| Overall Rating | Silver |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 47.06 |
| Liaison | Daniela Shebitz |
| Submission Date | Dec. 11, 2023 |
Kean University
PA-7: Support for Underrepresented Groups
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.50 / 3.00 |
Orley
Wainberg VP for Finance Finance |
Does the institution have a publicly posted non-discrimination statement? :
The non-discrimination statement, including the website URL where the policy is publicly accessible:
Kean University is committed to establishing and maintaining a diverse campus community. Equal opportunity and diversity represent principles that are integrally woven into the University’s mission. Kean is committed to providing equal opportunity in employment and education, as well as equitable conditions for employment and education, to all employees, students and applicants without regard to race, creed, color, national origin, nationality, ancestry, age, sex/gender (including pregnancy), marital status, civil union status, domestic partnership status, familial status, religion, affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, atypical hereditary cellular or blood trait, genetic information, liability for service in the Armed Forces of the United States or disability. Sexual harassment is a form of unlawful gender discrimination and will not be tolerated.
Kean University follows the New Jersey State Policy Prohibiting Discrimination in the Workplace.
Does the institution have a discrimination response protocol or committee (sometimes called a bias response team)?:
A brief description of the institution’s discrimination response protocol or team:
Kean University is committed to a campus environment that welcomes and supports diversity, equity, and inclusion and will provide support to individuals who report incidents of bias or hate. To assist in this process, the Bias Response Team was created to support the University’s efforts to maintain an inclusive campus climate by establishing a mechanism by which it responds to bias incidents. The Bias Response Team is not a mechanism for investigative or disciplinary action. However, it enables the University to track bias incidents, collect aggregate data, identify educational responses, and connect individuals affected by bias incidents with supportive resources.
Does the institution have programs specifically designed to recruit students from underrepresented groups?:
Does the institution have programs specifically designed to recruit academic staff from underrepresented groups?:
Does the institution have programs designed specifically to recruit non-academic staff from underrepresented groups?:
A brief description of the institution’s programs to recruit students, academic staff, and/or non-academic staff from underrepresented groups:
Students:
"Upward Bound is a FREE federally funded program that targets high school students who would become first-generation college students and help them successfully complete high school and prepare for college.
Project Adelante is designed to reduce the high school dropout rate among Latino students. The program provides immersive experiences and instructional activities designed to help students increase their academic skills and encourage youths to pursue higher education
Kean Scholar Academy offers qualified urban high school students the opportunity to earn college credits and participate in pre-college mentorships, internships and other enrichment activities that support their academic journey toward college.
High School Partnerships is a program where juniors and seniors can take college credits at discounted rates that are paid for by their school districts and can make their undergraduate degrees more affordable. Students can earn foundation course credits that are seamlessly transferred to Kean University upon enrollment. Students also have access to Kean’s tutoring program, internship opportunities, admissions counselors and other enrichment activities. The program connects students to Kean’s support services that prepare them for college and beyond
SUPERA Spanish Speaking Program, established in 1972, offers Hispanic students who are English Language Learners (ELLs) access to higher education. Through SUPERA, students follow a structured study program designed to achieve full integration into university life. This includes taking courses in Spanish during their first years of study.
Academic Staff:
The Equity in Action Presidential Postdoctoral Fellowship is designed to increase the diversity of Kean University’s faculty. Kean seeks to attract promising researchers, clinicians, and educators from different backgrounds, races, ethnic groups, and other diverse populations whose life experiences, research experiences, and employment backgrounds will contribute significantly to Kean’s academic mission and enhance the environment and learning opportunities for all Kean students. Kean seeks scholars who reflect the rich diversity of our student body, whether based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexuality, gender, neurodiversity, disability, or otherwise. The fellowship seeks to expand access to academia and promote a sense of belonging for all.
Non-Academic Staff:
Searches for administrative personnel are posted on sites that are geared to find staffing from diverse backgrounds.
Examples include -
The Diverse Issues in Higher Education website
INSIGHT into Diversity's website
Abilityjobs.com
Does the institution have mentoring, counseling, peer support, academic support, or other programs designed specifically to support students from underrepresented groups on campus?:
Does the institution have mentoring, counseling, peer support or other programs designed specifically to support academic staff from underrepresented groups on campus?:
Does the institution have mentoring, counseling, peer support or other programs to support non-academic staff from underrepresented groups on campus?:
A brief description of the institution’s programs designed specifically to support students, academic staff, and/or non-academic staff from underrepresented groups:
SUPERA Spanish Speaking Program, established in 1972, offers Hispanic students who are English Language Learners (ELLs) access to higher education. Through SUPERA, students follow a structured study program designed to achieve full integration into university life. This includes taking courses in Spanish during their first years of study.
SUPERA is committed to opportunity and excellence through access to higher education for ELLs. The program offers an array of services designed to improve academic performance, including:
Project Adelante is designed to reduce the high school dropout rate among Latino students. The program provides immersive experiences and instructional activities designed to help students increase their academic skills and encourage youths to pursue higher education
Upward Bound is a FREE federally funded program that targets high school students who would become first-generation college students and help them successfully complete high school and prepare for college.
https://www.kean.edu/offices/entrepreneurial-education-initiatives-eei
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?:
A brief description of the institution’s programs to support and prepare students from underrepresented groups for careers as faculty members:
Kean University has been offering students from underrepresented groups to be trained for careers as faculty members through the McNair Program for over a decade. The purpose of the McNair Program is to increase the number of doctoral degrees attained by students who are first-generation and income-eligible, or members of groups that are underrepresented in graduate programs.
Does the institution produce a publicly accessible inventory of gender-neutral bathrooms on campus?:
Does the institution offer housing options to accommodate the special needs of transgender and transitioning students?:
Website URL where information about the institution’s support for underrepresented groups is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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.