University of Kentucky
PA-6: Support for Underrepresented Groups

Administrative Regulation 6.1 - Discrimination and Harassment. The University, in its efforts to foster an environment of respect for the dignity and worth of all members of the University community, is committed to maintaining an environment free of prohibited discrimination, which includes sexual and other forms of harassment. Discrimination and harassment are prohibited between members of the University community and shall not be tolerated. URL: http://www.uky.edu/EVPFA/EEO; https://www.uky.edu/regs/ar6-1

Administrative Regulation 6.1 - Discrimination and Harassment. The Office of Institutional Equity and Equal Opportunity is charged with handling complaints, procedures for investigation and resolution of report. The Bias Incident Response Team (BIRT) is the University’s official system for reporting acts of bias, hatred, and identity-based violence. BIRT Members represent the following offices, divisions, and departments: • Associate Provost for Student and Academic Life • Bias Incident Support Services • Counseling Center • Dean of Students Office • Office of Institutional Equity and Equal Opportunity • Office of Legal Counsel • Office of Institutional Diversity • Police Department • Public Relations ◻ Regarding actions during previous three years, Bias Incident Support Services (BISS) exists to provide support and advocacy for any student, staff, or faculty member impacted by bias, hatred, and/or an act of identity-based violence. BISS has provided education, training and consultation services to any University entity interested in working to nurture a sense of belonging within their college, division, office, department, specifically offering: • Confidential support at the time of crisis • Resources to support an individual's physical, emotional and academic well-being • Information and assistance with reporting options on campus and in the community • Advocacy for needed accommodations • Consultation with campus partners around issues of belonging and inclusion • Trainings and workshops centered on increasing skills and knowledge needed to cultivate a culture of belonging

For an extensive list and description of programs to recruit students, faculty and staff from underrepresented groups please refer to the: 2017-2022 Diversity Plan sections entitled, “Opportunity, Success, and Impact;” the University’s Affirmative Action Plan; and University and Community Resources for Diverse Communities website: http://www.uky.edu/Diversity; and https://www.uky.edu/eeo/sites/www.uky.edu.eeo/files/AAP%202018-2109.pdf and https://www.uky.edu/diversityresources/ To highlight a few programs: For Students: • “see blue.” Preview Nights - “Come see for Yourself” is a diversity recruitment event for high school students from diverse backgrounds sponsored by the UK Diversity Recruitment Office. Learn more about admissions, financial aid, scholarships, housing and the wide array of majors and degree programs that UK has to offer. Plus, meet UK representatives and current students. In the fall, the UK Office of Admissions recruiters, along with representatives from student services areas and the individual colleges, travel across the state and surrounding regions to recruit prospective students to UK. Regions include Ohio, Missouri, Georgia, Indiana, Illinois, Virginia and Tennessee. Website: https://www.uky.edu/admission/search/node/preview%20nights • MANNRS – Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences – an organization to promote academic and professional advancement by empowering minorities in agriculture and natural resources visits middle and high schools, youth programs, career fair expos and college recruitment fairs. • Health College Diversity Recruitment Support Program - a recruitment program focused on recruiting diverse graduate and professional students in UK’s six health colleges. For Faculty: • Postdoctoral diversity fellowship funds available through the Office of the Vice President for Research that give consideration to minorities and women in under-represented professions. • Southern Regional Education Board Doctoral Scholars Program to encourage minorities in doctoral programs. • Office for Faculty Advancement Dual Career Partners Services Program that connects incoming UK faculty with employment and relocation professionals to assist in the transition, tips on how to search for UK jobs, information about potential employers in the area, and related guidance and support. https://www.uky.edu/ofa • The Center for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching fosters excellence in education throughout the University of Kentucky by providing academic support services for faculty that enhance student learning, promote scholarship, and facilitate teaching innovations. Through workshops, conferences, lectures, and individual consultations the Center has become a support unit for both new and experienced faculty. For Faculty and Staff: • Diversity and Inclusion Officers Program – D&I Officers work collaboratively with the Provost, Vice President for Institutional Diversity and the leadership of their college to achieve the vision and strategic objectives of: leading in the development of initiatives and programs that support equitable opportunities for achievement and professional development of students, faculty and staff; enhance diversity and inclusivity as it relates to recruitment, promotion and retention of historically underrepresented students, faculty and staff. Website: www.uky.edu/Diversity • Targeted Job Boards program: to advertise staff and faculty positions. The job boards program includes: InsideHigherEdJobs.com, HigherEdJobs.com, Diverse Issues in Higher Education, Academic Keys, Latinos in Higher Education, The Chronicle of Higher Education, Hospital Careers, and JobTarget’s OneClick recruitment platform. JobTarget posts positions to Kentucky’s state job (Kentucky Focus Talent) board as well as a vast network of job boards which include: • VetJobs (www.vetjobs.com) • Veterans Enterprise (www.VeteransEnterprise.com ) • Hire Our Heroes (www.hireourheros.org) • JOFDAV – Job Opportunities for Disabled American Veterans (www.jofdav.com) • Disabled Person (www.disabledperson.com) • The Black Perspective (www.blackperspective.com) • Hispanic Today (www.hispanic-today.com) • Women in Business & Industry (www.wib-i.com) • Women For Hire (www.womenforhire.com) • EMPLOYDIVERSITY (www.employdiversity.com) • US Military PIPELINE (www.usmilitarypipeline.com) Each job board will automatically upload positions from the UK Jobs website daily. The HR Employment Office purchased Affirmative Action (AA) e-mails that can be utilized with designated job postings. When an AA email is used, an e-mail will be sent to approximately 250,000 job seekers featuring the job posting along with other postings from universities who are actively recruiting candidates in accordance with affirmative action or diversity plans. • The Hiring Enhancement Program - continues to provide training, resources and tools for hiring officials. The program is intended to educate hiring officials on effective and legally credible hiring practices.

