Climate Survey 2022

https://law.byu.edu/policies-and-procedures/general-policies/

One of BYU’s policies is the Church Educational System Honor Code, https://honorcode.byu.edu/policies. That policy states: Brigham Young University and other Church Educational System institutions exist to provide an education in an atmosphere consistent with the ideals and principles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. That atmosphere is created and preserved by a community of faculty, administration, staff, and students who voluntarily commit to conduct their lives in accordance with the principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ and who strive to maintain the highest standards in their personal conduct regarding honor, integrity, morality, and consideration of others. By accepting appointment, continuing in employment, being admitted, or continuing class enrollment, each member of the BYU community personally commits to observe these Honor Code standards approved by the Board of Trustees “at all times and in all things, and in all places” (Mosiah 18:9):
• Be honest.
• Live a chaste and virtuous life, including abstaining from any sexual relations outside a
marriage between a man and a woman.
• Respect others, including the avoidance of profane and vulgar language.
• Obey the law and follow campus policies.
• Abstain from alcoholic beverages, tobacco, tea, coffee, vaping, and substance abuse.
• Participate regularly in Church services (required only of Church members).
• Observe Brigham Young University’s Dress and Grooming Standards.
• Encourage others in their commitment to comply with the Honor Code.

We seek to admit a diverse student body that reflects a wide range of life experiences. Although our application does not request prospective students to identify their gender identity or sexual orientation, applicants may indicate in the Candidate Referral Service profile they set up with LSAC that they are LGBTQ+ and/or interested in LGBTQ+ issues and student organizations. When prospective students provide such information, we strive to make them feel welcome and included at BYU Law.

We seek to employ a diverse staff/faculty/administration, reflecting a wide range of life experiences. The Law School’s Policy on Non-discrimination (see above) expressly includes hiring of faculty and employees and proscribes “discrimination or segregation on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, national origin, sex, gender (including identity and expression), sexual orientation, age, disability, or military status.”

BYU Counseling and Psychological Services aspires to maintain a culture of inclusion. We provide counseling services that are confidential and strive to create a safe environment for students of diverse age, gender, race, ethnicity, religion/spirituality, sexual orientation, relationship status, national origin, immigration status, socioeconomic status, political affiliation, body type, and mental and physical ability. We respect and seek to understand the unique intersection of identities that individuals bring to our center and believe that commitment to diversity directly contributes to the Aims of a BYU Education.

The Law School has three gender-inclusive restrooms that provide for individual use, each designated “Restroom.”

The Law School offers courses that include LGBTQ+-focused content, including Family Law, Fourteenth Amendment, Freedom of Religion, Reproductive Rights, and Social Thought & Feminist Legal Theory.

Several faculty members of the Law School are visibly active in supporting Encircle, a local LGBTQ+ family and youth resource center, and the Law School’s chapter of the American Constitution Society has sponsored service projects at Encircle.  Each semester, the Law School’s Public Interest Law Foundation hosts an event with a local attorney who speaks about interacting with and helping LGBTQ+ clients.  BYU hosted the NCAA Common Ground IV initiative. According to the NCAA website, “BYU was the first private, faith-based Division I institution to host Common Ground, which aims to establish inclusive and respectful athletics environments for participants of all sexual orientations, gender identities and religious beliefs.” To read more about Common Ground IV, visit http://ncaa.org/static/champion/breaking-ground and http://ncaa.org/static/champion/an-uncommon-conversation.  BYU Law’s International Center for Law and Religious Study held an annual conference that included five panels that directly focused on LGBTQ+ rights and religious freedom. As part of the conference, the center hosted a student essay scholarship contest with the organization Tolerance Means Dialogue that seeks to facilitate dialogue on religious freedom and LGBTQ+ issues.

We offer Title IX training to faculty, administration, staff, and students. Title IX deals with being respectful in all relationships. To ensure thorough training at regular intervals, the Director of Human Resources and Employee Development/Training coordinates training initiatives to enhance employee skills, performance, and productivity. Strategies to enhance employee engagement and retention are being further developed. The Law School has also hired a Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion to provide diversity and inclusion training, counseling and direct initiatives that are consistent with our commitment to helping those associated with the Law School to feel welcome and included.