George Washington University
PAE-T2-3: Student Training Opportunities

We have developed a flexible platform that allows our staff to tailor each program to the needs of the group we are working with. Each session starts with several relevant historical components of diversity and cultural competency work, an introduction to key terms in the field, several interpersonal interactive exercises that are modified to meet the needs of the group, several whole group interactive exercises, and a structured closure. It is our belief that the majority of daily tensions that occur between different people are centered around basic misunderstandings, or simple cultural ignorance around common interpersonal communication, including: personal space, touch, eye contact, loudness/volume of engagement, interpretations of social appropriateness, physical animation in communication, speech rules in turn taking, and other basic communication techniques that are often exacerbated by the difference in race, ethnicity, language, accent, international and local citizenship, and others. We use a combination of traditional challenges that are centered around the following: American values and challenges on race and ethnicity; general and more universal concepts around race, ethnicity, difference, and inclusion; and several challenges that represent more international and inter-cultural models of difference and conflict with a focus on cultural community values and their interpretation and misinterpretation in common social, business, and related exchanges.

Cultural Competence and Diversity trainings and activities are provided to a wide range of students, on an informal basis by a number of student leaders, and on a more formal basis primarily by the staff of the Multi Cultural Student Services Center (MSSC). The MSSC staff offers six structured workshops to student groups, student organizations, and to administrative offices that include the following: LGBT Safe Zone, Transgender 101, Religious Life on Campus, Diversity 101, Diversity and Leadership, and Cross Cultural Communication and Competency. Any student group who has interest can request these workshops throughout the year. Our programs are routinely offered at major university conferences including the Center for Student Engagement Student Leadership Symposium, and the student and staff centered Service Excellence Conference. The students and student groups who have participated annually are those who: are most engaged in campus life; have roles in organizations that require a higher level of cultural communication and competency; are major role models for other student leaders; are the most impactful public representatives of our student community, including: -The Presidential Administrative Fellows (the most highly acclaimed student program on campus) -The Colonial Cabinet (Orientation leaders, and second most highly sought student role) -The Admissions VIP’s and Stars (tour guides and overnight hosts) -The Multicultural Greek Council -The Student Association (student government) -Health and Wellness Staff and Student Staff -Residence Life Staff and Student Staff -Open Information Sessions at Orientation -Individual Student Organizations by Request -Individual Residence Hall Staff by Request, for their students