Inclusive Excellence at Santa Clara Law
Welcome to the Office of Inclusive Excellence at Santa Clara law.
At Santa Clara Law, our commitment to fostering an inclusive community is integral to our Jesuit values, and we embrace inclusive excellence as one of the cornerstones of our Law School.
The Office of Inclusive Excellence (OIE) is dedicated to partnering with the Law School community and working intentionally and comprehensively to foster our justice, equity, diversity, inclusion, access and belonging efforts (JEDI). The OIE aims to create an environment where all individuals feel welcomed, valued, and respected, and where everyone in our community can thrive academically, socially, and personally.
Why Inclusive Excellence Matters
Inclusive excellence represents the best of Santa Clara Law and our Jesuit mission.
- It is essential for creating a more just and equitable legal system;
- It benefits law students by providing a holistic learning experience; and,
- It prepares lawyers to navigate diverse legal issues while promoting fairness, justice, and inclusivity in their professional practice.
Improved Decision Making + Better Outcomes
Inclusive excellence better prepares students by opening up different viewpoints and experiences that can lead to a deeper understanding of the complex legal issues that students will face in their careers. This is also an essential component for building trust and providing quality legal representation.
Inclusive excellence is crucial for understanding different perspectives, cultures, and experiences, which can greatly impact legal decision-making and justice outcomes. It thus fosters an environment where all individuals feel welcomed and supported.
The Dean’s Statement
Dear Friends,
The diversity of the Santa Clara Law community is one of its greatest defining strengths. The students, faculty, staff, administrative team, and alumni have worked hard to build a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive law school. Although we are grateful when we make progress, we acknowledge that there is more work to do.
Our Jesuit, Catholic University and Law School are founded on the belief that we are all made in the image and likeness of God and therefore must treat each other with equal dignity and respect. We hold fast to the enduring spiritual, moral, cultural, social, economic, and educational values of justice, equity, diversity, inclusion, access and belonging efforts (JEDI).
At Santa Clara Law, therefore, we cannot be neutral in the face of any form of human subjugation. We condemn all racism, religious intolerance, bigotry, hatred, and violence towards members of our human family. We renounce any derision of people who are perceived as outsiders or who express unpopular opinions in civil discourse. We are called to work hard to become a more anti-racist and inclusive community. This shared calling requires intentional, comprehensive, and concrete action steps.
Together, we must, and will, move beyond words and performative gestures. In the days, weeks, and years ahead, we will work together—all of us—to pursue equity and become more inclusive in our pedagogies, curriculum, co-curricular activities, discourse, programs, organizations, events, governance, hiring, admissions, resources, public safety, external relations, and community engagement.
We know that there will be setbacks along the way and we will certainly make mistakes. But we will learn from our missteps, push each other onward with acts of loving kindness, and steadfastly accompany each other on our unending path to inclusive excellence. I am so grateful to be on this journey with you.
With warm regards and great gratitude,
Michael J. Kaufman
Dean and Professor of Law