| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 67.63 |
| Liaison | Konrad Schlarbaum |
| Submission Date | March 1, 2024 |
University of Colorado Colorado Springs
PA-5: Diversity and Equity Coordination
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.78 / 2.00 |
Sloan
Gonzales Director of DEI Education and Outreach DEI |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Part 1
Yes
Does the committee, office and/or officer focus on students, employees, or both?:
Both students and employees
None
A brief description of the diversity and equity committee, office and/or officer, including purview and activities:
According to the 2030 strategic plan, The University of Colorado Colorado Springs is charged with fostering a community of learning, engagement and inclusive belonging to nurture the growth and success of faculty, staff and students in accordance with the third strategy of the strategic plan. This core strategy is in alignment with CU’s goal of inclusive excellence.
The Division of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion created the Inclusive Excellence and Belonging (IEB) Action Plan as the strategic mission-driven approach to engaging the entire campus community in greater efforts to enhance diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and advance a culture where all belong and can thrive. The IEB consists of the DEI Strategic Framework Pillars which serve as the foundation of our commitment to creating and sustaining an inclusive culture at UCCS. Each of the five pillars, and three complementary objectives for each pillar, encompass our overarching institutional priorities guiding our DEI strategic actions at UCCS.
To ensure the success of creating inclusive excellence and belonging, UCCS has the following areas to support the above strategic goals:
The Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) aspires to strengthen innovation, impacts, and practices as integral components of inclusive and academic excellence. We are committed to fostering an inclusive learning and work environment where all at UCCS feel a sense of belonging and can thrive. The division promotes the principles of inclusive excellence, multicultural education, and social justice that both enhance the University's service to the public and contributes directly to the work environment and the quality of learning for all who participate. Additionally, we seek to elevate the impact UCCS has as a regional and national leader in preparing students for success in a diverse global society and workforce
The Office of the Vice Chancellor for DEI is responsible for guiding and leading institutional wide efforts to advance a culture of inclusion and belonging at UCCS. This includes leading DEI strategic planning efforts, chairing the Council on Inclusive Belonging (CIB), and building institutional DEI capacity.
The Office of DEI Education and Outreach is responsible for the development of culturally responsive training programs and workshops, coordinating events and programs to highlight critical DEI topics across campus for staff, faculty, and students. Along with creating DEI partnership and collaboration opportunities for faculty, staff, students, and the Colorado Springs community.
The Office of International Affairs supports international education for the UCCS campus community. The office provides services within the following areas: Education Abroad; International Student and Scholar Services; support to colleges and schools for international partnership development; and international opportunities.
The Multicultural Office for Student Access, Inclusiveness, and Community (MOSAIC) and LGBTQ+ Resource Center are student advocated support services designed to cultivate the holistic development of historically and currently marginalized students at UCCS.
The Office of Institutional Equity (OIE) is committed to maintaining a positive learning, working, and living environment on campus.
Disability Services promote an equitable and inclusive student experience by providing reasonable accommodations and advancing awareness and education within the campus community.
Veteran & Military Affairs serves all military-affiliated students at UCCS. The office provides benefits processing, peer advising, success coaching, and social events.
Center for Religious Diversity & Public Life fosters a healthy relationship between UCCS and the community concerning religious issues and public life.
Matrix Center through partnerships, outreach, research, institutes, conferences, leadership coaching, and other diversity services, the Center bridges the gap between university and diverse communities to examine real world problems and contribute to the advancement of real world solutions.
The Pre-Collegiate Support and Success Center prepares first-generation and military-dependent students for college admissions through pre-admission resources and engagement.
Student & Family Connections cultivates connection to resources, fosters a sense of belonging, generates learning, and provides individualized support to assist students in reaching their academic and personal goals.
Faculty & Staff DEI Committees:
Faculty Assembly Women’s Committee (FAWC) is an existing network of women and faculty who met regularly in alignment with the University of Colorado Faculty Council. FAWC addresses the concerns of women-identifying faculty.