For an extensive list and description of programs to mentor, counsel and support students, faculty and staff from underrepresented groups please refer to the 2017-2022 Diversity Plan sections entitled, “Opportunity, Success, and Impact.” Please refer to website: http://www.uky.edu/Diversity. See website for University and Community Resources for Diverse Communities: www.uky.edu/diversityresources/ o To highlight a few programs: For Students: • KY – West Virginia Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (KY-WV LSAMP) is a consortium of colleges and universities working together to create, enhance, and expand programs designed to broaden participation and increase the quality and quantity of student from Underrepresented populations who receive degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Program goals and activities focus on undergraduate research experiences, graduate school preparation, and international experiences. The focus of the program includes: transitional (high school to college); research – hands-on activities; post graduate career aspirations and mentoring with STEM faculty and professionals. Website: https://www.uky.edu/kywv-lsamp/ • National GEM Consortium - the University of Kentucky is a member of the National GEM Consortium, a network of leading corporations, government laboratories, top universities, and top research institutions that enables qualified students from underrepresented communities to pursue graduate education in applied science and engineering. https://gradschool.uky.edu • Graduate School: Underrepresented Minority Graduate Scholars Mentoring Program The URM Program was designed to provide students who receive minority fellowships with a mentor. The program was launched in Fall 2016 and will continue to grow and improve. The mentees are graduate students who either receive the Lyman T. Johnson Fellowship, the Southern Regional Education Board Fellowship, or the Graduate Degrees for Minorities in Engineering Fellowship. The mentors are professors throughout the university who willingly volunteered to participate in the program. https://gradschool.uky.edu • Freshman Summer Program (FSP) – a 6-week transition/bridge program from high school to college designed to prepare underrepresented minority students for the academic rigor of college. The overall goal of the program is to improve the persistence and graduation rates of African American, Hispanic, American Indian, first-generation, Multi-Racial and low income students admitted to fall semester. https://www.uky.edu/diversity • Graduate and Professional Showcase: a collaborative effort with multiple departments and academic colleges for URM students to gain knowledge about a variety of graduate and professional school programs. • Black and Latino Male Initiative – build community and sense of belonging for underrepresented student population through dialogues and support on what it means to be a Black or Latino man. • Majestic Unity – women’s support group dedicated to providing support, encouragement and empowerment to women of color while enhancing leadership, social and cultural development throughout college career. • Sister Circle/My Brother’s Keeper Support groups – undergraduate, graduate and professional men and women of color an outlet to authentically express themselves in a safe space through workshops, presentations and activities. For Faculty: • Affinity Groups – specified groups for faculty and staff linked by a common purpose, ideology or interest. Affinity groups play a vital role in insuring an inclusive environment where all are valued, included, and empowered to succeed by building and creating a sense of community; advocating and supporting the recruitment, retention and advancement of Faculty and Staff; networking and collaborating to support community engagement. Organized Affinity Groups: African American, African and Native American; Asian and Asian American, Hispanic/Latinx; LGBTQ*; Muslim; and Veterans. See Website: