Florida State University
PA-7: Support for Underrepresented Groups

4-OP-C-7-I3 Equal Opportunity, Non-Discrimination, and Non-Retaliation Policy & Procedures
- Florida State University (University) is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer supporting a culturally diverse educational and work environment. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity, non-discrimination and non-retaliation for any member of the University community on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, veterans’ or marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or any other protected group status. This policy applies to faculty, staff, students, visitors, applicants, and contractors in a manner consistent with applicable federal and state laws, regulations, ordinances, orders and rules, and University's policies, procedures, and processes. It addresses all terms and conditions of employment in addition to student life, campus support services and/or academic environment.
- The University expressly prohibits unlawful discrimination, harassment, or retaliation, whether in assumption, attitudes, acts, or policies. Conduct that intimidates by threat, brings about adversity, or creates a hostile environment, is contrary to the University's commitment of maintaining a harmonious, high performance work and educational environment.
- Retaliation against an individual, who in good faith brings a discrimination or harassment complaint, participates in the investigation of a complaint, or engages in some other protected activity, is expressly prohibited and will be regarded as a separate and distinct cause for discipline under these procedures.

https://policies.vpfa.fsu.edu/policies-and-procedures/faculty-staff/equal-opportunity-and-compliance-eoc#I3

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.

High School Partners Program
- In 2015, the Center for Academic Retention and Enhancement (CARE), the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid collaborated to create the High School Partners Program. This initiative aims to reduce the college access gap for historically underrepresented students at designated high schools in Duval, Gadsden, Leon, Liberty, and Orange counties. The High School Partners Program provides support for students through the application process. Other program benefits include, but are not limited to:
o Personalized assistance with the FSU admissions application and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
o Priority admission consideration
o Automatic consideration for admissions merit-based scholarships and the Partner Promise scholarship award.
o Specialized group tour opportunities
o Continued communication, support, and engagement opportunities after enrollment

College Reach-Out Program
- Since 1992, Florida State University has implemented the College Reach-Out Program (CROP) as part of a state-wide initiative funded by the Florida Department of Education. At FSU, CROP is operated by the Center for Academic Retention and Enhancement (CARE), and serves schools in Leon, Gadsden, and Duval counties. The College Reach-Out Program is an educational and motivational program designed to help students prepare for a successful college education. Participants in CROP must be students in 6-12th grades who meet educational and economic criteria established by the State of Florida. Economic guidelines include: “Received Public Assistance,” “Free and Reduced Lunch,” and “Orphan or Ward.” Students must be enrolled in a public school in Leon, Gadsden, or Duval County in order to be eligible to apply.

Upward Bound Program
- The Florida State University Upward Bound Program at Gadsden County High School has operated since 1989. The Upward Bound Program is designed to promote academic and eventual post-secondary success of traditionally underrepresented students. This unique opportunity exposes students to cultural and career activities and supplements their regular high school curriculum. There is no cost to the participants for the program.

Educational Talent Search
- Talent Search is a federal funded TRIO program designed to increase the number of youth from disadvantaged backgrounds who complete high school and enroll in and complete their postsecondary education. The program primarily supports middle and high school students in Bay, Holmes, Franklin, and Leon counties. Eligibility is determined according to federal guidelines.

SEC Ambassadors
- SEC Ambassadors provide academic support to African-American and Latino youth from kindergarten through high school and work to identify risk factors in the areas of individual, family, education and community through the facilitation of discussions.

College of Medicine Mission-Based Scholarships
- The FSU College of Medicine has a unique mission. It is to prepare physicians to serve rural, underserved and geriatric populations. To help ensure that this mission is fulfilled, specific endowments can be created to provide scholarship funds for students wishing to focus their energies in one of these areas.

FLORIDA-FIRST BRIGADE
- The FLORIDA-FIRST BRIGADE is a program designed to support new tenure-track assistant professors and build a research community committed to diversity and inclusive excellence. The project team plans to promote inclusive excellence in research and develop an innovative model for the next generation of FSU health-science faculty by recalibrating processes for minority recruitment, advancement and retention at FSU.