Faculty Equity & Inclusion Committee (FEIC) addresses the needs of faculty of color on the UCCS campus and advocates for equity, diversity, and inclusion. FEIC advocates for social justice on behalf of minority faculty, staff, and students, and responds to societal issues that affect the campus community. Furthermore, FEIC provides a space for faculty to discuss campus climate, issues related to hiring, retention, and intellectual freedom.
Faculty Assembly Disability Committee (DISC) provides information for faculty at UCCS regarding disability, with a focus on better including and accommodating students with disabilities in your courses. These resources will be of use to faculty with disabilities and their allies, and any faculty member interested in diversity and inclusion.
Staff & Faculty PRIDE Committee strives for the advancement and advocacy for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA+) community of the university through increasing the visibility of LGBTQIA+ groups as a presence and resource within UCCS and the wider community; advising on the inclusivity of LGBTQIA+ concerns within UCCS policies and procedures; supporting the education of UCCS staff, students and faculty specific to the LGBTQIA+ community; and supporting and advocating for UCCS LGBTQIA+ staff and students.
Women Identifying Staff Committee (WISC) was born out of shared experiences at the CU Women’s Succeeding Symposium and a desire to foster at UCCS the same energy and focus on issues uniquely faced by women in the University. We strive to create a safe space for women identifying staff members to voice frustrations, concerns, seek information and resources, find mentorship and validation and will in turn work to elevate the needs of women identifying staff members to campus and system leadership.
The Council on Inclusive Belonging (CIB) is a UCCS cross-institutional team led by Vice Chancellor for DEI, that consists of Inclusion Partners from each college and division. Inclusion Partners lead their college/division IEB working groups, consisting of Inclusion Representatives, to advance DEI strategic actions through collaborative partnerships across campus. Together the CIB guides the Inclusive Excellence and Belonging Action Plan progress and ensure college/division level accountability. They engage the collective wisdom and expertise of their colleagues to advance tangible strategies and actualize our UCCS DEI Strategic Framework Pillars. Diversity & Excellence
The Division of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion created the Inclusive Excellence and Belonging (IEB) Action Plan as the strategic mission-driven approach to engaging the entire campus community in greater efforts to enhance diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and advance a culture where all belong and can thrive. The IEB consists of the DEI Strategic Framework Pillars which serve as the foundation of our commitment to creating and sustaining an inclusive culture at UCCS. Each of the five pillars, and three complementary objectives for each pillar, encompass our overarching institutional priorities guiding our DEI strategic actions at UCCS.
To ensure the success of creating inclusive excellence and belonging, UCCS has the following areas to support the above strategic goals:
The Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) aspires to strengthen innovation, impacts, and practices as integral components of inclusive and academic excellence. We are committed to fostering an inclusive learning and work environment where all at UCCS feel a sense of belonging and can thrive. The division promotes the principles of inclusive excellence, multicultural education, and social justice that both enhance the University's service to the public and contributes directly to the work environment and the quality of learning for all who participate. Additionally, we seek to elevate the impact UCCS has as a regional and national leader in preparing students for success in a diverse global society and workforce
The Office of the Vice Chancellor for DEI is responsible for guiding and leading institutional wide efforts to advance a culture of inclusion and belonging at UCCS. This includes leading DEI strategic planning efforts, chairing the Council on Inclusive Belonging (CIB), and building institutional DEI capacity.
The Office of DEI Education and Outreach is responsible for the development of culturally responsive training programs and workshops, coordinating events and programs to highlight critical DEI topics across campus for staff, faculty, and students. Along with creating DEI partnership and collaboration opportunities for faculty, staff, students, and the Colorado Springs community.
The Office of International Affairs supports international education for the UCCS campus community. The office provides services within the following areas: Education Abroad; International Student and Scholar Services; support to colleges and schools for international partnership development; and international opportunities.
The Multicultural Office for Student Access, Inclusiveness, and Community (MOSAIC) and LGBTQ+ Resource Center are student advocated support services designed to cultivate the holistic development of historically and currently marginalized students at UCCS.
The Office of Institutional Equity (OIE) is committed to maintaining a positive learning, working, and living environment on campus.
