We celebrate the diversity and strength of our student body, and we take pride in students who come to us from over 100 countries around the world. Here, students from all walks of life connect and make Temple their home away from home. We represent the world, and a Temple education means a global education.
Below, you’ll find the resources and organizations that may be of interest to you, so you know how welcome you are at Temple.
Temple’s Office of Institutional Diversity, Equity, Advocacy and Leadership (IDEAL) embodies our dedication to continually grow and nurture a strong, inclusive campus community. IDEAL’s goal is to inspire meaningful connections and engagement across a variety of identity groups through advocacy, programs, recruitment and training.
Students are always free to visit the IDEAL office for a welcoming, inclusive space to discuss critical diversity issues, or simply a casual space to study. The office is equipped with a social justice library, smart technology in all rooms, landscaped outdoor courtyard and a satellite computer lab.
If you want to be an active member of IDEAL, check out the different student employment opportunities or become a Diversity Peer—our group of voluntary student leaders who advocate and provide diversity programming to further encourage inclusivity at Temple.
Members of the Temple community are encouraged to speak out against discrimination to uphold Temple’s commitment to be an inclusive campus. The university’s equity, diversity and inclusion portfolio—which includes IDEAL, the Center for Anti-Racism, the office of Equal Opportunity Compliance and the Title IX coordinator—provides support and resources for students who feel they have been a victim to discrimination and/or biased behavior, including
Connect with IDEAL to learn more about our resources or how to get involved by visiting the IDEAL website.
Phone: 215-204-7303
Email: [click-for-email]
“Temple has a significant record of racial equity work and the current moment provides us with an opportunity to amplify and accelerate that work. Temple’s most recent initiative will expand the Department of Africology and African American Studies, create a Center for Anti-Racism Research, and develop a pipeline and bridge program to college for North Philadelphia students.”
Read moreTemple’s Disability Resources and Services (DRS) provides access, accommodations and opportunities for students with a disability to grow and excel during their time at Temple University and beyond. DRS develops programs and workshops to support students and provides training and awareness about access and inclusion to the entire Temple community.
Students who connect with DRS include those with physical, visual, hearing and speech disabilities; health, mental health and autism spectrum conditions; attention deficits; brain injuries; and learning disabilities.
DRS provides academic accommodations, which are modifications provided to students to provide equal access to the learning environment. As a student, you can work with DRS to establish reasonable accommodations for your courses and academic requirements. DRS also partners with University Housing and Residential Life for students who request accessible housing. Learn more about accessible housing options on campus.
Temple provides sign language interpreting, on-site and remote Communication Access Real Time Translation (CART) services for students at no cost for academic-related purposes.
Temple offers assistive technology and software to students, including JAWS screen readers, Braille displays, digital recorders and electronic recording devices.
If you have questions, contact Temple’s Disability Resources and Services.
Phone: 215-204-1280
Email: [click-for-email]
An estimated 30% of incoming Temple first-year students are expected to be the first generation in their family to graduate from college. We welcome first-generation students with a wide array of support services and initiatives.
Temple’s Fly in 4 program was launched to help students—especially first-generation students—graduate in four years. The program encourages students to meet distinct checkpoints to stay on track to graduate on time. If not, Temple will commit to covering the cost of tuition for their remaining coursework.
Temple awards a number of scholarships specifically for first-generation students, most of which students are automatically considered for by completing the Common Application and Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Among those scholarships are our Fly In 4 grants, Broad Street Finish Line grants and Cecil B. Moore Scholars Program. If you have any questions about scholarships, Temple’s Student Financial Services Office can provide additional information.
Additionally, almost every college student needs support for food, housing, and other basic needs. Some get assistance from their parents, while others have to pay for it themselves, and may fall short on those bills at a given time. Temple is invested in our student’s success and wants you to connect with the support systems we have in place to empower you to stay focused on learning. You are not alone and it’s okay to ask for help. Talk to our teams directly or explore these additional resources for your basic needs (beyond tuition):
First to Fly is a campaign executed through our Office of New Student and Family Programs to promote awareness of first-generation students. This includes a student glossary as well as links to resources or services available to first-generation students.
The Ready to Fly program is a new program for first-generation students in the College of Education and Human Development and College of Liberal Arts. Ready to Fly students receive extra support and get a head start on becoming familiar with college-level work and navigating Temple systems and resources.
Temple First is a student organization that supports first-generation students, and it is a chapter of the Collective Success Network.
Temple offers a number of pre-college programs to help prospective students prepare for college. From Temple Education Scholars to B4USoar, these programs aim to prepare first-generation students for college-level coursework so they can get a head start on the college experience before they arrive on campus.
Temple’s Student Success Center is our tutoring and academic support center for all students. Available services include our University Writing Center, math and science tutoring, study groups for specific courses, and more.
A college completion and success strategy, the Next Steps AmeriCorps Program engages students in part-time service, including mentoring first-year college students.
Upward Bound are college access programs providing first-generation and low-income students with tools to be successful in college. Our programs operate year-round and consist of weekday after-school tutoring and college access programming, Saturday academic instruction and enrichment, and a six-week summer program that culminates with a multiday trip touring college campuses.
The College Access Community of Practice is a grassroots organization of Temple staff, faculty, students and external partners who work to address the needs of first-generation college students. Each year, the group supports the National First-generation College Celebration Week in November. For more information, please contact Juliet Cursi, College of Education and Human Development, by email at [click-for-email] or by calling 215-204-2475.
The Hope Center is the nation’s leading housing and basic needs advocacy organization, based at Temple. It is home to the #RealCollege movement.
The Temple community comprises students from all over the world—approximately 3,000 international students study at Temple. The now nationwide campaign and scholarship #YouAreWelcomeHere started on our campus in 2016 and everyday we carry out its mission to ensure our international students know they have a home here.
To further our global perspective and support our students studying here and away, Temple’s Office of International Affairs is divided into the following two units.
Through our initiatives, we
If you have questions, contact the Office of International Affairs.
Phone: 215-204-9570
Email: [click-for-email]
At Temple, our LGBTQIA+ students, faculty and staff members are a significant and meaningful part of the greater Temple community. IDEAL provides various resources and services through the Gender and Sexuality Inclusion Center to create a supportive environment and safe space for all—no matter how you identify. The center also holds a variety of events that celebrate our LGBTQIA+ community, such as Lavender Graduation, OuTU and weeklong programming to recognize National Coming Out Week.
At Temple, we support the need or preference for members of our community who identify by a name other than their legal name. The university will accommodate a preferred name during university business and education. The preferred name will be used in many university contexts, including the Cherry & White directory, OWLcards and student names on faculty class rosters and grade rosters.
Members of the Temple community can update their preferred name via the “Update Your Preferred Name” option in the Manage My Account section of TUportal.
If you have questions about requesting a preferred name, please send an email to [click-for-email].
Temple is committed to providing opportunities for everyone. We encourage you to talk to our Admissions team directly so we can answer your questions and help you get to know the Temple community.
Adrienne recruits prospective students from the city of Philadelphia and beyond, working closely with high school counselors and community organizations to help cultivate, enroll and provide access to a diverse undergraduate student body at Temple.
Contact Adrienne
