University of Colorado Colorado Springs
PA-7: Support for Underrepresented Groups

Part A: Nondiscrimination
The University of Colorado does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, pregnancy, age, disability, creed, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, political affiliation, or political philosophy in admission and access to, and treatment and employment in, its educational programs and activities. (Regent Law, Article 8)
https://www.cu.edu/regents/article-8
https://www.cu.edu/regents/law/8

The University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) is committed to maintaining an environment free from sexual misconduct, discrimination or harassment based on race, color, national origin, sex, pregnancy, age, disability, creed, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, political affiliation, or political philosophy.

OIE affirms the UCCS Core Values especially Inclusive Diversity. We value inclusive diversity as a foundation for teaching and scholarship that prepares students, faculty, staff and community members for both local and global multicultural realities. We provide an open, safe and supportive campus environment based on mutual respect, engagement and learning for everyone including those from the full spectrum of backgrounds, social identities, abilities, cultures, perspectives and university roles.

Our Mission
The OIE’s mission is to create and foster a safe, inclusive, and accessible environment. Utilizing a comprehensive and integrated approach, the OIE facilitates accommodations, case resolutions, education, and supportive and safety measures. OIE treats all individuals who request our assistance with respect and dignity.
https://equity.uccs.edu/
Additional information regarding the UCCS Non-Discrimination policy can be found at: https://equity.uccs.edu/policies_procedures
https://equity.uccs.edu/sites/g/files/kjihxj1441/files/2020-04/uccs_campus_policy.pdf

The UCCS Office of Institutional Equity is charged with enforcing the discrimination and harassment policy.
https://equity.uccs.edu/

University of Colorado Regent Policies:
https://www.cu.edu/regents/regent-policy-0

Policy 10A: Discrimination/Affirmative Action--General Policy Statement and Long-Range Goals
https://www.cu.edu/regents/policy-10a-discriminationaffirmative-action-general-policy-statement-and-long-range-goals

Office of Institutional Equity
The OIE’s mission is to create and foster a safe, inclusive, and accessible environment. Utilizing a comprehensive and integrated approach, the OIE facilitates accommodations, case resolutions, education, and supportive and safety measures. OIE treats all individuals who request our assistance with respect and dignity. The Report Process flowchart shows how OIE works with University Police, Dean of Students, the Wellness Center, Faculty and Staff, Residence Life & Housing depending on the reporting person’s connection to campus to best support each individual.
https://equity.uccs.edu/

Office of Institutional Equity Procedures Effective August 14, 2020
https://equity.uccs.edu/sites/g/files/kjihxj1441/files/inline-files/OIE%20Procedures%208.14.2020.pdf
https://equity.uccs.edu/sites/g/files/kjihxj1441/files/inline-files/OIE%20Report%20Process%20Flowchart.pdf
Reporting Form https://equity.uccs.edu/reporting/reporting-form
Reporting Options https://equity.uccs.edu/reporting/reporting_options
Mandatory Reporting https://equity.uccs.edu/reporting/reporting_obligation_for_responsible_employees

The CARE Team
The CARE Team has the authority to respond and coordinate intervention to all student crisis incidents with the concurrence of the Chancellor. Issues of inappropriate student conduct are referred to the Office of the Dean of Students. Allegations of criminal wrong doing will be referred to Public Safety. Allegations of sexual harassment and/or discrimination shall be referred to the Office of Institutional Equity in accordance with university policy.
https://dos.uccs.edu/care

Inclusiveness Campus Action Team
https://www.uccs.edu/diversity/campus-action-team/icat-overview.html

To register an inclusiveness concern refer to the website below.
https://diversity.uccs.edu/campus-action-team/to-register-an-inclusiveness-concern

The institution’s programs to recruit students from underrepresented groups is attached in two documents Needy Student Waiver Option #3 (2) and Needy Student Waiver Option #6 (Herrera).IR2 (1)

UCCS 2019 EDI Strategic Plan
https://diversity.uccs.edu/uccs-2019-edi-strategic-plan

Foster a Community of Learning, Engagement, and Inclusive Belonging to Nurture the Growth and Success of Faculty, Staff, and Students
How will we accomplish this? We will:
1. Advance a culture of innovative and inclusive pedagogy that is relevant to the academic and professional needs of today’s students.
2. Cultivate a culture of inclusive excellence that responds to the diversity of our campus community.
3. Deepen curricular and co-curricular experiences to foster global perspective, experiential engagement, and professional preparation.
4. Strengthen our culture of health, safety and wellbeing.