Disability Services promote an equitable and inclusive student experience by providing reasonable accommodations and advancing awareness and education within the campus community.
Veteran & Military Affairs serves all military-affiliated students at UCCS. The office provides benefits processing, peer advising, success coaching, and social events.
Center for Religious Diversity & Public Life fosters a healthy relationship between UCCS and the community concerning religious issues and public life.
Matrix Center through partnerships, outreach, research, institutes, conferences, leadership coaching, and other diversity services, the Center bridges the gap between university and diverse communities to examine real world problems and contribute to the advancement of real world solutions.
The Pre-Collegiate Support and Success Center prepares first-generation and military-dependent students for college admissions through pre-admission resources and engagement.
Student & Family Connections cultivates connection to resources, fosters a sense of belonging, generates learning, and provides individualized support to assist students in reaching their academic and personal goals.
Faculty & Staff DEI Committees:
Faculty Assembly Women’s Committee (FAWC) is an existing network of women and faculty who met regularly in alignment with the University of Colorado Faculty Council. FAWC addresses the concerns of women-identifying faculty.
Faculty Equity & Inclusion Committee (FEIC) addresses the needs of faculty of color on the UCCS campus and advocates for equity, diversity, and inclusion. FEIC advocates for social justice on behalf of minority faculty, staff, and students, and responds to societal issues that affect the campus community. Furthermore, FEIC provides a space for faculty to discuss campus climate, issues related to hiring, retention, and intellectual freedom.
Faculty Assembly Disability Committee (DISC) provides information for faculty at UCCS regarding disability, with a focus on better including and accommodating students with disabilities in your courses. These resources will be of use to faculty with disabilities and their allies, and any faculty member interested in diversity and inclusion.
Staff & Faculty PRIDE Committee strives for the advancement and advocacy for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA+) community of the university through increasing the visibility of LGBTQIA+ groups as a presence and resource within UCCS and the wider community; advising on the inclusivity of LGBTQIA+ concerns within UCCS policies and procedures; supporting the education of UCCS staff, students and faculty specific to the LGBTQIA+ community; and supporting and advocating for UCCS LGBTQIA+ staff and students.
Women Identifying Staff Committee (WISC) was born out of shared experiences at the CU Women’s Succeeding Symposium and a desire to foster at UCCS the same energy and focus on issues uniquely faced by women in the University. We strive to create a safe space for women identifying staff members to voice frustrations, concerns, seek information and resources, find mentorship and validation and will in turn work to elevate the needs of women identifying staff members to campus and system leadership.
The Council on Inclusive Belonging (CIB) is a UCCS cross-institutional team led by Vice Chancellor for DEI, that consists of Inclusion Partners from each college and division. Inclusion Partners lead their college/division IEB working groups, consisting of Inclusion Representatives, to advance DEI strategic actions through collaborative partnerships across campus. Together the CIB guides the Inclusive Excellence and Belonging Action Plan progress and ensure college/division level accountability. They engage the collective wisdom and expertise of their colleagues to advance tangible strategies and actualize our UCCS DEI Strategic Framework Pillars. Diversity & Excellence
Part 2
All
Estimated proportion of academic staff that has participated in cultural competence, anti-oppression, anti-racism, and/or social inclusion trainings and activities:
Most
Estimated proportion of non-academic staff that has participated in cultural competence, anti-oppression, anti-racism, and/or social inclusion trainings and activities:
Most
If trainings are made available, provide:
UCCS strives to provide educational training and development for students, faculty, and staff.
Academic Initiatives:
UCCS is committed to being a leading educational institution where all who attend, work, and benefit from the campus are valued and respected. 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 engagement. Creating a culture of inclusion requires the active, intentional, and ongoing engagement with diversity in which all members of the UCCS community feel an authentic sense of belonging. To this end, we require all students to take one course (3 credits) that discusses inclusiveness. Inclusiveness courses help students develop competencies for cultural responsiveness across social differences in contexts ranging from local to global. Inclusiveness courses typically follow one or both of the following approaches:
Students learn the necessary competencies for effectively working directly with people across cultural and social differences, such as in the context of professional interaction with clients, patients, colleagues or partners.
