You Belong Here
At SNHU, we embrace you. All of you. Whether you’re 18 or 81. A military service member or first-gen student. Starting your career or getting ready for your next act. We see you for everything you are — a wonderful culmination of experiences, identities, passions and beliefs — and we’re committed to supporting it all.
The Office of Diversity & Inclusion (ODI) keeps us accountable to this goal. Using restorative practice and intercultural competency development, ODI helps drive SNHU toward equal opportunities for students and employees alike. Read on to discover more about our commitment to serving the global SNHU community.
Grassroots mission. Global impact.
Support for learners
When we say “education for all,” we really mean it. Here are just a few ways SNHU is breaking barriers for learners around the world:
- Serving the educational needs of new American families in Manchester, NH
- Working with community partners to expand college access throughout the U.S.
- Delivering high-quality, low-cost education to refugees around the world
And it doesn’t end there. Beyond our dedicated student support, we offer mental health and wellness resources, accessibility services and more. We also provide opportunities to make connections through both online and on-campus student clubs and communities. We do all of this in pursuit of better, more equal opportunities — because we believe when people are connected to themselves and each other, their potential knows no bounds.
Support for staff
We know our mission is only as powerful as the people behind it. So we offer tools for staff and faculty, too. That includes bringing inclusion into our university strategic plan. Creating safe spaces to discuss tough and timely topics. Supporting employee networks and impact groups so we can feel close — even from afar. These are just a few of the reasons our employees love it here.
What the SNHU Community is Saying
“You're going to build a community of friends here — from your peers to your teachers to your advisor… It’s just an amazing community.”
Juliana Z., SNHU graduate
“SNHU has made me feel like I belong. I spent many years trying to fit into a different mold, and that doesn’t have to happen here. I was, for the first time in my life, able to take that mask off and be me.”
Phoenix S., SNHU employee
“Before coming to SNHU, a lot of the other universities turned me down and said ‘no thank you.’ It was SNHU that said ‘we want you for the person that you are.’”
Corey D., SNHU graduate
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is diversity important in online learning?
At SNHU, we believe diversity is important in all learning. As one of the largest online universities in the U.S. with international reach, SNHU offers a unique opportunity to connect diverse backgrounds, viewpoints and perspectives from across the country and around the world.
These resources help our learners adopt a growth mindset: so they can learn to push out of comfort zones, social media bubbles and echo chambers. With these tools, our students — as well as our faculty and staff — become more empathetic, compassionate and understanding.
As Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. famously said, the world is “a marketplace of ideas.” So why not learn about them all and decide for yourself which ones you embrace and which ones you don’t?
How do you promote diversity in an online classroom?
There are many ways to successfully promote diversity in an online classroom. Through discussion boards, student clubs and groups, we encourage engagement that gets people thinking outside of their own lived experiences.
Our communities use these resources to create space where it’s OK to make mistakes, give the wrong answer, state the obvious, or explore ideas that might seem big or outlandish. We believe if there are only one or two points of view being voiced in a classroom, it’s likely because not everyone feels comfortable sharing theirs for fear of being judged and ostracized. So we work to cultivate attitudes and behaviors that welcome people in, instead of calling them out.
How could online learning meet the needs of diverse populations of students?
Online learning, in many ways, is a great equalizer for a number of diverse populations. In fact, SNHU introduced online learning in 1995, in large part to help remove barriers for learners. Military students, for example, could take online courses as a way to continue their education, even amidst permanent changes of station (PCS) and active duty deployment.
Beyond that, online classrooms can reach people who live in rural communities, who are homebound or without transportation, or who have physical or cognitive disabilities. Many of our learners work full-time, are caregivers or might simply prefer learning in their own homes and on their own schedules.
And for those who prefer in-person campus learning? We offer that, too. Our diverse global community is still accessible online, even if you opt to learn on campus.
What are some diversity issues in education?
There are many ways diversity can be considered within the context of higher education. For example:
- Understanding barriers to access, whether it be financial, technological or through knowledge networks
- Supporting representation within learning materials, faculty and administration, and the student body
- Grading and teaching practices that measure experience and skills, and account for neurodiverse learning
- Time flexibility, and allowing learners the freedom to extend their journey beyond the typical 2- to 4-year period if they need to pause their education for personal reasons
- Food and housing insecurity, which can provide additional barriers for those seeking education
By addressing these factors head on, we can help create equal opportunities for all learners.
What is inclusive online learning?
Inclusive online learning is about understanding that an education is personal to each and every student. That’s exactly why, at Southern New Hampshire University, we offer unrivalled student support, flexible online courses and access to a diverse network of learners across the country (and even internationally, too).
We focus on accessibility, representation, uplifting alternative narratives and creating spaces where asking for help is valued and encouraged. Beyond that, we strive to design the learning experience, from inquiry and admission all the way to program completion, in a manner that takes into account the diverse experiences of our learner populations.
What can colleges do to be more inclusive?
The answer here is simple — colleges become more inclusive when we meet students where they are. That’s exactly why SNHU strives for some of the lowest online tuition rates in the nation. High tuition costs often present barriers for learners. As do limitations in time, geography, representation and a host of other issues.
SNHU also stands firm in our zero tolerance policy for hate, bigotry and discrimination. As a private, nonprofit university, we remain dedicated, first and foremost, to doing what is right for our learners.
What is the Online Accessibility Center at SNHU?
Southern New Hampshire University is dedicated to providing equal access to students with documented disabilities, in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, and the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008.
Learn more about the Online Accessibility Center and the services they provide.
Join the SNHU community
Whether you’re looking to enroll in one of our 200+ online programs, or explore opportunities to work here, you belong at SNHU.
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