Miami University
PAE-8: Support Programs for Underrepresented Groups

The following are activities organized by the Office of Diversity Affairs (http://www.units.muohio.edu/saf/DiversityAffairs/ ): * The Diversity Affairs Council (DAC) is one of 9 councils under the Associated Student Government (ASG). DAC is committed to enhancing the climate of respect for diversity at Miami University by fostering co-sponsorship of programming efforts and promoting the activities of other student groups and administrative offices who are interested in issues of diversity. * MADE@Miami is a three-day pre-semester program for first-year students ready to make the most out of Miami, introducing students to resources and strategies for navigating Miami and building a supportive network of friends and mentors. Open to all first year students, but students of color, international students, and Miami Access scholars strongly encourgage to attend. *"Let's Talk" Dialogues are intended to assist students in discovering the values of participating in honest, open discussion on a broad range of intellectual, socially, and emotionally relevant topics. Dialogues are open to all students and are conducted by trained facilitators. * Connection Coaches Peer Mentor Program helps Miami’s first-year students by pairing them with a trained peer Coach, or mentor, who helps new students get connected at Miami socially and academically. These Coaches will offer assistance, motivation and support to achieve student goals. * Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning Services provides education, advocacy, support, and safe spaces for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, questioning, queer, asexual, pansexual, intersex, and straight-allied students. GLBTQ Services presents educational, cultural, and social opportunities for the Miami University community to challenge intolerance and to create a more hospitable, accepting campus climate.

The following are programs sponsored by the Office of Institutional Diversity: * Association of Black Faculty & Staff (ABFAS) is one of the oldest university Black Faculty & Staff associations in the country, the ABGAS has worked for over 40 years to attract and retain diverse faculty and staff at Miami. In addition, the ABFAS strives to create a curriculum representing the Black Diaspora in which we live and a climate that is welcoming to peoples of African descent. * Asian and Asian-American Faculty & Staff Association (AAA-FSA) seeks to advocate for Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander faculty and staff; promote the intellectual and personal development of Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander students; collaborate with other Miami organizations and the community at large to foster a greater understanding of Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander issues and concerns; and celebrate the cultures and contributions of Asian, Asian Americans, and Pacific Islanders in the United States and in the Diaspora. * Association of Latino/a Faculty & Staff (ALFAS) was formed by Miami University employees (Hamilton, Middletown, and Oxford campuses) to foster Latino/a (defined as Luso-Hipanics) representation, improve work conditions, and enrich the social and cultural environment for all faculty, staff, and students. * The LGBTQ Advisory Group has the role of bringing together several separate constituencies (undergrad/SPECTRUM, grad/HAVEN, faculty and staff/GLEAM) as well as representatives from the regional campuses in order to educate the university community about LGBTQ concerns and to address injustices perpetrated against LGBTQ community members in policy or practice.

See above.