Challenge Award Nominations

Posted on Thursday, February 16 by mcendro

Do you know a student who really exemplifies the values in The IOWA Challenge? Nominate them for our Meet the Challenge awards! The Meet the Challenge Awards will be given during the annual Hawkeye Awards.

Awards will be given in each of the five IOWA Challenge areas (EXCEL, STRETCH, ENGAGE, CHOOSE, and SERVE). One winner will be selected from each area. Nominations are reviewed by a committee of students, faculty and staff. The winners will receive a $500 award sponsored by the Office of the Provost. Here is the link to a more detailed description and the application form.

Deadline for nominations is March 23rd, 2012 so start thinking of amazing students to recommend for this honor.

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University Counseling Service Video

Posted on Thursday, January 19 by shansen

Here is a nice example of how we can communicate inclusiveness to our prospective constituents:

In an effort to demonstrate our agency’s valuing of the diversity of cultures represented by students here at the University of Iowa, we created this “UCS Staff: We Welcome Diversity” video.  All staff members at the University Counseling Service are present in this video to welcome all students to our agency.  We invite you to take a minute-and-a-half to check out our video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01Wd0YlDMcA

 

Posted in Division, Multiculturalism, Diversity, & Inclusion | Leave a comment

Kathy Obear Visit

Posted on Monday, November 28 by shansen

The Division of Student Life is bringing Kathy Obear to campus in January to continue to support our focus on multicultural organizational development. Kathy has done much important work in the area of multiculturalism, inclusion, and diversity. In particular, she and Vernon Wall have developed a model that helps organizations determine where they are as an inclusive organization , where they would like to be, and how to take steps, together, to get there. Kathy will be working in depth with Change Teams from each department within the Division.  You can read more about Kathy and her work here: http://drkathyobear.com/about/

We know many staff members within the Division have had the opportunity to learn from Kathy at various social justice and diversity conferences.

As a part of her time here on January 10th, Kathy will deliver a morning keynote presentation, titled:

Creating a Campus Culture Committed to Equity and Inclusion: Our Roles and Responsibilities

Everyone is invited to attend and you may RSVP at this link:
https://uiowa.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_d5caEQsFf8nvvfe

We hope you will join us at Kathy’s session!

Posted in Event, Multiculturalism, Diversity, & Inclusion, Staff | 1 Comment

TransWeek Events

Posted on Thursday, November 3 by shansen

The University of Iowa’s student & community group TransCollaborations is proud to present the third annual TransWeek during the week of November 6th-13th, 2011. This year’s line-up of educational and outreach events will include film screenings, poetry, dancing, workshops, collaborative art projects, and discussions that explore and deconstruct gender, in its many forms.

TransWeek provides excellent opportunities for our academic and cultural communities to be more inclusive of all gender identities. We seek to host programs and events this year that reaches out to other oppressed and under-represented groups AND challenges everyone to grapple with inter-sectional forms of oppression. All events are free and open to the public. Check out the UI LGBTRC web site for a full schedule and descriptions of each event.

Events Schedule for Transweek! 2011:

Sunday, November 6th 6-9 pm
Candlelight Vigil & Coffeehouse-Style Open Mic The UI Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Resource Center

Monday, November 7th 4-9 pm
Collaborative Art Project & Dance Party
The UI Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Resource Center

Tuesday, November 8th 8-9:30pm
Connections’ Transgender Panel/Q&A Session Hotel Vetro

Friday, November 11th 6-9pm
Transcending the Wall 2: An Exhibition of Art Exploring Gender Identities The UI Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Resource Center

Saturday, November 12th 2-5pm
Intersections of Boxes & Bodies: A Dialogue Between Health Care Providers & Trans-Identified Individuals University Capitol Center, Room 2520D

Sunday, November 13th 3-5pm
Film Screening & Discussion: She’s a Boy I Knew Iowa City Public Library, Room A

Everyone is encouraged to attend all University of Iowa sponsored events. If you are a person with a disability who requires an accommodation in order to participate in this program, please contact the Center for Student Leadership & Involvement in advance at 319-335-3059.

TransWeek 2011 was made possible by the generous support from: Chief Diversity Office; Connections; Emma Goldman Clinic; Executive Council of Graduate & Professional Students; GLBTAU; Student Health Services; The Carver College of Medicine Office of Cultural Affairs and Diversity Initiatives; The Department of Gender, Women’s, and Sexuality Studies; The UI LGBT Resource Center; UI Center for Human Rights; University of Iowa Student Government; Women’s Resource & Action Center

Posted in Event, Multiculturalism, Diversity, & Inclusion, Staff, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Every Student, Every Encounter

Posted on Monday, October 31 by mcendro

At our town hall meetings a couple of days ago, I suggested one simple thing we could all do to promote student success. What would the the student experience be like if every time one of us talked to a student, we asked them a question that conveyed the importance of their academic work?