Office of Human Resources
- The Office of Human Resources maintains a “Recruiting Resources” webpage (https://hr.fsu.edu/sections/equity-diversity-inclusion/recruiting-resources) with a list of organizations and publications for specific populations to aid in the recruitment of staff from underrepresented groups.

Office of Faculty Development and Advancement
- Academic Leadership Toolkit: The toolkit includes a module on faculty recruitment procedures. The module provides strategies to conduct effective searches, combat cognitive biases, and make better hiring recommendations. The goal of the module is to help search committees foster diversity and inclusion and hire outstanding faculty.

The Center for Academic Retention and Enhancement (CARE)
- The Center for Academic Retention and Enhancement was created at the Florida State University in 1968 as Horizons Unlimited. CARE operates to provide equity and access to students with identities traditionally underrepresented in higher education. CARE serves as partner for these students in navigating barriers that exist for them based on educational and socioeconomic circumstances. It is housed as a dual-reporting department in both the Division of Student Affairs and Division of Undergraduate Studies. CARE provides several resources for students from underrepresented groups, including a computer lab, tutoring, financial aid, academic advising, college life coaching, and Bridge to Graduate School.

Unconquered Scholars Program
- The Unconquered Scholars Program provides an array of support services promoting overall success to youth who experienced foster care, homelessness, relative care, or ward of the State status. Florida State University is committed to meeting the unique needs of Unconquered students so they experience the long-term professional and personal benefits associated with educational attainment.

College Success Program
- The College Success Program (CSP) of FSU's Center for Academic Retention & Enhancement (CARE) provides engagement and support to students with an emphasis on students with underrepresented identities in higher education. Students who are accepted into CSP are connected to the academic and engagement support resources provided within CARE to help encourage their success at Florida State.

Student Support Services
- 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. To qualify for the SSS program, students must not have a parent with a four-year college degree and meet Federal Income Guidelines to qualify as low income.

CARE Summer Bridge Program (SBP)
- The CARE Summer Bridge Program (SBP) provides a comprehensive program of orientation and academic support designed to ease the transition from high school to college while building a strong academic foundation. Applicants selected to participate in CARE will be first-generation college students from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds who have demonstrated a strong desire to succeed.

President’s Task Force on Anti-Racism, Equity, and Inclusion
- The President’s Task Force on Anti-Racism, Equity and Inclusion met during the 2020-2021 academic year. The task force was asked to identify racial and ethnic disparities on campus and to implement a range of initiatives, such as developing mandatory diversity and inclusivity training for all campus employees and students and fostering the recruitment and retention of students, faculty and staff from underserved groups.

President’s Council on Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
- The President's Council on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion is a body comprised of FSU faculty, staff, students, and alumni that work to ensure that FSU creates and maintains a diverse, inclusive, and equitable campus for all members of the Florida State University community. The Council's primary charge is to advance initiatives in support of the goals outlined in the Strategic Plan, approved by the Board of Trustees in October 2017, as well as the approved recommendations produced by the 2020-2021 President's Taskforce on Anti-Racism, Equity, and Inclusion.

Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans Families
- The Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans’ Families (EBV-F) is an education and self-employment training program founded in 2010 and expanded to Florida State University in 2012. The EBV-F program is designed to take advantage of the skills, resources and infrastructure of higher education to offer cutting-edge, experiential training in entrepreneurship and small business management.

The President’s Diversity and Inclusion Mini-Grant Program
- To encourage efforts which align with the University’s strategic plan, the President’s Diversity and Inclusion Mini-Grant Program, provides financial support to initiatives and projects that further the diversity goals of the University. Mini-grant proposals are accepted and reviewed for all diversity-related areas, with the following specific target areas:
o Enhance the quality of teaching and learning about diversity;
o Create a welcoming and inclusive work and learning environment where differences are respected and valued;
o Improve recruitment, retention and graduation of students from historically underrepresented groups; and
o Increase recruitment, retention and success of faculty and staff from historically underrepresented groups.

