Welcome to the 3
rd
Edition of
Inclusive Excellence in Action
Newsletter
With summer coming to a close, the Office of Diversity, Access, and Inclusion is excited to share the fall volume of the
Inclusive Excellence in Action
e-newsletter.
This newsletter is the third of our four-volume e-newsletter series and I hope that it serves as an additional source of information on key D&I issues, D&I professional development opportunities, campus D&I highlights, global efforts and information about D&I related grants and awards.
Your contributions as a D&I leader at the University of Nebraska is invaluable as we work together to realize our vision of an accessible, diverse and inclusive campus environment. Your feedback, thoughts and insight can help us shape future volumes. Please reach out if you know of ways we can make our Inclusive Excellence in Action newsletter a better resource for you.
Yours in Partnership,
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Stancia J. Jenkins
Associate to the President/Assistant Vice President for Diversity, Access, and Inclusion
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University of Nebraska System adopts Diversity, Access, Inclusion, and Equity Policies through Executive Memoranda
Through on-going discussions with leadership, the University of Nebraska has identified Inclusive Excellence (IE) as the theoretical framework guiding its strategic diversity, access, inclusion and equity (DAIE) efforts. The following priorities have been identified as the pillars (priorities) of the IE Framework:
- Student Recruitment
- Faculty Recruitment and Retention/P&T
- Staff Recruitment and Retention
- Supplier Diversity
- Campus Climate
To support the priority areas, DAI&E policies have been approved through Executive Memoranda. All policies were developed, reviewed and approved in accordance with Executive Memorandum No. 32,
Development and Issuance of University-wide Policies which requires final review by the President’s Council – which includes the university’s three chancellors.
This fall, through a series of “planning sessions”, coordinated efforts will be established to support the policies’ implementation and socialization across Central Administration and the four University of Nebraska campuses. The collaborative efforts of campus and system leadership, individuals that share responsibility for policy implementation, university employees identified by campus leadership, as well as members of the
Diversity Officers Collaborative (DOC) will help drive the socialization of the new policy framework for DAI&E throughout NU. The outcome of the efforts will help make the framework an integral part of NU’s overarching strategic goals, values, accountability measures, and confirmation of its identified
key characteristic of a great university i.e. “diversity promoted and encouraged.”
Links to the approved policies follow:
A diversity and inclusion (D&I) focused faculty recruitment and retention policy based on best practices is still under development and it is anticipated that a draft recommendation will be created for the review process this fall.
Please look for additional updates in future newsletters and other University communication vehicles.
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With the help of an Inclusive Development Excellence Grant, the University of Nebraska Omaha Accessibility Services Center (ASC) launched the Inclusive Learning Series (ILS), a series of 13 workshops and events throughout the 2018-19 academic year highlighting disability as an aspect of diversity.
Diversity, as defined by the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) includes ability as part of the definition:
“Diversity: Individual differences (e.g., personality, prior knowledge, and life experiences) and group/social differences (e.g., race/ethnicity, class, gender, sexual orientation, country of origin, and ability as well as cultural, political, religious, or other affiliations)”
The ILS workshops specifically focus on campus climate and student retention by raising awareness of disabilities as an aspect of diversity and advising campuses on disability related issues. The ILS also works to create inclusion.
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Katherine Keiser,
a Mental Health Therapist at the UNO Counseling and Psychological Services believes the workshops and events had far reaching impact.
“[We] suggested that those who should come to the events were individuals with a disability, those who know or might ever know someone with a disability, those who have or might ever have a coworker with a disability…in other words everyone can benefit from these workshops and events,”
Keiser said.
One of the requirements of the grant is that projects and initiatives must include collaboration across groups, offices, departments or divisions and may include external University partners. According to Keiser, the success of the ILS is dependent on collaboration from a cross section of partners and organizations.
“The intracampus collaboration is imperative. Just as Accessibility Services Center (ASC) plays a role in creating an inclusive environment for all students with various intersectional identities, every other campus entity plays a role in providing equal access to individuals with disabilities. Collaborating with campus partners such as Multicultural Affairs, Counseling and Psychological Services, the Criss Library, etc., allowed the sharing of information and brought fluidity to our efforts toward enhancing inclusivity throughout UNO.”
In support of the Inclusive Excellence Development Series, Inclusive Excellence Development Grants provide system-level support for implementing or strengthening sustainable initiatives that advance diversity, access and inclusion while achieving equitable outcomes in identified priority areas.