As it turns out, I probably have more student encounters in which students are selling me things than any other kind of encounter. I’m a pretty good consumer of our division’s goods and services. When I go to the CRWC before work, a student checks my ID. After my workout, I nearly always buy a smoothie (Hawaiian Breeze, with Splenda and soy, thank you). When I get to my office, I usually get coffee (decaf, unless it’s one of those days) at the River Room, and a student rings me up. I’m back in River Room for lunch often, and I’ve certainly been known to hit the C-store for a snack. So, more student encounters.

I try to bring up academics in each encounter. Now, sometimes it would just be weird to try to bring it up. For example, if the same student just rang me up an hour ago, I might skip the conversation. But often, I have really pleasant micro-conversations.

Yesterday, I asked the student at the register at the C-store how classes were going, and then remembered that a few days ago he told me that he had a presentation coming up, so I asked if he had done it yet. He had just done it, and he was pretty proud of how it had gone.

This morning, the fellow who sold me my smoothie (they were out of pineapple, so I had to get a different smoothie– still prefer the Hawaiian Breeze) responded pretty prolifically to my “How are classes going?” I learned that he is taking mostly GERs and prerequisites and is looking forward to getting into classes in his major. I commented that there was always something to get out of a class, even if it wasn’t something you would have chosen, and he politely agreed. He also mentioned that three of his classes are talking about food in one way or another at the moment, and that he had his first tests coming up next week, but felt like he had been keeping up.

I got a mid-morning snack and asked the clerk if he had any tests coming up. He has some starting next week, too, and also felt OK about them. Both of these students, I’m pretty sure, were first year students. I hope they do perform up to their expectations next week. Unfortunately, first year students tend to over estimate their preparedness.

In these conversations, I sometimes had an opportunity to provide a little bit of advice or encouragement, but that’s not the important part. What’s important was that I conveyed an institutional expectation of excellence in academics.

Will you join me in asking students about academics at every opportunity? If we can surround them with a climate of high expectations, they are going to try to meet them. EXCEL is the first challenge in the Iowa Challenge. Let’s ENGAGE students– every student, in every encounter– to help them meet that challenge.

I don’t usually get many comments on my blog postings. How about this time, you share your stories of the micro-conversations you’ve had with students in the comment section below?

Posted in Division, Tom's Take | Leave a comment

LGBT Resource Center 5th Anniversary Celebration

Posted on Wednesday, October 12 by shansen

This year, the Lesbian Gay Bisexual, & Transgender Resource Center will celebrate its 5th anniversary! Listed below is the schedule of events – click here for information on registration.

Schedule of Events

*All events will be held at the LGBTRC (125 Grand Avenue Ct.) unless otherwise noted.

Friday, October 28

3-9 p.m.
Check in
Registrants can check in and pick up registration materials at the LGBTRC.

Alternate check-in time: Those attendees who don’t pick up their registration packets on Friday, October 28, can collect their materials beginning at 8 a.m. on Saturday, October 29, at the LGBTRC Continental Breakfast.

5-7 p.m. (Rededication Ceremony at 6 p.m.)
Reception and Rededication Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony
Join current UI faculty, staff, students, and alumni as we celebrate our community on campus and rededicate our home. Enjoy reflections from the LGBT alumni and remarks from current students and University officials.

7 p.m.-midnight
LGBTRC Open House
Tour the LGBTRC and spend time socializing with friends.

9 p.m.
That’s So Gay!: The Play
Levitt Auditorium at the Boyd Law Building
That’s So Gay!: The Play is a one-person performance that explores the coming out process of a first-generation Croatian American. This original work chronicles the personal and public struggles of coming to terms with one’s sexuality. That’s So Gay! is an experience which insists that heteronormativity and its prevalence be examined, especially since coming out undermines and challenges dominant expectations about sex, gender, sexuality, and sexual performance.

Saturday, October 29

8 a.m.-9 p.m.
LGBTRC Open House
The house will be open throughout the day for touring.

8-10 a.m.
Continental Breakfast
Pastries, fruit, juice, and coffee will be served while participants reminisce about their time together at the LGBTRC.

1-3:30 p.m.
Concurrent Roundtable Discussions and Educational Presentations at the four UI Cultural and Resource Centers
Attend programs on topics ranging from the current state of LGBT campus life to scholarly research presentations on LGBT issues.