How will we know we’re successful? We will have:
1. Expanded the diversity of faculty and staff.
2. Improved on key measures in the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE), ACHA-National College Health Assessment (NCHA), and ACHA-National Faculty and Staff Health Assessment (NFSHA).
3. Increased overall satisfaction and sense of belonging on campus as measured by periodic institutional assessments.
4. Expanded students’ global awareness, co-curricular experiences, and experiential learning opportunities.
https://strategicplan.uccs.edu/sites/g/files/kjihxj1316/files/inline-files/UCCS-Strategic-Plan-2030.pdf
https://strategicplan.uccs.edu/strategies/3

Diversity Champion
The Diversity Champion is a non-voting or voting member who participates throughout the entire process to advocate for diversity and inclusion in the search process. Some criteria for the Diversity Champion, they must:
• Be aware of the UCCS Diversity Strategic Plan and its definitions
• Be aware of the UCCS Affirmative Action Plan
• Have completed online search committee training within SkillSoft within the last two years
• Have completed in-person Diversity Champion training.

The Diversity Champion is the advocate for diversity and inclusion throughout the search process. However, we are in the process of rolling out Implicit Bias training to the search committees, so all committee members will be empowered to be advocates for diversity and inclusion

Sources of support for students, faculty, and staff
Office of Institutional Equity
https://equity.uccs.edu/resources.html
Office of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
https://diversity.uccs.edu/

Students: The Mental Health Services Staff are here to serve the counseling and mental health-related needs of UCCS students.
The mission of Mental Health Services is threefold: (1) to assist UCCS students with their academic success when personal/psychological matters are complicating and interfering with the students' efforts; (2) to serve as a training site for graduate students in Clinical Psychology and Counseling fields; and (3) in accordance with UCCS tradition, create, implement, and develop services that are open to various organizations in the community.

The services we provide help UCCS students achieve their educational goals, define their career goals, learn more about problem-solving processes, enhance their capacity for satisfying interpersonal relationships, and maximize their capacity for continued emotional growth. Our services include individual therapy, couples therapy, family therapy, crisis/emergency interventions, and consultation sessions for concerned friends/roommates/instructors. We also offer workshops and presentations open to the UCCS community. On our website, you will find more information about the services we offer, our staff, outside resources to help you with a variety of different issues, and ways to contact us.
https://uccs.edu/recwellness/mental-health-services

Faculty: The Faculty Minority Affairs Committee (FMAC) addresses the needs of faculty of color on the UCCS campus and advocates for equity, diversity, and inclusion. FMAC advocates for social justice on behalf of minority faculty, staff, and students, and responds to societal issues that affect the campus community. Furthermore, FMAC provides a space for faculty to discuss campus climate, issues related to hiring, retention, and intellectual freedom.

2019-2020 Chair: Stephen Suh (Assistant Professor, WEST and Sociology), Co-chair: Edin Mujkic (Assistant Professor, School of Public Affairs)
https://fmac.uccs.edu/

Students:
Mission: The LGBT Resource Center @ MOSAIC exists as part of the University of Colorado Colorado Springs' on-going commitment to fostering a positive and inclusive atmosphere for everyone on campus. As part of the Multicultural Office for Student Access, Inclusiveness, and Community (MOSAIC), the LGBT Resource Center is designed to provide resources and information to LGBT students, advocate for LGBT+ interests throughout campus, conduct outreach and education, and ensure LGBT+ voices are represented among the campus at large.
https://lgbtresourcecenter.uccs.edu/

MOSAIC Affiliated Student Organizations (https://mosaic.uccs.edu/cultural-student-clubs)
MOSAIC supports and advises multicultural student groups focused on campus diversity and inclusion. Our most active groups include the following:
African Student Association (ASA)
Asian Pacific Islander Student Union (APISU)
Black Student Union (BSU)
Bollywood Dance Team
UNIDOS (DREAMers group)
Indian Student Alliance (ISA)
International Buddy Club (IBuddy)
Latino Student Union (LSU)
Middle East and Northern Africa Club
National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE)
National Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE)
Native American Student Union (NASU)
Saudi Student Club (SSC)
Spectrum (LGBTQ Alliance)
Transgender Student Union
Women's Student Association (WSA)

Family Development Center Scholarship
The Family Development Center (FDC) offers child-care scholarship for undergraduate or graduate students. This scholarship for UCCS students can be used solely for the purpose of paying child care costs at the Family Development Center. The scholarship amount will vary depending upon individual needs and fund availability. https://graduateschool.uccs.edu/uccs-finances/finance-resources
Family Development Center
The UCCS Family Development Center offers high quality, year-round education for children between 1- and 5-years-old, with summer programs for elementary students. We offer a number of programs, including preschool options, as well as early learning options.
Through play, our exemplary staff teaches children everything from empathy to cooperation and independence to imagination.
https://fdc.uccs.edu/

