Race

'Race' is a social construct implemented to categorize people in groups based on their genetic and biological differences. 

'Racism' describes prejudice of discriminatory behavior and attitude towards an individual or a group of people due to their race. Racism can occur on an individual, cultural and institutional level.  

'Institutional Racism' describes the ways, either covert or overt, in which institutions' policies, procedures, operations, and culture reinforce individual prejudices by way of the system itself – rather than by individuals.  

Gaps in achievement by ethnicity (as described above) is just one example of institutional racism. St Mary's is committed to understanding and dismantling institutional racism within the University- starting with participation in in initiatives like the Race Equality Charter. 

Discrimination of any kind based on race is prohibited under Equality Act 2010 and is not tolerated at St Mary's. St Mary's has zero tolerance for racism in our community. 

'BAME' is an acronym for 'Black, Asian and Minority ethnic'. This term is inclusive of minority ethnicities and is used in the UK. Learn more about the definition of BAME and why these terms matter. 

'POC' is an acronym for 'People (or a Person) of Colour'.  

'BIPOC' is an acronym for 'Black and Indigenous People of Colour'. Learn more about the definitions of POC, BIPOC, and why these terms matter. 

Whilst these acronyms were coined by minority groups to demonstrate their united front against discrimination, these terms are now under scrutiny due to their impetuous use which dangerously bunches all non-white people together. Whilst at St Mary's we acknowledge that the use of BAME is contentious, this is the term most widely used in universities in the UK and one we are required to use in our reporting to the Office for Students (our regulator) and the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). As the world-renowned historian, David Olusoga notes, although the term is limited, it can continue to serve as a useful umbrella under which communities with what he calls a "shared colonial experience" can work together to create a path forward. 

The 'BAME student experience' is currently a focus of all universities across the UK due to an identified degree 'attainment gap'. The term 'attainment gap' refers to the difference  in ‘top degrees’ – a First or 2:1 classification – awarded to different groups of students – namely students from different ethnic backgrounds. Although 'attainment gap' is the terminology often used, it should perhaps be more accurately called an 'awarding gap' to acknowledge that the responsibility for this phenomenon lies with universities and with societal, structural and historical inequalities, rather than with the students themselves. 

• In 2015/16, the degree attainment gap in England – with 78.8% of White students receiving a first/2:1 compared with 63.2% of BAME students – a 15.6% gap. 
• In the 2017/18 academic year at St Mary's there was an 17% gap between Black and White students and an 11% gap between Asian and White students. This has since reduced slightly, but still must be tackled. 
• All universities across the UK (including St Mary's) have pledged to eliminate this gap by 2025 

There is also a 'continuation gap' which means that BAME students are less likely to complete the whole of their degree programmes and graduate. 

• In the most recent figures for St Mary's, 90% of White students completed their degrees, compared to 83% for other ethnicities 

These gaps must be addressed and tackled by universities (including St Mary's) to ensure every student has equal opportunities to work to and achieve at the best of their ability, ensuring their graduate life chances are the best they can be. The gaps occur for a range of reasons, including systemic issues both at and before university such as a lack of representation in curricula and staff. 

As for BAME staff working in universities, there are significant barriers to representation and progression across the sector. Research by Advance HE has found that UK university staff from minority ethnic backgrounds: 

• can feel that their leadership ability is questioned 
• assumptions are often made that they are in junior positions even when they occupy senior (eg professorial) roles 
• have reported negative assumptions being made about their abilities 
•  report experiences of invisibility, isolation, marginalisation and racial discrimination in HE 
• report experiencing heavy workloads, disproportionate levels of scrutiny compared with their white counterparts 
• a lack of mentoring and support for career development, and difficulties in gaining promotion 
• lecturers teaching in the areas of ‘race’, equality and multiculturalism report that these subjects are often designated as low status when performed by BME staff, yet they appear to acquire higher status when performed by white staff 
• report having fewer opportunities to develop research capacity and enhance their promotion prospects 

Key initiatives at St Mary's like the Race Equality Charter and work by our Widening Participation Team (in line with our Access and Participation Plan) seek to address and remove these barriers to equality for our BAME students and staff. For more information on these programmes, please visit our Further Information and Guidance page linked below.