5:30-9 p.m.
Anniversary Celebration Reception, Dinner, and Program, University Club East II ($25)
(Reception begins at 5:30 p.m.,President Mason’s remarks at 6:30 p.m., dinner at 7 p.m.)
Join UI President Sally Mason and celebrate the rich traditions and historic contributions of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgendered communities at the University of Iowa. This event is sponsored by the LGBT Faculty and Staff Association, TransCollaborations, and the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Allied Union (GLBTAU).

10 p.m.-12 a.m.
GLBTAU Drag Ball, University Club East II
Sponsored by the GLBTAU.

Sunday, October 30

11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Anniversary Celebration Luncheon and Program, University Club East II, ($20)
Sponsored by the LGBT Faculty and Staff Association, TransCollaborations, and the GLBTAU.

Posted in Event, Multiculturalism, Diversity, & Inclusion, Staff | Leave a comment

Safe Zone Training

Posted on Tuesday, October 11 by shansen

The Safe Zone Project is a campus-wide program that offers a visible message of inclusion, affirmation, and support to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, and queer (LGBTQ) people in the University community. Through this program, participants attend educational workshops to learn about the LGBTQ experience and campus/community resources. Participants may complete either one or two workshops. After completing the second workshop, participants receive a Safe Zone symbol to display in their work space. The following training sessions are currently scheduled. To sign up, visit the Self Service Website, and click on MyTraining. Note that the 11/7 session is currently the only one “live” on self-service. The other sessions will be listed shortly.

FALL 2011:

Date Time Location Notes
Monday, November 7, 2011 9:30-10:30am 112 USB Training Room CONFIRMED
 Tuesday, December 6, 2011 10am-12pm 337 IMU, Penn State Room CONFIRMED

 WINTER BREAK:

Date Time Location Notes
Wednesday, January 11, 2012 10am-12pm 118 Macbride (MH) CONFIRMED

SPRING 2012:

Date Time Location              Notes
Friday, January 27, 2012 2:30-4:30pm S401     CONFIRMED
Thursday, February 23, 2012 10am-12pm 102 CDD     CONFIRMED
Tuesday, March 20, 2012 2:30-4:30pm 2520D UCC     CONFIRMED
Wednesday, April 18, 2012 2:30-4:30pm 337 IMU, Penn State Room     CONFIRMED
Posted in Event, Multiculturalism, Diversity, & Inclusion, Staff, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Workshop on First-Generation College Students

Posted on Monday, October 10 by shansen

Join colleagues to learn about supporting the success of first-generation college students at this free learning opportunity, sponsored by the Division of Student Life Multicultural Work Group.

Do they know we care? Supporting first-generation college students at Iowa
Presenters:
Dr. Will Liu, Professor, Counseling Psychology, College of Education
Michelle Cohenour, Director of Retention, University College

Join us for a psychological perspective and case studies that illustrate campus resources for first-generation college students and their families.

Wednesday, November 9th, 3-4:30 pm, South Room, IMU
Refreshments provided.
Click here to RSVP.

Posted in Event, Multiculturalism, Diversity, & Inclusion, Staff | Leave a comment

National Coalition Building Institute Training Available

Posted on Monday, October 10 by shansen

The University of Iowa has recently established an Affiliate of the National Coalition Building Institute, a non-profit group that works through a coalition-building model to provide leadership training for inclusion and equity, with the goal of eliminating prejudice throughout the world. One of the most visible and well-known programs that NCBI has created is the one-day “Welcoming Diversity and Prejudice Reduction” workshop. This is a highly interactive one-day workshop in which participants work on developing pride in their own identities, explore their “records” about other groups as well as about their own identities, listen to stories and experiences of other groups, and practice engaging hurtful comments, jokes, or slurs. UI now has 32 trained facilitators who can come in to groups, offices, or departments (at no cost)  to lead participants through the experience, in a way that will meet the group’s individual needs. If you have a group or organization that might be interested in bringing the workshop in, or if you’d like to have your name added to a list of people interested in future “open sessions”, please contact Lindsay Jarratt, Diversity Resources Coordinator in the Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity, at Lindsay-jarratt@uiowa.edu or by calling (319)335-0705.

Posted in Event, Multiculturalism, Diversity, & Inclusion, Staff | 1 Comment

Disability Awareness Celebration

Posted on Wednesday, September 28 by mcendro

When: Friday, Oct. 28, 2011. 3:30-5:00p.m., S401 Pappajohn Business Bldg.

Sponsored by The University of Iowa Chief Diversity Office, the Disability Awareness Celebration includes the presentation of the Braverman Award, Above and Beyond Award, and celebrates Disability-related accomplishments.

The Council on Disability Awareness will host a writing contest and reception from 5:15-6:15, immediately following the Disability Celebration. Judges will share a few words about the winners and winners will be able to read their pieces.

 

Posted in Event, Multiculturalism, Diversity, & Inclusion, Staff | Leave a comment