Florida State University
PA-6: Support for Underrepresented Groups

Florida State University (University) is an equal opportunity employer and educational provider committed to a policy of non-discrimination for any member of the University's community on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veterans' status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or any other legally protected group status. This policy applies to faculty, staff, students, volunteers, visitors, applicants, and contractors in a manner consistent with applicable laws, regulations, ordinances, orders, and University policies, procedures, and processes. In pursuing its mission of excellence as a comprehensive, graduate-research university with a liberal arts base, the University strives to create and maintain a harmonious, high performance work and educational environment. It is my expectation that all members of our community are provided, equitable opportunities to succeed and enrich the strength, skill, and character of the University. It is also expected that all members of our community will help create a work and educational environment that promotes fairness, respect, and trust, free from discrimination, harassment, or retaliation. Behavior that may be considered offensive, demeaning, or degrading to persons or groups will not be tolerated. The University will continue to reinforce its commitment of non-discrimination to all groups protected by local, state, and federal law. We will continue to monitor our methods of recruitment, retention, and advancement of qualified faculty, staff, and students and annually examine our affirmative action plan, as prescribed by federal guidelines, to measure whether our campus is reflective of the 'community we serve. The University further recognizes that discriminatory or harassing behavior may create an intimidating or hostile environment that interferes with the University's mission. As a result, the University has established internal complaint procedures available to all who believe their experience on any of our campuses has been less than appropriate. http://www.hr.fsu.edu/pdf/publications/diversity/eeo_statement.pdf

The Florida State University’s Discrimination Response System aims to fosters a diverse and dynamic environment for the community to learn about self and others. Members of the FSU community vary in their race, creed, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veterans’ status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or any other legally protected group status. This diversity provides rare opportunities for lifelong learning, and it is through this learning, that students develop and maintain a level of respect for others, the university, and the community. FSU has established support systems and processes to aid community members in reporting and responding to acts of bias and discrimination. These systems provide free and confidential services for students to report behavior believed to be an incident of bias or discrimination. Florida State University is committed to creating and maintaining a safe and welcoming atmosphere for all students, faculty and staff. This includes taking constructive action if one witnesses or knows about behavior perceived to be inconsistent with the Seminole Creed, which may include violating the student code of conduct and/or university policies. The following departments on campus serve as resources for all students in navigating and managing the reporting process: Center for Leadership & Social Change - Incidents of bias or discrimination between students Dean of Students Office - Incidents related to sexual assault or harassment committed by students Office of Equal Opportunity & Compliance - Incident of bias or discrimination against students by faculty/staff Individuals can submit an incident report electronically or in person. For an issues needing immediate assistance, individuals can call the Victim’s Advocate Office 24 hours a day to speak with an advocate.

FSU has a Program Coordinator for Diversity & Outreach in the Office of Admissions as well as multicultural recruiters. The university developed the High School Partners Program, which targets K-12 schools with free/reduced lunch rates above 95% to provide intentional admissions recruiting and financial aid application assistance. Through the CARE Guides system, FSU provides on-campus tours and admissions presentations to students from traditionally underrepresented populations and organizations that serve this population. Through CARE Delegates, FSU provides off-campus and community-based recruitment and information sessions to schools and community organizations that serve traditionally underrepresented populations. Now in its 16th year, FSU and Sisters of the Academy(SOTA) host a Research BootCamp and Priming the Pipeline mentoring program. Each program is one week long designed to help women of color, particularly black women, thrive in academia. Research BootCamp assists women doctoral students and junior scholars to develop sound research projects. Priming the Pipeline is focused on providing undergraduate women mentoring, leadership, and community engagement. SOTA scholars mentor undergraduate and graduate women of color as they develop their educational and career goals, identify their strengths and passions, learn to work in collaboration with others in a research environment, and gain the skills and motivation necessary to complete post baccalaureate degrees. The Office of Human Resources maintains a Search and Screening Guide to support the hiring of diverse staff and faculty. FSU believes broad, inclusive searches are essential to achieving diversity and users of the Guide are encouraged to augment these procedures by other actions and resources that contribute to the effectiveness of the University's selection process and attraction of diverse candidates. Included in the Guide are recruiting resources to diversify and increase the applicant pool. The Office of Human Resources has outlined diversity and inclusion initiatives including recruiting, developing, and retaining diverse faculty and staff. The Council fully embraces the mission of enhancing diversity and inclusiveness throughout the entire campus community. As FSU continues to increase awareness and the participation of individuals and groups that represent cultural diversity, the university is committed to the development of policies, programs, groups and special initiatives that address diversity and inclusion. Some of the key focus areas are to: recruit, develop, and retain a diverse faculty and staff, recruit and graduate outstanding and diverse students, and develop and strengthen partnerships with diverse internal and external organizations. FSU continually updates these focus areas as progress is made through diversity and inclusion programs, initiatives, and policy review.

