University at Buffalo
PAE-T2-3: Student Training Opportunities

Diversity & Identity

A new, three-credit UBE course that explores the multi-faceted aspects of who we are as individuals, where we come from, and the unique contributions we make to the UB community.

The University at Buffalo is home to students from over 110 countries, representing a diversity of gender, race, ethnicity, age, religion, sexual orientation, values and perspectives (to name a few). The University at Buffalo's greatest asset is its diverse student body.

Goals

•Provide opportunities to explore the multi-faceted aspects of identity (race, ethnicity, religion, ability, gender, class, etc.).
•Challenge students to think about the relevance of community and culture as it pertains to identity.
•Raise awareness and respect of the diversity both within UB and the surrounding community.
Benefits
•Enhances overall college learning experience by teaching students to value those who are different than themselves.
•Build leadership skills including but not limited to public speaking, perspective-taking, and interviewing.
•Work closely with other UB students in collaborative diversity efforts.

Diversity Advocates

To engage students as peer advocates and educators, the IDC provides an exciting multicultural leadership opportunity through the Diversity Advocate 3 credit-hour course. Students who register for this class must be in good academic standing (minimum 2.0 QPA).

Diversity Advocates are undergraduate peer educators committed to promoting diversity and social justice, increase awareness and knowledge of diversity-related issues, create dialogue that explores the definition and perception of diversity and work to build a University community. Diversity Advocates conduct educational workshops and plan celebratory events on campus.

The Diversity Advocates celebrate commonalities and differences at UB and we invite you to join our efforts and become a Diversity Advocate!

Goals

•Provide students with the tools to effectively conduct workshops on diversity to interested organizations

•Increase awareness of diversity-related issues and how it affects society, their personal beliefs, and their perceptions

•Create a dialogue that provides students the opportunity to explore the campus definition and perception of diversity

•Provide students an opportunity to build University community by working both collectively and independently on diversity workshops, events, and programs

•Offer students the opportunity to actively represent the IDC on campus and promote the acceptance of inclusiveness of all campus members

•Offer students opportunities to further develop leadership skills and principles of democratic leadership

•Offer students educational opportunities to develop a greater awareness of cultural differences and cultural commonalities
Benefits

•Multicultural leadership experience

•Build leadership skills including, but not limited to, public speaking/facilitation, multicultural competency and taking initiative
•Resume builder

Additionally, the Global Competency Certificate Program is designed to offer students the opportunity to develop the skill set and competencies to prepare them for full participation in the global community. Students attend three 1-hour sessions focusing on three main areas, Knowing Yourself, Adapting a Global Perspective, and Responsible Global Citizenship.