George Washington University
PA-4: Diversity and Equity Coordination

The President’s Council on Diversity and Inclusion solicits ideas, recommendations, and feedback from the broader community. Through collaboration, research, and action, the Council proposes and implements best practices that benefit all members of the GW community, enhance the experience of traditionally underrepresented populations, and cultivate a more inclusive climate for students, staff, faculty and the broader community, of which George Washington is an integral part. The Office for Diversity and Inclusion (ODI) includes the Vice Provost, Associate Provost and Special Assistant and includes 4 units, including Disability Support Services, Civic Engagement and Public Service, Multicultural Student Services, and Title IX. The ODI immediate oversees a campus-wide innovations in diversity grant program, tutoring initiative, and newsletter and partners with academic units to offer resources to help diversify the graduate student population and faculty.

For GW employees, we offer both instructor-led and on-demand resources on the topic of cultural competence. At our annual employee conference, we offer instructor-led sessions, such as Working Across Generations and Promoting Service Excellence Through Diversity Leadership and Effective Cross Cultural Communication. Registration for these sessions is open to all employees. In addition, for employee-learning and professional development throughout the year, we offer a robust online catalog of courses that includes trainings such as Improving Communication in Cross-cultural Relationships and Communicating Across Cultures. All GW staff are required to take sexual harassment training. Through case studies and discussion, staff members explore the law and GW's policy on sexual harassment in the workplace. Participants learn to identify various behaviors that may constitute sexual harassment and how to respond appropriately to disclosures, including what GW offices receive and investigate sexual harassment complaints. The Multicultural Students Services Center (MSSC) provides a wide range of academic and cultural programs, resources and services to students, faculty and staff. These programs include trainings on cultural competence to support the campus climate that welcomes cultural, racial, ethnic and intellectual diversity. The Office of Diversity and Inclusion launched in 2014, the Institute for Citizen Leaders (ICL) which convenes up to 175 student leaders from across the division of Diversity and Inclusion to connect and learn from one another while further developing their leadership skills as they assume leadership roles in the GW student community. Students had the opportunity to interact and work with GW administrators, faculty and staff to understand the core values and vision of academic excellence, social responsibility and innovative thinking that is hallmark of the GW educational experience. The program takes place over a three day period in August prior to the start of the fall semester. Its format combines workshops, keynote lectures, panel discussions, team building exercises, and structured dialogues, which cover aspects of leadership which include cultural competence.

http://diversity.gwu.edu/