Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 48.46
Liaison Gabrielle Lommel
Submission Date Dec. 16, 2020

STARS v2.2

Concordia College - Moorhead
PA-7: Support for Underrepresented Groups

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.58 / 3.00 Jackie Maahs
Sustainability Coordinator
Student Engagement
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution have a publicly posted non-discrimination statement? :
Yes

The non-discrimination statement, including the website URL where the policy is publicly accessible:
https://www.concordiacollege.edu/directories/offices-services/human-resources/title-ix-2/sexual-misconduct-policy/

Concordia College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, status with respect to public assistance, or sexual orientation in administration of its educational policies, financial aid program, athletics and all other programs. Harassment based upon an individual’s legally protected status is a form of prohibited discrimination.

Does the institution have a discrimination response protocol or committee (sometimes called a bias response team)?:
Yes

A brief description of the institution’s discrimination response protocol or team:
In Accordance with the Diversity Statement Concordia College is committed to the right of every individual to be treated with dignity and respect. All members of our community deserve to feel safe, supported and respected. In support of this commitment, Concordia College will not tolerate bias incidents that cause harm to individuals or the campus community.

Bias incidents include activity that intimidates, demeans, mocks, degrades, stereotypes, marginalizes, or threatens individuals or groups based on that individual’s or group’s actual or perceived age, ancestry, ethnicity, national origin, ability, sex, gender identity or expression, citizenship or immigration status, marital status, socio-economic class, race, religion, religious practice, sexual identity or veteran status. Bias incidents may involve using offensive words, symbols, speech, posters, graffiti and other actions. These examples are not intended to provide an exhaustive list. A bias incident can occur whether an act is intentional or unintentional, and may or may not be a legal act.

Persons experiencing or witnessing bias incidents are strongly encouraged to report such experiences. All reports will be investigated and acted upon in a timely and sensitive manner. Reporting these incidents helps the College provide support to individuals or groups who have been targeted, provide information and/or education to the campus community, prevent further occurrences and, when applicable, hold individuals accountable for their actions.

Those who report to the bias response team are supported in the following ways:

1. BIRT supports members of the campus community who have been targeted by bias and hate. For example, we provide support by receiving their reports ,listening to their experiences, and by referring them to the appropriate office on campus where their complaints are investigated and adjudicated.
2. BIRT refers community members who have experienced bias to appropriate campus resources and services. For example, BIRT refers such members to different offices for assistance. The Office include, Student Conduct, Public Safety, the Office of Diversity, Human Resources, Academic Affairs, the Office of Ministry, the Counseling Center, the Center for Student Success, and other offices.
3. More generally, BIRT promotes awareness of bias and its impact and, specifically, provides the campus community with information about how to report incidents of bias.
4. BIRT specifically supports students, faculty, and staff by advocating for educationally driven outcomes in responding to bias incidents. For example, where appropriate, restorative justice.
5. BIRT prioritizes the safety and security of students, faculty, and staff and makes sure that those reporting incidents of bias know where to go when they do not feel safe. For example, BIRT make sure that those who do not feel safe know whether to contact public safety, call 911 or consult the Counselling Office.
6. We support targets of bias by answering questions about BIRT, its role, duties, and functions on campus and by guiding said targets of bias through the process of reporting their experience.

Does the institution have programs specifically designed to recruit students from underrepresented groups?:
Yes

Does the institution have programs specifically designed to recruit academic staff from underrepresented groups?:
No

Does the institution have programs designed specifically to recruit non-academic staff from underrepresented groups?:
No

A brief description of the institution’s programs to recruit students, academic staff, and/or non-academic staff from underrepresented groups:
Four sizeable scholarship programs for recruiting students from underrepresented backgrounds. These programs include local students, students from St.Paul and Minneapolis, and students in Math as well as the sciences.

Community Access Scholarship: The purpose of the Community Access Scholarship (CAS) program is to recruit, retain, and successfully graduate informed and thoughtful scholars of diverse backgrounds from the Fargo-Moorhead area. The program promotes intercultural diversity, academic success, vocational exploration and active student engagement through service and leadership on campus and in the community. CAS scholars will serve as ambassadors and champions of diversity, service, and disciplined academic study.

