Georgia Southern University is a special place and we strive to create a climate
where everyone feels they belong and where every student sees a clear path to
success in front of them.
In a world growing more diverse every year, our campus climate is an important element in attracting and retaining prospective students, faculty, staff, donors and partners. Our efforts to ensure Georgia Southern is a place for everyone is an on-going, collaborative process we call “Inclusive Excellence.”
At Georgia Southern, Inclusive Excellence is not the responsibility of one person or one office, it’s an institutional value that focuses on our most important resource – our people.
Inclusive Excellence at Georgia Southern University
Inclusive Excellence is a strategic pillar and a core value at Georgia Southern University. We recognize that our success as an institution of higher learning depends on our ability to embrace, value, and appreciate the diversity of students, staff, faculty, administrators, and alumni across our campuses. Inclusive excellence is continuous and comprehensive; intentional and dynamic; transformational and innovative and is embedded in all aspects of our culture and actions. Inclusive excellence speaks to sustaining a campus climate that honors, respects, and is inclusive of all elements of diversity that make each of us unique: culture, race, ethnicity, color, national origin, sex, age, (dis)ability, creed, religious or spiritual beliefs, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, class, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, political philosophy, etc. We uphold that all of our individual differences enrich our university. Together, we are Georgia Southern – committed to growing ourselves to grow others.
Featured Programs
EAGLE Academy
EAGLE Academy is a comprehensive transition program designed to support young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in their journey to independence. By offering a two-year certificate program focused on independent living, career skills, and academic development, EAGLE Academy empowers students to achieve their full potential. Through inclusive post-secondary education, students gain valuable life skills and prepare for successful integration into the workforce and community.
Call Me MISTER®
Georgia Southern University’s College of Education, in collaboration with Clemson University, is proud to offer the Call Me MISTER® program to our community. This initiative aims to address the shortage of diverse educators by recruiting, supporting, and developing promising male teacher candidates from underrepresented backgrounds. By providing mentorship, professional development, and a strong support network, Call Me MISTER® empowers aspiring educators to excel in the classroom and make a positive impact on the lives of students.
Reach for Southern
REACH for Southern is dedicated to empowering low-income students through comprehensive support. This initiative, in partnership with the Georgia Student Finance Authority, provides academic resources, mentorship opportunities, community-building experiences, and career development guidance. By fostering a supportive environment and offering financial assistance, REACH for Southern helps students overcome barriers to higher education and achieve their academic and professional goals.
Access and Opportunities
TRiO Ronald E. McNair Scholars Program
The McNair Scholars Program at Georgia Southern University is a TRiO program that prepares underrepresented, high-performing students for graduate school. Funded by the U.S. Department of Education, the McNair Scholars Program seeks to increase the number of first-generation, low-income, and/or underrepresented students in Ph.D. programs, and ultimately, diversify the faculty in colleges and universities across the country.
Child Care Access Means Parents in School Program (CCAMPIS)
The Childcare Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) program is a federally funded initiative supporting low-income student-parents attending Georgia Southern. By providing financial assistance for childcare costs and offering a range of supportive services, CCAMPIS aims to increase student-parent retention, graduation rates, and overall well-being. The program offers workshops, mentoring, and coaching to help participants navigate academic challenges, balance family responsibilities, and achieve their educational goals.
USG’s AAMI Program
Georgia Southern is an awardee of the University System of Georgia’s African American Male Initiative. This university initiative is designed to enhance the academic success and retention of African-American male students at Georgia Southern University. By providing academic support, mentorship, and leadership development opportunities, AAMI aims to create a supportive community that empowers students to achieve their academic and personal goals.
TRiO Student Support Services
The TRIO Student Support Services program at Armstrong/Liberty Campuses is designed to help students overcome obstacles and achieve their academic goals. This program offers a range of services, including academic advising, tutoring, and mentoring to first-generation, low-income, and disabled students. By providing personalized support and resources, TRIO empowers students to succeed in their studies and beyond.
Frequently Asked Questions
Inclusive Excellence is a collaborative process of enhancing the experiences of our students, faculty, staff, administrators and alumni at Georgia Southern University. Valuing Inclusive Excellence creates an engaged, welcoming campus climate that values diversity, supports students and rewards excellence at every level.
No, Inclusive Excellence encompasses a much wider range of experiences, voices and perspectives that define the Georgia Southern community.
In addition to providing a world-class education, Georgia Southern has a larger responsibility to prepare students for success in a multicultural world. That commitment connects back to the University’s core mission to create “vibrant learning environments that foster an inclusive, student-centered culture of engagement designed to prepare students for lifelong service as scholars, leaders and responsible stewards of their communities.”
Everyone. Opportunities for faculty, staff, students, alumni, and our community to help everyone learn more about what Inclusive Excellence means as well as how to respectfully engage with people across campus.
First, you can set an example by treating others with kindness and understanding, realizing that you play a critical role in creating a welcoming campus climate at Georgia Southern.
You can also get involved with the Office of Inclusive Excellence, various student organizations, or employee groups.