transfer college students who identify as men of color. The program supports participants as they familiarize themselves with campus resources and facilitates networking with other men of color at Whittier College.
- Undocumented Students – To provide resources and support services to DACA and undocumented students. The goal is to empower the UndocuPoets experience by advocating for equity and programs that focus on mental health, professional development and academic success.
| Rank | State | Gifts |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | CA | 6 |
| 2 | AA | 0 |
| 2 | AE | 0 |
