We believe diversity is vital in higher education. 

Diversity promotes individual growth and awareness.

Communities are strengthened because of diversity.

Dialogue is crucial for understanding.

Campbellsville University’s Campus and Community Dialogue on Race finds its beginning inlate 1998 in response to the vision of one of our alumna, Mrs. Maria Parker, and the Rev. John Chowning, a Baptist minister who is the University’s Vice President for Church and External Relations and Executive Assistant to the President, and who teaches political science courses at C.U. Mrs. Parker and her husband, who is an African American pastor and minister in Monroe County, Kentucky at that time, now residing in Radcliff, Kentucky, and Rev. Chowning had worked together in the University’s African American Pastors’ Dialogue which began meeting on a regular basis earlier in 1998.

Working with the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights, a planning committee met in December 1998. From that meeting came the first group that began the racial dialogue in a series of meetings in February 1999. The multiracial group was small in the beginning and averaged around ten students, faculty, staff, and administrators. Facilitators for future dialogue sessions emerged from the February 1999 process. Mrs. Parkerand Dr. Mary Wilgus, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University, planned and coordinated future campus-wide dialogues. During the summer of 1999, plans were put in place for a broader and more encompassing program to engage campus students in the discussions on racism.

While the efforts of Campbellsville University began independent of the national dialogue on race emanating from the White House and the United States Department of Education, a decision was made to join the national effort during the week of October 4-8, 1999. Five campus organizations agreed to host the dialogue on race during the 1999 fall semester. Several from the original group became facilitators. A total of 39 students and facilitators of various races and ethnic backgrounds participated in the October 1999 dialogue. Most of the respondents expressed an interest to continue the dialogue the following year and emphasized the need to include more minority residents of the local community to attend and discuss racism and the need for reconciliation. The “Campus and Community Dialogue on Race” continues to grow each year, which illustrates the growing impact of the process upon the campus community and the local community.

An added feature of the October 1999 emphasis was the first annual President’s Luncheon on Racial Reconciliation which followed a moving and inspiring Convocation Service at which Dr. Lincoln Bingham of Louisville, Kentucky presented a powerful message on the need for unity and reconciliation between people of different races and ethnic backgrounds. Dr. Bingham, who is recognized as a statewide leader, in racial reconciliation between African American and Anglo Baptists in particular, was presented with the first annual President’s Racial Reconciliation Ministry Award.

The first two African American members of the University’s Board of Trustees were added beginning at the January 2000 trustees meeting. Campbellsville University now has four African American members of the Board. The University’s Church Relations Council has eleven African American members. Both Rev. Chowning and Dr. Michael Carter, president, meet regularly with a group of African American pastors known as the “African American Pastors’ Dialogue.” At the invitation of these pastors, Rev. Chowning and Dr. Walter Jackson, Dean of the University’s School of Theology, attended and participated in meetings of the Christian education departments of the General Association of Kentucky Baptists, which is the primary statewide assembly of African American Baptist church leaders. The University placed targeted advertising in the American Baptist, which is the General Association’s publication with national coverage.

The third campus dialogue was held in October 2000. The five group facilitators specifically invited minority residents of the local community to attend and discuss racism and the need for reconciliation. A total of 57 people participated in that year’s dialogue, which illustrated the growing impact of the process upon the community and the local community. Dr. T. VaughnWalker, professor and chair of Black Church Studies at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, served as the 2000 keynote speaker on racial reconciliation in the University’s convocation. Dr. Walker, who also serves as pastor of a Louisville-area church, spoke at the second annual President’s Luncheon and received the reconciliation ministry award. A second award, African American Community Leadership Award,was instituted in 2000 and presented to Rev. Walter Johnson, an area pastor for 33 years, retired postal service employee, and one who has served on the front line of civil rights in the community and region. Rev. Johnson has worked with numerous young people in the African American community of south-central Kentucky in encouraging their pursuit of education and in assuring their equal opportunity. He is a member of the University’s Church Relations Council, was the second African American to enroll at Campbellsville University in the early 1960’s, and a great example of how Christians work to reconcile all people in Jesus Christ. Since 2000 awards have been presented to various community people, who are leaders in the area of reconciliation.