Students: First2Go
First-Generation Student: (noun) A student whose parents did not graduate from a four-year university.
First2Go Program: (noun) A planned series of events to help first-generation students navigate and succeed in their first year at UCCS.
If you are the first in your family who will earn a Bachelor's degree, you are considered a first-generation student. UCCS is very proud of our first-generation students and we know that the transition into college can be both exciting and intimidating.
There is a supportive community here for all first-generation students. First2Go works with all first-generation students to help with any academic skill building needs, but also as a support home where first-generation students and families can be heard and receive connections to support across the entirety of the UCCS campus and community.
First2Go buttons are used to highlight those at UCCS who are the first in their families to seek or earn a four-year college degree. Throughout a student's college career, other first-generation students, faculty, and staff serve as their support, community, cheerleaders, and role models.
https://fye.uccs.edu/first2go

Disability Services
Provides students with disabilities the tools, reasonable accommodations and support services to participate fully in the academic environment. Disability specialists also provide information about campus services and resources to faculty and staff with questions related to disabilities, documentation, access and accommodation. Promotes an accessible and culturally sensitive campus through outreach by building partnerships within the university community and beyond. Provides services and/or accommodations primarily to students with disabilities who must submit documentation for review.
Serves students and provides consultation, information and referrals to faculty and staff regarding disability related issues.
https://disability.uccs.edu/

Office of Veterans
This office supports the recruitment and retention of veterans to UCCS. It provides a key point of contact for counseling and program information for the veteran/military community on campus, while also developing and maintaining productive relations with off-campus organizations and programs serving veterans. Serves students, staff, and faculty who are currently serving in the military (e.g. active, reserve, guard, etc) or those who have served in the past.
https://military.uccs.edu/

Just Talk:
The Kraemer Family Library at UCCS organizes a series of facilitated discussions designed to promote open and honest dialogue about equity, diversity, and inclusion on campus and beyond. The last few topics were: Body Positivity, Restorative Dialogue and Conversational Skills to Heal Conflict and Harm, Police Brutality, and Facing the Divide (Race, Racism, and Health). The Just Talk series are scheduled approximately every month. This program is open to faculty, staff, student and community members.
https://kfl.uccs.edu/spotlight/just-talk-affordable-housing-crisis

Gender neutral restrooms:
https://recwellness.uccs.edu/sites/g/files/kjihxj2336/files/inline-files/Gender-Neutral-Restroom-Directory.pdf

Housing options:
https://www2.uccs.edu/Documents/mosaic/Transitioning%20at%20UCCS.pdf

Each of the Offices, Departments, and Organizations listed below have resources and support for underrepresented groups. They are accessible from the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion website.
https://diversity.uccs.edu/ EDI Support:

CU Faculty Council Committee for Racial and Ethnic Equity
https://www.cu.edu/faculty-council/committees/committee-on-racial-and-ethnic-equity
CU Principles of Ethical Behavior
https://www.cu.edu/regents/principles/introduction
UCCS Faculty Assembly Committee for Women
https://women.uccs.edu/
UCCS Faculty Minority Affairs Committee
https://fmac.uccs.edu/
UCCS Faculty Assembly Disability Committee
https://www2.uccs.edu/disc/
UCCS Faculty Assembly Pride Committee
https://facassembly.uccs.edu/committees
UCCS Inclusive Student Success
https://diversity.uccs.edu/student-success
UCCS LGBT Resource Center
https://lgbtresourcecenter.uccs.edu/
UCCS MOSAIC
https://mosaic.uccs.edu/
UCCS Undocumented/DACA/ASSET Student Resources
https://mosaic.uccs.edu/dreamer-student-resources-0
UCCS Aging Center
https://www2.uccs.edu/healthcircle/aging-center
UCCS National Center for Faculty Development & Diversity (NCFDD)
https://www2.uccs.edu/facultydiversity/
UCCS Center for Religious Diversity and Public Life
https://rdpl.uccs.edu/
UCCS GLINT
https://glint.uccs.edu/
UCCS The CARE Team
https://dos.uccs.edu/care
UCCS The Office of Institutional Equity
https://equity.uccs.edu/
UCCS The Office of International Affairs
https://international.uccs.edu/
UCCS The Office of Sustainability
https://sustain.uccs.edu/
UCCS The Matrix Center for the Advancement of Social Equity & Inclusion
https://matrix.uccs.edu/
UCCS The Office of Veteran & Military Student Affairs
https://military.uccs.edu/
UCCS The Trauma, Health & Hazards Center (THHC)
https://nihr.uccs.edu/
UCCS The Women’s & Ethnic Studies Program
https://west.uccs.edu/
UCCS Staff PRIDE Committee
https://staff.uccs.edu/opportunities-and-committees/staff-pride