Counseling available to students includes:
- Counseling & Psychological Services at Florida State University - Counseling & Psychological Services offers a number of services for students, including individual, group, and couples counseling, alcohol and other drug assessments, anxiety management programs, peer to peer support, presentations and emergency walk in appointments.
- Center for Health Advocacy and Wellness (CHAW) - The Center for Health Advocacy and Wellness provides quality, research-based wellness services and Health Promotion programs available to all FSU students. Services include sexual health, Smart Choices, tobacco cessation, consultations on a variety of topics, and wellness coaching.
- Office of Student Counseling Services - The College of Medicine Office of Student Counseling Services offers on-site and telepsychology (via Zoom) services for academic and mental health needs.
- Center for Couple and Family Therapy (CCFT) - The Florida State University Center for Couple & Family Therapy (CCFT) provides high quality counseling services to the university and surrounding community. The fees for services are established based upon a sliding scale to allow access to quality treatment. Services include relationships, work/school-related issues, couple & marital enrichment, parenting classes, substance use and abuse struggles, and grief and loss counseling.

Academic support available to students includes:
- CARE Tutoring and Computer Lab - The CARE Tutoring & Computer Lab provides encouragement and support that will enhance each students' academic success. The Lab provides academic support in small groups and individualized sessions. The staff are prepared to assist students in developing effective study skills, review materials to explore learning styles, develop self confidence in course work and reduce feelings of fear and failure.
- The Academic Center for Excellence - The Academic Center for Excellence (ACE) is a university learning center, focused on helping students develop the study skills and success habits that are necessary in a large research university and valued by future employers.

Affinity groups for students:
- Recognized Student Organizations - Florida State University has over 750 Recognized Student Organizations (RSOs) on campus.
- Campus ministries

Student Government Association (SGA) Agencies
- An agency is a programmatic division of the Executive Branch created to provide support for and education on a particular select identity group of the Florida State University whether it be based on race, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, or veteran status. Current agencies include: Asian American Student Union; Black Student Union; Hispanic/Latinx Student Union; Jewish Student Union; Pride Student Union; Veterans Student Union; and Women Student Union.

Affinity Groups
- Affinity Groups are voluntary associations comprised of Faculty and Staff who have common interests. They play a vital role in articulating, promoting and supporting the needs and goals of their various communities and organizations. Current FSU Affinity Groups include: Association of Chinese Professors at FSU; Black Faculty and Staff Network; LatinX Faculty Staff Network; Queer & Trans Employee Network; South Asians Noles Association; Veterans, Friends and Family Group; and Women in STEM.

Employee Assistance Program
- The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) represents a commitment by FSU to improve the well-being of its employees through a program that provides help in dealing with personal and/or workplace difficulties. The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) incorporates several employee services including Brief Intervention/Short-term Counseling (to address personal and/or workplace concerns), Supervisor Consults, Organizational Development/Trainings, Mediation, an Emergency Loan Fund (ELF), and Crisis Intervention

Leslie N. Wilson-Delores Auzenne Assistantships are available for minority students (African-American, Hispanic, Asian or Pacific Islander, and Native-American) pursuing a graduate degree program full-time. The assistantship carries a $5,000 stipend, plus tuition waivers for the academic year. Holders of this award are assigned either a teaching or research assistantship appointment by their department.

The McKnight Fellowship Program is designed to address the under-representation of African American and Hispanic faculty at colleges and universities in the state of Florida by increasing the pool of citizens qualified with Ph.D. degrees to teach at the college and university level. The McKnight Doctoral Fellowship provides up to five years of funding support (with a stipend of $12,000 plus tuition waivers and support for other fees) for newly enrolled African American and Hispanic graduate students who intend to seek a Ph.D. degree.

The FAMU Graduate Feeder Scholars Program addresses the need to increase the number of African Americans participating in advanced graduate education by affording FAMU students the opportunity to undertake advanced study in graduate programs not available at FAMU through partnering Feeder Institutions. The fellowship provides Florida A&M University graduates funding support to pursue a graduate degree at Florida State University. The award has a non-duty stipend of $7,800 for each of the Fall and Spring semesters. The Graduate School also provides a twelve credit hour tuition waiver for each of the Fall and Spring semesters along with the annual health insurance subsidy.

The FLORIDA-FIRST BRIGADE is a program designed to support new tenure-track assistant professors and build a research community committed to diversity and inclusive excellence. The project team plans to promote inclusive excellence in research and develop an innovative model for the next generation of FSU health-science faculty by recalibrating processes for minority recruitment, advancement, and retention at FSU.