Lehigh University
PA-4: Diversity and Equity Coordination

The Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Equity was created with the hiring of the inaugural Vice President for Equity & Community in February of 2017. The office is responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive plan to enhance and build on Lehigh’s efforts to advance its commitment to a more diverse and inclusive campus. We do this through strategic planning, training, education and research, community relations, policy development and communications. Our office coordinates with all University assets, including students, staff, senior administrators, deans, department heads, trustees and local community leaders and groups. The division is comprised of student advocacy centers (the Center for Gender Equity, the Office of Multicultural Affairs, the Pride Center for Sexual Orientation & Gender Diversity, and the Chaplain’s Office), Student Access and Success, and a Multicultural Community Liaison. The Council for Equity and Community is a committee of Lehigh faculty, staff and students committed to serving as a campus resource and agent of cultural change. We encourage constructive dialogue and work toward building community at Lehigh. We advise the Vice President for Equity & Community.

Cornell Interactive Theatre Ensemble (CITE)- It Depends on the Lens: Addressing Unconscious Bias in the Search Process This program, developed by the Cornell Interactive Theatre Ensemble and the Cornell University Recruitment and Employment Center, is designed for hiring managers, supervisors, and search committee members. It combines interactive theatre and guided discussion with research on unconscious bias. The session concludes with a discussion of best practices for combating unconscious bias in searches. Objectives: Group discussion will center on: -- the behaviors, perspectives, emotions, assumptions and biases of the members of the staff search committee as they evaluate applicants during a discussion of materials submitted for review -- unconscious bias which undermines fairness in the search process because of the tendency to evaluate applicants in a way that puts "minorities" at a disadvantage -- the onus of responsibility for recognizing racial, gender and other forms of bias in the evaluation of applicants and for challenging our implicit hypotheses about applicants (for faculty) LUally through the Pride Center: LUally delivers skills-based, educational opportunities for the Lehigh community, while centering the philosophy that allyship is a continuous process that looks different for everyone. Participants have the ability to personalize their learning to meet their own goals as an ally and track their engagement with the Pride Center and LUally-affiliated opportunities. (For faculty, staff and students) Diversity Champions through Office of Multicultural Affairs: an interactive workshop series called Diversity Champions geared to support faculty and staff in increasing their cultural awareness and interpersonal effectiveness. Subjects include inclusive language, exploration of identity, unconscious bias, communication and cross-cultural conflict, and cultural humility. (For staff) Inclusive Excellence in Teaching workshops through Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning (CITL) and Office of Diversity, Inclusion & Equity (ODI&E): offers definitions of and practical applications and tips for faculty to make their classrooms more inclusive (For faculty)