The American College of Greece
PA-4: Diversity and Equity Coordination

ACG has appointed Dr. Eleftheria Bernidaki-Aldous as Senior Advisor of Diversity & Equal Opportunity. The Senior Advisor of Diversity & Equal Opportunity is responsible to raise awareness on the issues to students, families, faculty and staff and at the same time secure that best practices are followed. Main activities include awareness events such as Breaking Taboos and Barriers Regarding People With Disability: What you wanted to know but were afraid to ask" (http://www.acg.edu/events/diversity-among-us-dec-3--2#sthash.HHi2VwSE.dpuf) A sample activity towards handling diversity effectively is Discover Disability & Diversity Week. The Health and Social Awareness Club organizes the "Discover Disability and Diversity" Week events aiming to raise awareness on the life and rights of people with disabilities. The events include lectures, workshops, as well as sports and experiential activities presented by the following non-governmental organizations: Amymoni, Theotokos, Estia, To Ergastiri, Skep and Argos. These interactive activities aim to change the current mentality toward people in need, promote the conditions for their smoother integration in our everyday lives as well as offer ACG community the chance to experience and comprehend the challenges of living as a person with disabilities. - See more at: http://www.acg.edu/events/supporting-people-with-disabilities#sthash.xcGcDVqK.dpuf

The ACG Community Service Day Volunteering and participation in community service activities form a major part of ACG’s social contribution and impact. In Fall 2016, the college established the «ACG Community Service Day». Twice a year, celebrating Thanksgiving & Easter spirit, members of the ACG Community (students, faculty, staff and alumni) get together voluntarily and offer their personal time, skills and services to give back to the community. In Spring 2017, a group of 60 members of the ACG community, in collaboration with the municipality technical services, revamped a public square in Aghia Paraskevi, turning it into a beautiful, comfortable and clean area for children and all family members to enjoy. In fall 2016, a similar group renovated part of a refugee center in Athens and engaged with hosted families through a number of fun and creating activities. Meaningful Engagement Program Through a specially designed Meaningful Engagement Program, involving community service on the field, Deree students, both Greek and international, are learning how to: prepare for a service learning trip/activity, act responsibly and stay healthy & safe as field-workers, assess real community needs and work as a team to identify appropriate actions, critically reflect on own motivation and group’s methods and interact with members of the local community to satisfy specific needs. Established in 2016 as a yearly activity, students have already visited Trikala and Samos, engaging in a number of volunteer activities in support of local as well as refugee residents in these areas. Education Unites: From Camp to Campus Education Unites: From Camp to Campus is a program co-sponsored by the US embassy and by the three American colleges in Greece. Deree – the American College in Greece will award a total of 100 scholarships to refugees in Athens for the academic year 2017-2018, giving them the opportunity to study in a university setting and to begin taking steps to resume their education and start planning for their professional futures. This is a one-year, certificate program and students are taking courses determined by their level of English – some students are taking intensive English-language courses and others are enrolled in college courses for credit. Students in this program represent the various countries of the Middle East and Africa present in the refugee population in Athens. There is a great diversity in their educational backgrounds and interests – students have studied before law, medicine, pharmacology, business and IT, fashion design, graphic design, and other arts. Thanks to a tailor-made program designed around their needs, they are adapting easily to life at Deree and are gradually adding their powerful voices and perspectives to the American college in Greece community. In addition to the above programs ACG promotes diversity and cultural awareness through workshops like: IT GETS BETTER Project is a world wide movement whose mission is to give hope and inspire change for LGBT youth. “Breaking the Surface” by Greg Louganis The event, hosted by the American College of Greece, is organized by “Κέντρο Ζωής” (Life Center), an NGO with the mission to inform on and fight for equal rights for HIV positive individuals. PASSAGES simulation/role playing game, which exposes participants to events and situations that the refugees experience in their efforts to find safe shelter. This experiential activity aims at raising awareness within the ACG Community, and particularly educators and administrators, about refugees’ experiences and the difficulties they face, from fleeing war and violence to leaving their homes and trying to integrate in a new country. In addition student clubs such as the Health and Social awareness club, the Cultures and Languages Club, the LGBTQ+ club are continually promoting workshops and activities towards cultural competence

The American College of Greece is dedicated to fostering the education of the whole person and strives to provide an environment that encourages the search for truth and freedom of inquiry. The College recognizes the important contribution a diverse community of students, faculty, and staff makes towards the advancement of its goals and ideals. The College is committed to providing an environment that is free of discrimination and harassment as defined by federal, state, and local law, as well as under this policy.