The eleventh campus dialogue was held in October 2009 with Dr. Lincoln Bingham, Senior Pastor of St. Paul Baptist Church at Shively Heights in Louisville, Kentucky as the guest speaker for Campbellsville University’s Chapel Series, and was presented the Campbellsville University Leadership Award. This award has its roots in the pioneering spirit that brought higher education and its succeeding growth to Kentucky. The Award, a special recognition in Kentucky – cast bronze, is the revered Great Seal of Campbellsville University, proclaiming the universal attributes of fellowship, leadership and scholarship. Following the University’s legacy of more than a century of commitment to Christian Principles in higher education, the Campbellsville University Leadership Award is ceremoniously shared in appreciation and admiration of consummate leadership in Kentucky’s spiritual, health, education, cultural, economic, and community development. Dr. Betty Griffin, former Director of the Kentucky Beginning Teacher Internship Program, and CEO of The Griffin Group, and Mr. Delquan Dorsey, Executive Director of the Governor’s Office of Minority Empowerment, received the African American Community Leadership Award.

Other evidence abounds as to the impact of the University’sefforts both on the campus and in the community. A course in African American History and Religion was developed and was being offered during the fall 2000 semester. The course was taught by Dr. Mary Wilgus with the assistance of Rev. George Lee, pastor of Campbellsville’s First Baptist Church, which is a historic African American church in the local community. Several University professors and administrators, who serve as pastors in the local community, have hosted a series of joint worship services with local African American churches. These churches have included South Campbellsville Baptist Church, Saloma Baptist Church, First Baptist Church, Pleasant Union Baptist Church, and Good Hope Baptist Church. In 1999 the University’s School of Music hosted a workshop featuring the music and worship of African American churches.

Campbellsville University has also observed the Dr. Martin Luther King celebration and Black History month in recent years. A community worship service during the Dr. King emphasis is held on the campus each year. Black History Month emphasis usually includes a convocation address by prominent African American pastors who are making great strides in their communities with reconciliation work. The evening services also feature African American worship. Members of the localcommunity and the University join together for these services.

Campbellsville University is truly committed to the ongoing process of bringing harmony among all people. The additional points below further illustrate this commitment:

• Campbellsville University adopted a Diversity Mission Statement in 2008 which states, “The diversity mission of Campbellsville University is to foster awareness and understanding of diverse perspectivesacross all aspects of the institution vital to education, while affirming thedignity, value, and uniqueness of each individual regardless of personal differences. In this 21st Century, the commitment to diversity strengthens students and the broader community towards diverse citizenship, a pluralistic society, and global economy. Campbellsville University embraces diversity as integral to a caring, Christ-centered community of learners.”
• Campbellsville University students participate regularly in worldwide mission projects including inner cities of America (e.g., Washington, D.C., Cleveland, and Boston among others) and at various points across the globe including Africa, China, Russia, Poland, Mexico, Brazil, and other mission points.
  
• Campbellsville University has an ongoing Brazilian Partnership, which brings Brazilian students to the University campus for study and University personnel to Brazilon a regular basis. The Brazilian example of harmony across racial lines is a positive example for the University, community, and region.
  
• The University’s School of Social Work teaches a course in human diversity designed to assist students in successfully managing interpersonal relationships with people from different cultural and ethnic backgrounds. Emphasis is placed on social systems,value orientations, and lifestyles of major ethnic groups and minorities in the United States as well as on the effects of prejudice, discrimination, and racism in shaping human behavior.
  
• The role and contributions of African Americans and other minorities are incorporated into other academic courses to reflect the particular discipline involved.
  
• The University provides scholarship assistance for minority students who desire topursue a career in Christian ministries. Minority students of the Baptist faith are affirmatively sought in the Baptist student leadership award program.
  
• Campbellsville University is fully committed to achieving racial diversity and harmony among the members of the student body, faculty and staff, Church Relations Council, and Board of Trustees.