Students on the Pace Pleasantville Campus
Counseling Center

Supporting Our Diverse Community

Diversity Statement

The Counseling Center staff values the diversity of the Pace University community. We strive to create a safe, affirming, respectful, accepting and welcoming environment that embraces all forms of diversity: age, race, ethnicity, language, national origin, sex, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, religious affiliation, physical and mental ability, and socioeconomic status. In this climate, we hope that students will feel comfortable to freely explore their unique identities, personal experiences, attitudes, beliefs, and values. In turn, we hope to help students with the issues that bring them in and encourage their intellectual, emotional, and social development. We also see our mission as extending beyond the walls of our offices in order to promote and support a growth producing environment in the Pace community as a whole. Our goal and commitment is for all of our work to reflect the acceptance and inclusion of every person and embrace difference in our diverse campus environment.

Pace's Commitment to Anti-Racism
Pace’s Commitment to Diversity
Other Important Pace University Resources

DACA and Undocumented Students

First Generation Students

  • It is a remarkable achievement to be a first-generation college student. College is exciting and challenging and there can also be some additional stress and pressure being the first in your family to attend college. Some concerns specific to first-generation students include:

    • Pressure to achieve academically for both you and your family
    • Feeling other students understand more about college life
    • Doubt about your ability to succeed
    • Being unable to ask your family for advice or help
    • Fear of losing your identity in your community or family
    • Confusion about social and other rules and expectations
    • Worrying about finances
    • Feelings of guilt or shame about having the opportunity to attend college
    • Embarrassment or resentment about your family’s socioeconomic status or the level of education

    The Counseling Center welcomes the opportunity to be able to support first generation college students in their social, academic, familial and emotional adjustment and well-being.

    Tips for Academic and Personal Success and Connecting to Others

    Pace University Resources

    • First Generation Peer Mentoring Program (Pleasantville Campus, Erika Schmid, (914) 773-3351, eschmid@pace.edu)

International Students

  • Beginning college is a transition for all students and an especially significant one for international students. The adjustment can be both stimulating and demanding. Common concerns for international students might include:

    • Adjustment to a new country, culture and academic system
    • Adjustment fatigue
    • Missing your country and home, not being able to go home often
    • Completing schoolwork in a foreign language
    • Changes in concentration, eating, sleeping and other habits
    • Having more physical or medical issues, navigating a different medical system
    • Immigration and visa concerns
    • Difficulty communicating, being understood and expressing yourself
    • Encountering prejudice or misperceptions about your culture
    • Feeling lonely, sad, irritable and/or anxious
    • Differences in social, dating and other values at home and in your new environment
    • Finding that the personal problems you faced at home may also be present here

    The Counseling Center understands that different countries have varying outlooks on mental health and getting professional support. We are committed to providing culturally-affirmative therapy by respecting and seeking to understand every student’s cultural background and values.

    Tips for Academic and Personal Success and Connecting to Others

    Pace University Resources

LGBTQA Students

Non-Traditional Age Students

  • Adjusting to college or graduate school can be difficult. Students of non-traditional college age may grapple with additional stressors which might include:

    • Adjustment to University life or academics
    • Social isolation, struggling to connect to other students
    • Balancing family, work and academic demands
    • Financial difficulties
    • Grappling with changes in your own identity

    The Counseling Center is a resource to help you navigate this next step in your personal and professional life. We welcome your reaching out for support and guidance in this transition.

    Tips for Academic and Personal Success and Connecting to Others

Religiously Diverse Students

  • College exposes use to many different types of people. One of the lenses through which we learn about ourselves and others is through one’s religious identity. Some issues that may come up for students from religiously diverse backgrounds are:

    • Being away from your familiar or established religious community
    • Trouble finding a community on campus
    • Re-examination of your faith and/or confusion about your beliefs
    • Feeling different or misunderstood because of your religious affiliation
    • Anxiety and fears related to your religious identity
    • Feeling singled out
    • Feeling invisible or isolated
    • Struggling to balance religious, family and personal expectations and goals
    • Straddling two worlds and/or feeling on the outside looking in
    • Discrimination, harassment, cyberbullying or marginalization
    • Microaggressions
    • Balancing and integrating multiple identities

    The Counseling Center is committed to providing religiously and culturally affirmative therapy by respecting and seeking to understand every student’s religious, cultural and other personal history and values.

    Tips for Academic and Personal Success and Connecting to Others

    Pace University Resources

    • Catholic Student Association Westchester
    • CRU (formerly Campus Crusade for Christ) Westchester
    • Christian Fellowship at Pace (CFP) NYC
    • Hillel NYC
    • Hillel Westchester
    • Muslim Student Association (MSA) NYC
    • Muslim Student Association (MSA) Westchester
    • Listen
    • Learn about the range of religious identities
    • Allow yourself to have difficult and possibly uncomfortable conversations about religion
    • Acknowledge when you have offended or hurt someone or made a mistake
    • Speak up when a person or religion is targeted with unjust treatment, comments or jokes
    • Become aware of your own prejudices
    • Attend an event sponsored by a religious organization other than your own

    7 Best Practices for Making Religious Minority Students Feel Welcome

Students of Color

Students with Disabilities

Transfer Students

Veteran Students