Students learn social, cultural, political, economic, geographic, spiritual, or other diverse perspectives so they can cultivate self-awareness and understanding of their impact—locally, nationally, and/or globally. These courses will explicitly address dynamics of power and the consequences of exclusion and inclusion.
Educational Trainings & Programs:
Inclusive Belonging training: is an interactive training focused on the foundations of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging. The training will overview key terms, the value of DEI, and provide tools to create inclusive belonging.
Beyond the Binary training: is an interactive training that covers gender identity and expression, Sexual orientation basics, and essential language and pronoun usage. This training is designed to establish a common foundation of understanding for participants to better enable them to create a culture of inclusive belonging at UCCS.
Creating Inclusive Environments & Collaborative Conversations training: is an interactive training that focuses on identifying the value and core foundations of DEI. Along with providing the tools and resources to building healthy collaborative conversations through inclusive language.
Breaking Down Barriers training: is an interactive training focused on the barriers to create inclusive belonging. The training will address the impact of bias in DEI, the role of trust and communication in breaking down barriers and providing tools to create inclusive connections.
Safe Zone trainings: is designed gned to educate UCCS students, faculty, and staff about the experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer communities and ways that they can support them as an ally and an advocate.
Pronouns 101 training: is a brief introduction into what pronouns are, how to use them and how to be respectful of other peoples' pronouns. We will also touch on how to update pronouns in the University of Colorado Colorado Springs system.
Additional training and activities:
The Veteran Educators Training and Support program (V.E.T.S.) is an interactive training session designed to provide faculty and staff with applicable information about the student veteran transition experience and strategies for understanding and helping veterans succeed academically.
The Gallogly Recreation and Wellness Center hosts a number of programs and trainings on mental and physical health in an effort to promote the health and wellbeing of all students on campus.
The Disability Services department offers training to staff and faculty in the areas of Disability Etiquette, Universal Design in the Classroom, Creating an Accessible Workspace, Working with blind and low-vision students, and Do's and Don'ts for Website Developers.
The Matrix Center hosts the annual Knapsack Institute is designed for individuals at the beginning to intermediate stages of this journey, as well as those seeking to refresh their approach and embrace intersectional strategies. The Institute is designed for all educators
The University of Colorado Social Justice Summit, a biennial, systemwide event, aspires to ignite critical engagement and responsibility for cultivating and sustaining a diverse democracy.
Campus-Wide Signature Programs are annual DEI centered programs that honor the diverse experiences of UCCS students, staff, and faculty hosted across the campus.
Heritage & Identity Month Programs celebrates the histories and contributions of historically marginalized identities, UCCS commemorates heritage and identity months throughout the year. These recognitions are an opportunity for all members of the community to learn more about the traditions, people, scholarship, history, and current experiences of those who've overcome oppression to create opportunities for all.
Student Focused DEI programs aim to create a sense of belonging for diverse students and create opportunities for our students to grow in their understanding of DEI.
Academic Initiatives:
UCCS is committed to being a leading educational institution where all who attend, work, and benefit from the campus are valued and respected. 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 engagement. Creating a culture of inclusion requires the active, intentional, and ongoing engagement with diversity in which all members of the UCCS community feel an authentic sense of belonging. To this end, we require all students to take one course (3 credits) that discusses inclusiveness. Inclusiveness courses help students develop competencies for cultural responsiveness across social differences in contexts ranging from local to global. Inclusiveness courses typically follow one or both of the following approaches:
Students learn the necessary competencies for effectively working directly with people across cultural and social differences, such as in the context of professional interaction with clients, patients, colleagues or partners.
Students learn social, cultural, political, economic, geographic, spiritual, or other diverse perspectives so they can cultivate self-awareness and understanding of their impact—locally, nationally, and/or globally. These courses will explicitly address dynamics of power and the consequences of exclusion and inclusion.