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1 Inclusion: The active, intentional, and ongoing engagement with diversity—in the curriculum, in the co-curriculum, and in communities (intellectual, social, cultural, geographical) with which individuals might connect—in ways that increase awareness, content knowledge, cognitive sophistication, and empathic understanding of the complex ways individuals interact within systems and institutions.
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According to a study by Harvard University, diversity training usually fails unless awareness and inclusion is a daily practice. Diversity events and monthly themes can be helpful for respectful scheduling while creating an opportunity for inclusion and highlighting diverse groups.
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Race On Campus, featuring Dr. Julie Park
Sept. 10
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6:30 p.m.
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Love Library Auditorium - Room 102
Free and open to the public
The Chancellor’s Commission on the Status of People of Color at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln is hosting Dr. Julie Park, a University of Maryland Professor. She will be speaking on her book,
Race on Campus: Debunking Myths with Data
. This book discusses a number of different places where the issue of race arises on college campuses today. The Chancellor’s Commission hopes this lecture will provide a foundation for continued discussions about diversity and inclusion on our campus. Copies of the book will be available for sale and the author is open to sign books after the event.
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Sept. 15–Oct. 15
National Hispanic Heritage Month
is when people in the United States recognize the contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans to the group's heritage and culture.
Sept. 29–Oct. 1
Rosh Hashanah
(Hebrew: ראש השנה), (literally "head of the year"), is the
Jewish New Year
. It is the first of the High Holidays or Yamim Noraim ("Days of Awe"), celebrated ten days before Yom Kippur. Rosh Hashanah is observed on the first two days of Tishrei, the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar. It is described in the Torah as יום תרועה (Yom Teru'ah, a day of sounding [the Shofar]).
Sept. 29–Oct. 8
Navratri
is one of the greatest Hindu festivals lasting for nine nights. It symbolizes the triumph of good over evil. Navratri takes place at the beginning of October around harvest time and, as the name implies, this festival is celebrated for nine days. Navratri is also known as Durga Puja.
OCTOBER:
National Disability Employment Awareness Month
In October, Americans observe National Disability Employment Awareness Month by paying tribute to the accomplishments of the men and women with disabilities whose work helps keep the nation’s economy strong and by reaffirming their commitment to ensure equal opportunity for all citizens.
Italian Heritage Month
October is Italian Heritage Month, formerly known as National Italian-American Heritage Month. Italian-American Heritage Month celebrates the distinguished cultural contributions of Americans with Italian lineage.
Polish American Heritage Month
Polish American Heritage Month is an annual event celebrated in October by Polish American communities. It was first celebrated in 1981 after organization by Michael Blichasz, President of the Polish American Cultural Center in Philadelphia.
German American Heritage Month
celebrates German American heritage.
German-American Day on October 6
, commemorates the date in 1683 when 13 German families from Krefeld, near the Rhine, landed in Philadelphia. These families subsequently founded Germantown, Pennsylvania, the first German settlement in the original 13 American colonies
Oct. 8–9
Yom Kippur
,
also known as the Day of Atonement, is the holiest day of the year in Judaism. Its central themes are atonement and repentance. Jews traditionally observe this holy day with an approximate 25-hour period of fasting and intensive prayer, often spending most of the day in synagogue services
Oct. 13–20
Sukkot
is a weeklong Jewish holiday that comes five days after Yom Kippur. Sukkot celebrates the gathering of the harvest and commemorates the miraculous protection G‑d provided for the children of Israel when they left Egypt.
Oct. 20–Nov. 2
Shemini Atzeret
follows the holiday of Sukkot.
In Israel, this is a one-day holiday; in the Diaspora it is a two-day holiday, and the second day is known as
Simchat Torah
. This holiday is characterized by joy which reaches its climax on Simchat Torah, when the conclusion—and restart—of the annual Torah-reading cycle is celebrated.
Oct. 27
Diwali, Divali, Deepavali or Dipavali
is the festival of lights, which is celebrated by Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and some Buddhists every autumn in the northern hemisphere (spring in southern hemisphere). One of the most popular festivals of Hinduism, Diwali symbolizes the spiritual "victory of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance." Light is a metaphor for knowledge and consciousness.
Oct. 31–Nov. 2
Dia de los Muertos –
The Day of the Dead
is a Mexican holiday celebrated throughout Mexico, in particular the Central and South regions, and by people of Mexican heritage elsewhere. The multi-day holiday involves family and friends gathering to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died, and helping support their spiritual journey. Mexicans view it not as a day of sadness but as a day of celebration because their loved ones awake and celebrate with them.