Act Six Program: Act Six cadres are promising student leaders from different multicultural backgrounds who are committed to using their education to make a difference at Concordia and in their communities.

Diversity Endowed Scholarship: Concordia has other endowed diversity scholarships. For example, Fay Ferguson, 73 and Earl Lewis ‘78 two African-American alumni of the college started the Diversity Endowed Scholarship for students from different ethnic and religious backgrounds as well as those with different sexual orientations.

Diversity Scholarship: Starting in Fall 2021 Concordia will make available a Diversity Scholarship to admitted transfer underrepresented students with financial need.

Does the institution have mentoring, counseling, peer support, academic support, or other programs designed specifically to support students from underrepresented groups on campus?:
Yes

Does the institution have mentoring, counseling, peer support or other programs designed specifically to support academic staff from underrepresented groups on campus?:
Yes

Does the institution have mentoring, counseling, peer support or other programs to support non-academic staff from underrepresented groups on campus?:
No

A brief description of the institution’s programs designed specifically to support students, academic staff, and/or non-academic staff from underrepresented groups:
Concordia offers numerous support resources for all students, many of which include considerations of support for underrepresented groups. Both CAS and Act Six scholarship programs go beyond financial Aid. They provide support students in other ways through programming, tutoring, hosting activities to promote sense of belonging and increase retention. The Office of Diversity and the Center for Student Success provide support for these students.

Faculty Multicultural Resource Group: This group is a campus-wide Multicultural Resource (MRG) made up of under-represented faculty, particularly, though not exclusively, faculty of color at the college. The group espouses shared interests around experiences of race, gender, nationality, religion, and other traditionally marginalized diversities as encountered at Concordia. The group serves as (a) a network of mutual support for each other; (b) as mentors to the campus community regarding interactions with students from diverse backgrounds, and (c) as mentors and role models for students from diverse circumstances. It exists to make visible, recognize, and support to underrepresented faculty at the college.

Other resources include:

-Center for Student Success: This office offers one-on-one visits with professional staff, tutoring in specific subjects, and writing assistance.

-Counseling Center and Disability Services: Every student has a unique set of needs, and our office is here to support you and make sure we're doing all we can to set you up for success. We offer free personal counseling with licensed counselors, and provide special accommodations to students with documented disabilities. Disability Services (DS) assists both students with disabilities, and faculty and staff working with students with disabilities. The Disability Services office can:

Provide individual consultation regarding the possible presence of a disability, making referrals when appropriate.
Determine eligibility for accommodations and services, explain how to access services, and provide assistance when arranging accommodations.
Consult with students, faculty and staff and partner with Concordia College personnel to implement appropriate accommodations.

-Office of Global Learning: Concordia’s International Student Services, a part of Global Learning's International Community program, can help. Our staff is familiar with the regulations, questions and concerns that come with studying and living in a new country. From International Orientation to helping with VISA's, healthcare, employment, transportation, ID's and Licenses, our office is here to help with your transition to Concordia.

-Office of Ministry: At Concordia College, the Office of Ministry strives to encourage, equip, and engage students in practicing their faith and spiritual commitments in communal worship that is creative and innovative, rooted and welcoming.

Does the institution have training and development programs, teaching fellowships and/or other programs that specifically aim to support and prepare students from underrepresented groups for careers as faculty members?:
No

A brief description of the institution’s programs to support and prepare students from underrepresented groups for careers as faculty members:
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Does the institution produce a publicly accessible inventory of gender-neutral bathrooms on campus?:
Yes

Does the institution offer housing options to accommodate the special needs of transgender and transitioning students?:
Yes

Website URL where information about the institution’s support for underrepresented groups is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Gender Neutral Housing
Concordia College accommodates the special needs of transgender and transitioning students on campus by using a standard practice to work with individual students who have come forward about needing a different housing arrangement based on transgender/transitioning issues. An individual student meets with Residence Life on campus to discuss available options and to determine which type of housing best fits the student's situation, needs, and comfort. Also, there is a Gender and Sexuality Inclusion floor as an additional option - a floor for students of any gender or sexuality orientation, with an all gender bathroom.

The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.