The Center for Reconciliation and Diversity (CRD) holds as its primary mission to support the university’s larger mission of advancing diversity from a biblical perspective, affirming that “diversity is an expression of God’s image, love, and boundless creativity.” - APU’s Diversity Statement.

CRD’s Vision Statement: To cultivate a community where every member acknowledges and stewards the Imago Dei within their identity and experiences a deep sense of belonging, translating to thriving, holistic outcomes.

The Center for Reconciliation and Diversity (CRD) guides the development of a university culture at APU that values and celebrates the diversity within its Christ-centered community, promoting equity, unity, racial reconciliation, intercultural understanding, and a commitment to love God and neighbor.

The CRD pursues this mission by:

• Supporting university marketing, recruitment, and retention efforts directed toward all students, including underrepresented student populations. 
• Providing a safe environment for students to engage in critical thinking and dialogue where differences of perspectives are sought and respected. 
• Equipping student leaders to empathically understand and engage communities of differing racial, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Sponsoring programming that increases awareness of and appreciation for cultural diversity.
• Supporting student leaders in developing, articulating, and applying their personal identity and faith in Christ to advance the work of God in the community and the world.
• Providing supplemental support and services for all students, including ethnic-minority and first-generation students.
• Partnering with staff and faculty to integrate diversity in curricular and co-curricular experiences.
• Promoting diversity across the university.

The center also coordinates multiple scholarship programs. The Multi-Ethnic Leadership Scholarship program involves education in diversity, leadership, and discipleship with selected students who become leaders of cross-cultural understanding and racial reconciliation on campus and beyond, and the TELACU Scholarship program is offered in collaboration with The East Los Angeles Community Union (TELACU). The center provides information on internship and learning opportunities offered by outside organizations for ethnic minority student populations, and sponsors various campus events to promote intercultural engagement and community. The CRD also houses and supports numerous ethnic organizations, which give students an opportunity to engage, learn, and experience cultural engagement and a strong sense of belonging with a nuanced understanding of the unique lived experiences of students of color.   

All students are welcome at the CRD office, located on Cougar Walk across from the coffee shop on East Campus. For more information on center programs, activities, and scholarships, contact us or sign up to be included on the distribution list by submitting your name and email address to the CRD. Learn about additional APU diversity-related offices, services, and programs on the Diversity at APU website. You may also use the Bias Incident Reporting tool to report nonemergency bias-related incidents.