Pennsylvania State University
Tier2-3: Student Training Opportunities

Beginning summer 2005, the United States Cultures (US) and International Cultures (IL) requirement replaced the previous Intercultural and International Competence (GI) requirement. Courses approved to fulfill this requirement are designated as US, IL, or both US and IL. Students admitted to baccalaureate degree status after spring 2005 must complete 3 credits in US and 3 credits in IL. If a student takes a 3-credit course that is both US and IL, he/she must take another 3-credit course that is US, IL, or both US and IL to complete the requirement. Associate degree candidates must complete a 3-credit course that is US, IL, or both US and IL. Education abroad courses and other credit-bearing experiences such as internships that meet this requirement will be designated as US, IL, or both US and IL. For more information, see: United States Cultures and International Cultures requirement (6 credit hours)(http://www.psu.edu/dus/handbook/df.html):

Held the summer before the student’s entering year, FTCAP familiarizes students and their families with the wide range of degree programs available at Penn State, acquaints them with the campus and some of its procedures, and helps students to select courses for their first semester of study. Diversity information is included in the informational resources. (FTCAP, the First-Year Testing, Consulting, and Advising Program: (http://www.psu.edu/ftcap/)

Residence Life: Diversity information included in Residence Life orientation and programming materials and activities for students residing on-campus. (http://www.sa.psu.edu/rl/)

The World in Conversation Project: (formerly Race Relations Project) Trained undergraduates (former SOC 119 facilitators) lead small groups of their peers in campus-wide dialogues that explore the participants’ personal stories, views, biases and roles in pressing social issues. Using a version of the Socratic Method, the facilitators seek to create an ideologically neutral environment for this purpose. The conversations are extremely popular with participants (85 percent rate them as valuable and worthwhile) and the number offered each year has grown from 135 dialogues in 2002/2003 to over 1,000 in 2009/2010. Dialogs include: US Race Relations; Drinking; Gender Relations. The dialogs are frequently used by courses in the University Park colleges. (http://www.worldinconversation.org/)

Straight Talks are panels of speakers comprised of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and ally students from a wide range of beliefs and background who educate the university community on sexual orientation, gender identity, oppression and diversity at Penn State University. All students who participate in Straight Talks have taken or are currently enrolled in BBH 251, Straight Talks. Straight Talk panels provide programs for classes and residence hall, as well as workshops for other groups within the university community. Straight Talks can be tailored to fit the individual needs of various audiences. Straight Talks: (http://www.sa.psu.edu/lgbt//StraightTalks.shtml)

The Office of Educational Equity is also a good clearinghouse for these learning opportunities: http://www.equity.psu.edu/