Overall Rating Gold
Overall Score 65.69
Liaison Alan Turnquist
Submission Date July 24, 2023

STARS v2.2

Michigan Technological University
PA-7: Support for Underrepresented Groups

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.92 / 3.00 Alan Turnquist
Director of Sustainability and Resilience
Office of the President
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Non-discrimination statement 

Does the institution have a publicly posted non-discrimination statement? :
Yes

The non-discrimination statement, including the website URL where the policy is publicly accessible:
Michigan Technological University does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, height, weight, genetic information, marital status, disabled veteran status, veteran status, or disability. The following persons have been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies and Title IX.
https://www.mtu.edu/equity/equal-opportunity/non-discrimination/

Bias response team 

Does the institution have a discrimination response protocol or committee (sometimes called a bias response team)?:
Yes

A brief description of the institution’s discrimination response protocol or team:
The Dean of Students office organizes response teams around different types of student concerns for faculty, staff, and students, including discrimination and bias incidents. In the case of gender related concerns, Title IX professionals are integrated. When race or identity are concerned, our DEIS team is part of the response. Access to the reporting mechanisms are here: https://www.mtu.edu/deanofstudents/students/concern/

Recruitment programs 

Does the institution have programs specifically designed to recruit students from underrepresented groups?:
Yes

Does the institution have programs specifically designed to recruit academic staff from underrepresented groups?:
Yes

Does the institution have programs designed specifically to recruit non-academic staff from underrepresented groups?:
No

If yes to any of the above, provide:

A brief description of the institution’s programs to recruit students, academic staff, and/or non-academic staff from underrepresented groups:
Michigan Tech has created the role of Equity Advisors for academic staff search committees. Equity Advisors provide helpful advice to faculty and department chair search committees to ensure that diversity and equity remain at the forefront during every step of the search/hiring process and that federal, state, and university employment laws/policies are followed.

There are several pathways that Michigan Tech has developed to recruit students within Michigan legislative bounds. These efforts span community colleges, community-based organizations focused on youth development, and credit-granting high school programs.

The division of University Relations and Enrollment has laid groundwork for 2+2 and 2+2.5 agreements with community colleges across the state of Michigan. Michigan Tech is also proud to be part of the Michigan College/University Partnership (MICUP) Program. MICUP, a branch of the King-Chávez-Parks (KCP) Initiative, enables community college students from three colleges to come to campus for 7 weeks in the summer, participate in a research or project experience with a staff, faculty or graduate student mentor, enroll in an honors research course, complete community services, and end the program with a research poster presentation. Another program associated with the KCP Initiative is the state’s GEAR UP/College Day program - GEAR UP and College Day are focused on college access and readiness among students in traditionally under resourced school districts. Michigan Tech was also recently awarded a US Department of Education Ronald E. McNair Post-baccalaureate Achievement Program grant, which provides a variety of academic support and services to undergraduates who are low-income/first generation or underrepresented in graduate education in order to help them achieve PhDs.

Another avenue for exposure to Michigan Tech programs includes partnerships with minority-serving community nonprofit organizations. Whether this takes the form of outreach events at the organization’s office or scholarships to attend a Summer Youth Program academic camp, these opportunities expose students from historically excluded backgrounds to STEM. We have developed particularly strong relationships with the Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation and the Detroit Area Pre-College Engineering Program, and numerous school districts in key markets.

Mentoring, counseling and support programs 

Does the institution have mentoring, counseling, peer support, academic support, or other programs designed specifically to support students from underrepresented groups on campus?:
Yes

Does the institution have mentoring, counseling, peer support or other programs designed specifically to support academic staff from underrepresented groups on campus?:
Yes

Does the institution have mentoring, counseling, peer support or other programs to support non-academic staff from underrepresented groups on campus?:
Yes

A brief description of the institution’s programs designed specifically to support students, academic staff, and/or non-academic staff from underrepresented groups:
ADVANCE INITIATIVE:

Office of the Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion Positive Action Team: https://www.mtu.edu/diversity/people/positive-action-team/


he Center for Diversity and Inclusion at Michigan Technological University is to foster student success by providing engaging programs that create safe spaces for students of multiple social and cultural identities. Through a broad range of services, workshops, and events we foster student success by:

Providing a welcoming and safe environment for all students
Encouraging cross-cultural interactions and conversations
Supporting the exploration of differences as well as similarities
Recognizing and celebrating the contributions of historically marginalized populations
Facilitating students’ self-exploration and exploration of others’ identities, and collaborating on campus initiatives that support/foster cultural diversity
We invite the Michigan Tech community to embrace a deeper understanding and appreciation for diversity, inclusion, and social justice.

Faculty and staff have access to free counseling and any issues in regard to unfair treatment goes through the equity office.

https://www.mtu.edu/diversity-center/about/mission/

Perhaps the most visible example of student support is the Hamar House located centrally on the main campus. There is a lounge area on the main floor for students to mingle have meetings, and computers for study time. CDI staff occupy the same house on the second floor. The House includes an all gender bathroom, a lending library, with books, DVD's, and games. https://www.mtu.edu/diversity-center/about/hamar-house/

The College of Engineering has a plan to recruit students from underrepresented groups out lined here: https://www.mtu.edu/provost/office/charters-plans/docs/diversity-plans-coe-2015.pdf

Some programs include the Michigan College University Program where students from Community Colleges can come to Michigan Tech and experience campus life. https://www.mtu.edu/diversity-center/programs/micup/

Another program is the Safe Place Allies where faculty and Staff can update their training on LGBTQIA+ issues relating to gender and sexuality and how one can intervene when they witness discrimination.

CDI also offers a variety of workshops, facilitated discussions, training, and presentations to our campus community.

Various awards are also given out each year to students for distinguished leadership in diversity education.

https://www.mtu.edu/diversity-center/programs/faculty-staff/

Support for future academic staff

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?:
Yes

A brief description of the institution’s programs to support and prepare students from underrepresented groups for careers as faculty members:
Yes, The King-Chávez-Parks Future Faculty Fellowship Program. The purpose of the King-Chávez-Parks Future Faculty Fellowship Program is to increase the pool of traditionally underrepresented candidates pursuing faculty teaching careers in postsecondary education. https://www.mtu.edu/gradschool/about/dean/awards-honors/kcp/

Optional Fields 

Does the institution produce a publicly accessible inventory of gender-neutral bathrooms on campus?:
Yes

Does the institution offer housing options to accommodate the special needs of transgender and transitioning students?:
Yes

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:
Website for gender inclusive housing information: https://www.mtu.edu/housing/education/specialized/

https://www.mtu.edu/provost/office/charters-plans/docs/diversity-plans-coe-2015.pdf

https://www.mtu.edu/diversity-center/programs/faculty-staff/

https://www.mtu.edu/advance/training/workshop/

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.