Lewis & Clark College
PA-6: Support for Underrepresented Groups

Discrimination, Harassment, and Hate- or Bias-Motivated Conduct Policy Policy Statement : Lewis & Clark College seeks to be an inclusive community that welcomes and respects all people. Every member of our community is expected to commit to maintaining a safe, respectful and welcoming community. Acts that are an affront to the core values of the institution are not tolerated. Such actions destroy the sense of community we all share. Additionally, acts of intolerance do untold and unjust harm to the well-being, dignity and safety of those who are victimized by these acts. We as a community recognize that not all conduct which may stir negative emotions or responses may or should be regulated through a conduct process. Certain conduct, however, will not be tolerated at Lewis & Clark and will result in a conduct process. The following policy describes such conduct.

Bias Assessment Response Team (BART), more information here: https://www.lclark.edu/live/profiles/3660-hate-and-bias-motivated-conduct-policy

The Dean of Diversity and Inclusion serves on numerous search committees to increase our hiring of faculty and staff from diverse backgrounds. Specifically, she conducted workshops on best practices in diversity hiring for this year’s faculty and staff search committees, including the presidential search committee. She also consulted with staff search chairs on the wording of job announcements, the wording of job requirements and the best places for posting job announcements. In addition, I interviewed with most of the faculty candidates and attended their presentations. I also served on several staff search committees. Going forward, I will continue to offer these services to hiring committees. In mid-January, the Mellon Foundation approved an officer’s grant of $30,000 to support planning initiatives related to diversity, equity, and inclusion in faculty hiring. The Dean of Diversity and Inclusion is the principal investigator on that grant, and will be using it to hire consultants to help us further refine our hiring practices in the area of diversity, equity, and inclusion. The funding will also be used to pass on to our faculty the knowledge gained from the consultants and to provide small grants to departments to help incentivize them to complete plans to manage their future staffing needs. At the College’s expense, travel to our campus to meet current students and faculty, participate in leadership development activities, sit in on classes, spend two nights in a residence hall, try the food, have an admissions interview, visit Portland, and experience life at Lewis & Clark College firsthand. Seniors in high school who are interested in learning more about Lewis & Clark College. Preference will be given to students from historically underrepresented backgrounds including students of color and/or first generation prospective college students. http://college.lclark.edu/offices/admissions/compass/fall/

The Living List (PDF), maintained by the Office of the Dean of the College, compiles information about many local multicultural resources. The Portland metropolitan area is home to people of diverse backgrounds that enrich the city through an ever-growing number of community groups, cultural events, and businesses. If you have any suggestions or additions you’d like us to make, please get in touch. Campus offices and student groups can also help you get acclimated to our local community: The Department of Inclusion and Multicultural Engagement leads the college’s efforts toward building and sustaining a diverse and culturally vibrant campus. The Office of Religious and Spiritual Life is designed to support all religious life programs that take place on campus. MOSAIC (Multicultural Organizations Seeking an Inclusive Community) is a collective of the Asian Student Union, Black Student Union, Native Student Union, and Gente Latina Unida. Many more undergraduate student organizations focus on underrepresented communities. The Student Bar Association includes many law student groups focused on diversity. The Law School outlines resources available for prospective and current students and faculty. http://law.lclark.edu/student_life/student-organizations/ Great Expectations (GE) is a program designed to help incoming first-generation college students and/or students of color transition into Lewis & Clark College. As a part of GE, you are invited to attend a two-day retreat where you will have direct access to staff, faculty, students, alumni, and resources. You will meet other students in a small and supportive community, bond with your LEAP peer mentor, find answers to your questions about college, and get guidance in your first year as you navigate campus life. GE is the kickoff retreat, and the connections made there will continue in the L.E.A.P. Mentorship Program throughout your first year at Lewis & Clark! The goal of Great Expectations is to facilitate the smooth transition of students of color and first-generation college students into Lewis & Clark by: Connecting new students with returning students, as well as staff and faculty, to develop a strong sense of community Providing strategies for academic success Helping to identify and take advantage of campus resources and opportunities LEAP Mentors are sophomores, juniors, and seniors at Lewis & Clark College who are here to assist and serve the incoming students in the Class of 2021. With particular focus on first generation and students of color, LEAP mentors are a resource for first year students who can authentically speak from their own perspectives as students on campus. Mentors are paired with incoming students based on academic and social interests, and are committed to creating a safe and welcoming space for students. Mentors will attend the Great Expectations Retreat with mentees, and then continue building relationships through the entire academic year. For faculty and staff there are a number of trainings, workshops, affinity groups to support, counsel, and mentor underrepresented groups. These include: The Lewis & Clark Professionals of Color Network was created to fulfill the need for Lewis & Clark faculty and staff of Color to have opportunities to get together, network, and make connections with one another. The purpose of this network is to provide an opportunity for faculty and staff to make connections with one another and build a community of support. The LC Professionals of Color Network and Allies Google group to receive updates about upcoming events! This group is for Lewis & Clark College employees from underrepresented racial/ethnic backgrounds and their allies. Group members can utilize the list to ask questions and share resources, news and events of interest on and off campus. Training, workshops, discussions: Having Courageous Conversations About Race: How do we start? Communities of Color in Portland: Challenges and Opportunities Support Out Students of Color: Implications for Recruitment and Retention of Underrepresented Students Post-Racial in America and Lewis & Clark: Fact or Fiction? The issue of Critical Mass and Employees of Color: Analyzing Previous Efforts and Identifying Potential New Solutions. Upcoming Faculty/Staff Searches: Strategies for Representation. The Bicultural Experience for People of Color at Lewis & Clark Cultural Competency at Lewis & Clark: What Should We Expect People to Know? Professional Development for Employees of Color: How Can We Support Each Other for the Next Step? Other Educators of Color in Portland: How are Their Experiences Similar or Dissimilar?

The institution supports a number of scholarship programs aimed and supporting and preparing students from underrepresented groups. These include students in PhD programs such as the APA Minority Fellowship Program, mentoring for Doctoral Students of Color. http://college.lclark.edu/academics/honors/diversity_scholarships/