The Center for Academic Retention and Enhancement (CARE) department at FSU houses multiple academic support programs for students. The Summer Bridge Program provides transition support for first-generation/low-income college students by providing financial and academic support programming during students’ first semester at FSU. CARE also provides supplemental academic advising, college life coaching, and financial aid/literacy assistance for traditionally underrepresented students. For students who were in foster care, homeless, wards of the state, or raised by a non-parent relative, FSU provides the Unconquered Scholars Program, which provides supplemental support and engagement to some of the most vulnerable populations of students. Through the Transition, Engagement, & Academic Mentoring Program (TEAM), first-year students from underrepresented populations are provided the opportunity to be mentored by an upperclassman to ease their transition to the University. CARE also provides a tutoring center and computer lab for these students to increase their potential for success. The SEC Mentoring Program provides academic support to African-American males in fourth and fifth grade and works to identify risk factors in the areas of individual, family, education, and community. Mentors support two students weekly for the entire academic year. FSU's Student Support Services (SSS) program is one of the eight federally funded TRIO programs designed to improve student retention, graduation, financial literacy, and overall academic success rates. FSU SSS helps meet these goals by providing academic and engagement activities for qualified students throughout their enrollment at FSU. SSS is fully funded by the U.S. Department of Education and offers free academic services to program participants to help them remain at FSU, graduate on-time, and prepare for post-graduation life. To qualify for TRIO services, students must meet Federal Income Guidelines to qualify as low income. The Student Diversity and Inclusion Council, a group of diverse student leaders serving under the Office of the President, launched the #PowerOfWe campaign to inspire a campus culture that engages across different perspectives and identities. Throughout the 2016-2017 academic year, the group held a number of events that generated dialogue among faculty, students, and staff about race, sexual orientation, and other diversity issues. For the past nine years, the university has hosted an Entrepreneurial Boot Camp to give cutting-edge, experiential training in entrepreneurship and small business management for veterans disabled as a result of their service supporting post-9/11 operations. The President’s Diversity and Inclusion Mini-Grant Program supports efforts which align with the university’s new strategic plan. The Office of the President, through the Diversity & Inclusion Council, will solicit proposals for the implementation of diversity and inclusion initiatives and projects that further the diversity goals of the University. Awards may be up to $1,000 each. Faculty, staff, and students are all eligible for the mini-grants. Counseling available to students includes: • Counseling Center: crisis intervention, couples, and group counseling • Center for Health Advocacy and Wellness: provides support and classes in areas of: nutrition, sexual health, power based personal violence prevention, alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs Academic support available to students includes: • Tutorial labs within disciplines and various programs • Academic Center for Excellence which assists all undergraduate students at Florida State University to develop study skills and personal success habits that enhance learning and promote the highest level of scholarship and academic achievement Affinity groups for students: • 600+ registered student organizations • Campus ministries • Student Government Association agencies: a programmatic division of the Executive Branch created to provide support for and education on a particular select identity group of Florida State University whether it be based on race, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, or veteran status Designed by faculty and staff with support from the university, Affinity Groups enable members of under-represented groups to mentor each other, maintain a work-life balance, and enhance inclusion in their classrooms, faculty meeting spaces, and workplace. FSU staff and faculty are able to create a new Affinity Group if they do not feel represented in the groups currently in place. FSU has an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) which provides free wellness services to all FSU employees. EAP is a confidential program that provides problem evaluation, brief intervention, referral (if needed), and follow-up services to help FSU employees in dealing with issues such as: marital and family conflicts, job stress, alcohol and drug abuse, financial difficulties, separation/divorce, grief/loss issues, parenting, relationship issues, anxiety/depression/ anger concerns, physical/sexual/emotional abuse, and communication problems. The Organizational Development component of EAP consists of conducting trainings/workshops on areas of interests such as: Team Building, Team Dynamics, Conflict Communication Skills, Stressed-Out, Working With You is Killing Me, Compassion Fatigue and Resilience, and EAP for Supervisors. EAP also provides Mediation Services for employees to help them resolve their differences (conflict resolution). In addition, EAP offers Supervisor Consultations concerning workplace issues. All services are free and available to all FSU employees. The President’s Diversity and Inclusion Mini-Grant Program supports efforts which align with the university’s new strategic plan. The Office of the President, through the Diversity & Inclusion Council, will solicit proposals for the implementation of diversity and inclusion initiatives and projects that further the diversity goals of the University. Awards may be up to $1,000 each. Faculty, staff and students will be eligible for the mini-grants.

Leslie N. Wilson - Delores Auzenne Assistantship for Minorities - available for all new or currently enrolled minority graduate students. Nomination is through the department or college, but competition for these awards is on a university-wide basis. The stipend is a minimum of $5,000 per academic year plus tuition waivers. The McKnight Doctoral Fellowships provides up to five years of support, with a stipend of $12,000 plus tuition waivers and other support for four years and with the fifth year support at a rate that is typical in the student's academic program. These fellowships are for newly enrolling African American and Hispanic graduate students. FAMU Feeder Fellowship - FSU’s Graduate School has partnered with the Graduate Feeders Scholars program at Florida A&M University to provide under-represented students the opportunity to pursue graduate degrees. This is a four-year award for doctoral degree seeking students and a two-year award for master’s degree seeking students.

http://news.fsu.edu/news/university-news/2017/02/24/president-thrasher-statement-regarding-transgender-inclusion/