Oklahoma State University
PA-6: Support for Underrepresented Groups

Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action OSU Policy 1-0101 It is the policy of Oklahoma State University to provide equal opportunity on the basis of merit without discrimination because of age, race, ethnicity, color, sex, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, veterans’ status, or disability. URL: https://eeo.okstate.edu/harassment-and-discrimination

Oklahoma State University responds to and supports those who have experienced or witnessed a bias incident, act of discrimination or hate crime by implementing the OSU discrimination response protocol. This protocol is enacted when a report of alleged discrimination is shared with either the Vice President for Institutional Diversity or his senior leadership team (AVP's, EO Officer, and/or Title IX Officer). Individuals who have experienced or witnessed a bias incident are supported at through a variety of campus and community resources. OSU counseling services and appropriate university staff follow-up with Individuals to offer support when they have experienced or witnessed a bias incident. Additionally, the following resources are shared: Student Counseling Center, Counseling Psychology Center, University Health Services, Reboot Center, Victim Advocate Officer, Office of Multicultural Affairs, International Students and Scholars, Student Disability Services, Student Conduct, Ombuds Office, Vice President for Student Affairs, Vice President for Institutional Diversity. Individuals are encouraged to contact any of these resources to speak with university staff for support and assistance. Details: depending on the type of discrimination that is alleged, the protocol response can vary, but includes the following: obtaining knowledge of all individuals involved, an investigation into the concern, ensuring that due process is followed (staff, faculty, or student process), implementing and/or recommending sanctions for the individuals that have been found to violate applicable OSU policies or OSU community standards. Example actions taken during the past three years: students who have been found responsible for race-based discrimination have been separated from his/her leadership positions, mandated to attend cultural competency training, and required to issue an apology following a period of self-reflection. See policy: https://stw.sp.okstate.edu/policies/Shared%20Documents/Student%20Discrimination%20Grievances.pdf Staff or faculty that engage in a discriminatory action based on a federally-protected category may receive disciplinary action such as additional training, corrective action (up to and including termination), and/or loss of specific privileges. To report an incident: https://studentconduct.okstate.edu/report Behavior Consultation Team: https://bct.okstate.edu/ and https://bct.okstate.edu/faq Link to gender discrimination and sexual harassment policies and grievance procedure: https://eeo.okstate.edu/sites/default/files/gender_discriminationsexual_harassment_policy_and_title_ix_grievance_procedure.pdf OSU's Student Victim Resource Letter Template is uploaded below.

The University partners with the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education to sponsor math and science summer academies to attract high school students to OSU. Also, we participate annually in the Black Elected Official's College Fair, TREE College Fair, and visit high schools with high minority populations to attend college. In additon, OSU has an Inclusion Leadership Program (ILP) which is a mentor/mentee program where college sophomores paired with high school seniors. The program encourages underrepresented high school students to become leaders and attend college. The University participates in the Southern Regional Education Board's Compact on Faculty Diversity. The University partners with Affinity Groups on campus to share positions. In addition the University advertises in several publications to attract diverse staff. Lastly, the University has several diverse partnerships with and supports community organizations such as: the Urban League, Latino Community Development Agency, MOSAIC, and the Southwest Minority Business Council.

We have an Office of Multicultural Affairs, International Student Scholars Office, Center for Sovereign Nations, Office of Equal Opportunity, and over 70 diversity related student, faculty and staff organizations. The University has Affinity or Employee Resource Groups to support faculty and staff from underrepresented groups. These include Employee Queers and Allies League, Native American Faculty and Staff Association, Hispanic/Latino Faculty and Staff Association, and Black Faculty and Staff Association.

The University has an NSF Bridge to Doctorate Grant to support underrepresented students to persure terminal degrees in the STEM fields. In addition, the University recently was awarded the U.S. Department of Education's McNair Scholars Grant to increase Ph.D. degrees by students from underrepresented segments of society. A recent addition is the Diversity Post-Doctoral Fellowship to engage communities underrepresented in higher education.

Several URLs exist for different programs and groups for faculty, staff and students. Most of the information is accessible from the Institutional Diversity Page https://diversity.okstate.edu/ and Office of Multicultural Affairs https://oma.okstate.edu/ Also https://eeo.okstate.edu/harassment-and-discrimination