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UPCOMING CAMPUS DIVERSITY-RELATED EVENTS:
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The Defamation Experience
Sept. 22–25, 2019
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University of Nebraska
Please mark your calendar to attend the Defamation Experience
showing on your campus the week of September 22nd. Watch your campus emails and communication for exact dates and times.
The play is a courtroom drama that explores issues of race, class, religion, gender and the law with a twist — the audience serves as the jury. The program, which includes audience deliberation and a facilitated discussion, is a unique opportunity to engage in civil discourse about pressing social issues. Since “The Defamation Experience” premiered in 2010, thousands of people nationwide have participated, examining themselves, preconceived concepts and responses, and the themes related to diversity touched on by the play.
A campus-based initiative, Defamation the Play is financially supported in part by the Office of Diversity, Access and Inclusion.
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Growing Your Excellence in Inclusion
Growing Your Excellence in Inclusion
shares opportunities to highlight examples of inclusive excellence on your campus. Be sure to nominate a D&I initiative, program or project for one of the following awards, explore external funding opportunities from foundations and other grant making entities, or participate in D&I professional development opportunities.
GRANT OPPORTUNITIES:
Humanities Nebraska
DEADLINES: Sept. 1 and Nov. 1, 2019
Mini Grants are for $2,000 or less - Mini grants can fund projects that begin at least one month after the application deadline.
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Inclusive Excellence Development Grants
DEADLINES: Oct. 7 - Call for Proposals; Nov. 22 - Proposals due 5 p.m.
Inclusive Excellence Development Grants provide system-level support for implementing or strengthening initiatives that advance diversity, access, and inclusion on an NU campus. These initiatives should lead to equitable outcomes in one or more of the following priority areas:
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Campus Climate
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Student Recruitment and Retention
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Faculty and Staff Recruitment and Retention
The goals of the grants: to foster a campus environment that includes a multiplicity of backgrounds, to help recruit and retain the talent needed to advance the University of Nebraska, and to make NU the best place in the nation to be a student, faculty or staff member.
A total of eight grants up to $3,000 each will be offered per calendar year in two funding cycles. The grants will be offered through the Office of Diversity, Access, and Inclusion, as funds are available. Projects and initiatives must include collaboration across groups, offices, departments or divisions, and may include external University partners. Only activities that are free and open to the University community will be funded. Funding cannot be utilized for off-campus travel or to support salaries.
For more detailed information, please visit the links below:
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Leadership and Academic Enhancement Program
The Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP)
DEADLINES: Nov. 1 and 15, 2019
The LSAMP program is an alliance-based program with the overall goal of assisting universities and colleges in diversifying the nation's science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) workforce by increasing the number of STEM baccalaureate and graduate degrees awarded to populations historically underrepresented in these disciplines: African Americans, Hispanic Americans, American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and Native Pacific Islanders.
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The Ford Foundation
DEADLINE: N/A Rolling Submissions Accepted
The Ford Foundation is open to new ideas to address inequality and invites the submission of ideas online. Funding program areas are based on seven areas that challenge inequality: entrenched Cultural Narratives, Failure to Invest in And Protect Vital Public Goods, Unfair Rules of the Economy, Unequal Access to Government, and Persistent Prejudice and Discrimination. To address and respond to these areas, the foundation makes grants in seven interconnected areas to help challenge inequality: Civic Engagement and Government; Creativity and Free Expression; Future of Work(ers); Gender, Racial, and Ethnic Justice; Just Cities and Regions; Natural Resources and Climate Change; and Technology and Society.
For more detailed information, please visit these links:
CONFERENCES:
Developing a Comprehensive System of Support for First-Generation Students
Academic Impressions
Sept. 18–20, 2019 | Orange County, CA
Many college campuses are finding that their first-generation (first-gen) student population has grown exponentially in the past five years with some reporting 24-30% of their student body identifying as first-gen. Unfortunately, only about 20% of this population graduate with a degree within 10 years. Because so many first-gen students are also low-income, this is especially disheartening as this means many students are taking on debt without obtaining their degree.This conference is designed to give you a wide variety of tools to best address the challenges your first-gen population faces and to give them the best chance at success.
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The Conference on Opportunity, Diversity and Equity
Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce
Oct. 4, 2019
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CHI Health Center - 455 N. 10th St. Omaha, NE 68102
The Conference on Opportunity, Diversity and Equity, in its inaugural year, is a new opportunity to address diversity and inclusion issues at the national and local level to help professionals create cultures where everyone feels they belong, in an environment where all contributions matter. The next-generation of Greater Omahan’s are more diverse and more educated. C.O.D.E.’s strategy focuses on embracing our vibrant population as a community treasure, showcasing premier inclusive-hiring and promotion practices, and bolstering our efforts to develop, retain and attract the nation’s top talent – ensuring that every resident has the opportunity for prosperity. Diversity of thought, perspective and experience drives successful organizations and communities.