Educational Trainings & Programs:
Inclusive Belonging training: is an interactive training focused on the foundations of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging. The training will overview key terms, the value of DEI, and provide tools to create inclusive belonging.
Beyond the Binary training: is an interactive training that covers gender identity and expression, Sexual orientation basics, and essential language and pronoun usage. This training is designed to establish a common foundation of understanding for participants to better enable them to create a culture of inclusive belonging at UCCS.
Creating Inclusive Environments & Collaborative Conversations training: is an interactive training that focuses on identifying the value and core foundations of DEI. Along with providing the tools and resources to building healthy collaborative conversations through inclusive language.
Breaking Down Barriers training: is an interactive training focused on the barriers to create inclusive belonging. The training will address the impact of bias in DEI, the role of trust and communication in breaking down barriers and providing tools to create inclusive connections.
Safe Zone trainings: is designed gned to educate UCCS students, faculty, and staff about the experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer communities and ways that they can support them as an ally and an advocate.
Pronouns 101 training: is a brief introduction into what pronouns are, how to use them and how to be respectful of other peoples' pronouns. We will also touch on how to update pronouns in the University of Colorado Colorado Springs system.
Additional training and activities:
The Veteran Educators Training and Support program (V.E.T.S.) is an interactive training session designed to provide faculty and staff with applicable information about the student veteran transition experience and strategies for understanding and helping veterans succeed academically.
The Gallogly Recreation and Wellness Center hosts a number of programs and trainings on mental and physical health in an effort to promote the health and wellbeing of all students on campus.
The Disability Services department offers training to staff and faculty in the areas of Disability Etiquette, Universal Design in the Classroom, Creating an Accessible Workspace, Working with blind and low-vision students, and Do's and Don'ts for Website Developers.
The Matrix Center hosts the annual Knapsack Institute is designed for individuals at the beginning to intermediate stages of this journey, as well as those seeking to refresh their approach and embrace intersectional strategies. The Institute is designed for all educators
The University of Colorado Social Justice Summit, a biennial, systemwide event, aspires to ignite critical engagement and responsibility for cultivating and sustaining a diverse democracy.
Campus-Wide Signature Programs are annual DEI centered programs that honor the diverse experiences of UCCS students, staff, and faculty hosted across the campus.
Heritage & Identity Month Programs celebrates the histories and contributions of historically marginalized identities, UCCS commemorates heritage and identity months throughout the year. These recognitions are an opportunity for all members of the community to learn more about the traditions, people, scholarship, history, and current experiences of those who've overcome oppression to create opportunities for all.
Student Focused DEI programs aim to create a sense of belonging for diverse students and create opportunities for our students to grow in their understanding of DEI.
Optional Fields
Additional documentation to support the submission:
---
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Division of DEI- https://dei.uccs.edu
DEI Division- https://dei.uccs.edu/staff/dei-division
DEI Centered Offices & Committees- https://dei.uccs.edu/campus-support
CU Strategic Plan- https://www.cu.edu/strategic-plan
UCCS Strategic Plan- https://strategicplan.uccs.edu/strategies
Inclusive Excellence & Belonging Action Plan- https://dei.uccs.edu/inclusive-excellence-and-belonging-action-plan-cloned
Compass Curriculum- https://compasscurriculum.uccs.edu/curriculum/inclusiveness
DEI Trainings- https://dei.uccs.edu/dei-trainings
DEI Programs- https://dei.uccs.edu/dei-campus-programs
DEI Division- https://dei.uccs.edu/staff/dei-division
DEI Centered Offices & Committees- https://dei.uccs.edu/campus-support
CU Strategic Plan- https://www.cu.edu/strategic-plan
UCCS Strategic Plan- https://strategicplan.uccs.edu/strategies
Inclusive Excellence & Belonging Action Plan- https://dei.uccs.edu/inclusive-excellence-and-belonging-action-plan-cloned
Compass Curriculum- https://compasscurriculum.uccs.edu/curriculum/inclusiveness
DEI Trainings- https://dei.uccs.edu/dei-trainings
DEI Programs- https://dei.uccs.edu/dei-campus-programs
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.