Hosted by the Greater Omaha Chamber in partnership with The Urban League of Nebraska, Assistology and The Latino Center of the Midlands.
The University of Nebraska Omaha, University of Nebraska Medicine and University of Nebraska Central Administration have partnered to serve as sponsors for the conference.
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HACU 33rd Annual Conference: Meeting the Challenge of Prosperity and Equality
Hispanic Association of Colleges & Universities
Oct. 5–7, 2019
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Hilton Chicago - 720 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60605
HACU’s Annual Conference provides a unique forum for the sharing of information and ideas for the best and most promising practices in the education of Hispanics. The conference goals are to:
- Showcase successful, effective, and exemplary programs and initiatives of HACU member institutions
- Promote and expand partnerships and strategic alliances for collaboration between HACU member institutions and public-and private-sector organizations
- Foster and identify graduate education opportunities for Hispanic students and graduates
- Deliberate policy issues affecting the education opportunities of Hispanics, including HACU’s legislative agenda
- Promote greater Hispanic participation in scholarships, fellowships, internships and other such programs funded by private and government organizations
- Discuss emerging trends in higher education affecting Hispanics and HSIs, e.g., distance learning, student-centered learning, outcomes assessment, and cross-national accreditation
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Inclusion 2019 - Shifting Workplace Culture
Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)
Oct. 28–30, 2019
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New Orleans, LA
Inclusion 2019 will help you connect the dots and bridge the gap between a diverse workforce and one that is inclusive. Summit attendees will gain strategies and insights needed to mitigate bias, shift exclusive workplace habits, transform workplace culture and create better, more productive workplace environments. These practices will boost both employee satisfaction and bottom line business results. Whether you’re well established or just beginning a D&I initiative, you’ll find solutions and best practices to help you succeed. Attend to learn how you can build and maintain a diverse workforce that thrives together in a truly inclusive environment, where each individual is empowered to reach their highest potential.
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Women's Leadership Success in Higher Education
Academic Impressions
Nov. 18–20, 2019 | Boston, MA
Are you looking to take the next step in leadership but aren’t sure where to start? What particular strengths do you have that can help you lead with excellence? Would you like to connect with other female leaders in higher education for shared learning and support? Please join us for this powerful learning experience. During this event, we will look at how gender (along with other factors like generation, geography, and diversity) gives you a unique perspective that can shape and empower your leadership style. You will also have opportunities to build an affinity network with your peers that can provide mentorship and guidance as you move forward with your goals following the event.
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Envisioning a Future Together
The Midwest Bisexual Lesbian Gay Transgender Asexual College Conference (MBLGTACC)
Feb. 14–16, 2020
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Western Michigan University - 1903 Western Michigan Avenue, Kalamazoo, MI
The Midwest Bisexual Lesbian Gay Transgender Asexual College Conference (MBLGTACC) is an annual conference held to connect, educate, and empower queer and trans+ college students, faculty, and staff around the Midwest and beyond. It has attracted advocates and thought leaders including Angela Davis, Nyle DiMarco, Robyn Ochs, Janet Mock, Laverne Cox, Kate Bornstein, Faisal Alam, and LZ Granderson; and entertainers and artists including Jujubee, Margaret Cho, J Mase III, Chely Wright, and Loren Cameron. To date, MBLGTACC is America's largest and oldest continuously-held conference for queer and trans+ college students. And it remains proudly student-run.
This event is hosted by student organizers from Western Michigan University.
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Tips & Tactics for Creating Inclusive, Culturally Responsive Classrooms
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Since 2006, the Students as Learners and Teachers (SaLT) program has supported students and faculty as they form pedagogical partnerships to understand how to create classroom environments that are conducive to the learning of a diverse group of students.
A group of faculty, students, and administrators developed and launched the SaLT program program in response to requests from faculty to make their classrooms more inclusive and the desire of administrators to support pedagogical reflection. Students from underrepresented groups on campus participated in a focus group that helped conceptualize the program.
The program has yielded key recommendations for faculty looking to create inclusive, culturally responsive classrooms. These recommendations are not intended to be one-time, surefire strategies but rather starting points in a necessarily ongoing dialogue.
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