http://www.uky.edu/Diversity • WELD – Women’s Executive Leadership Development program seeks to develop a new generation of leaders of higher education by providing leadership skills and networking opportunities to mid-career faculty and staff women at UK. The program is designed to provide insight into the many issues currently faced by institutional of higher education and to form a strong cohort of supportive emerging leaders. Website: www.uky.edu/ofa/WELD • National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity (NCFDD) – University of Kentucky has partnered with this nationally recognized organization to provide career development, training and mentoring resources to faculty. As part of the membership all faculty members, postdoctoral scholars and graduate students have access to beneficial tools to increase research and writing and improve work-life balance. Website: www.uky.edu/ofa • Sister Circle/My Brother’s Keeper Support groups –professional men and women of color an outlet to authentically express themselves in a safe space through workshops, presentations and activities For Staff: • Affinity Groups – specified groups for faculty and staff linked by a common purpose, ideology or interest. Affinity groups play a vital role in insuring an inclusive environment where all are valued, included, and empowered to succeed by building and creating a sense of community; advocating and supporting the recruitment, retention and advancement of Faculty and Staff; networking and collaborating to support community engagement. Website: http://www.uky.edu/Diversity Organized Affinity Groups: African American, African and Native American; Asian and Asian American, Hispanic/Latinx; LGBTQ*; Muslim; and Veterans. See Website: http://www.uky.edu/Diversity • WELD – Women’s Executive Leadership Development program seeks to develop a new generation of leaders of higher education by providing leadership skills and networking opportunities to mid-career faculty and staff women at UK. The program is designed to provide insight into the many issues currently faced by institutional of higher education and to form a strong cohort of supportive emerging leaders. Website: www.uky.edu/ofa/WELD • Sister Circle/My Brother’s Keeper Support groups –professional men and women of color an outlet to authentically express themselves in a safe space through workshops, presentations and activities.

• Lyman T. Johnson Diversity Fellowship – for first year or continuing graduate students from all racial and ethnic groups – available for students entering many programs, including Education, at the University of Kentucky Graduate School. https://www.uky.edu/gradschool.uky.edu • The University of Kentucky's Preparing Future Faculty (PFF) Program is part of the national PFF initiative begun in the 1990s. Its purpose is to provide professional development guidance to graduate students who wish to explore or pursue a faculty career at one of the types of institutions of higher education (research universities, regional comprehensive universities, independent universities and colleges, community colleges, or for-profit universities). The overall focus is on readiness for the dynamics of faculty work in the areas of research, teaching, and service. The Certificate in College Teaching and Learning curriculum culminates in a mentored teaching practicum, whereby the student is placed as primary instructor of a course (usually at another institution's campus) for a semester's emersion in college teaching, as well as in the culture and character of the specific institution. The practicum is particularly valuable to graduate students who have not had the benefit of serving as a graduate teaching assistant with full responsibility of a course. It also allows students a more complete picture of the institution's work environment and a faculty member's work-life. https://www.uky.edu/gradschool.uky.edu • Southern Regional Education Board Doctoral Scholars Program to encourage minorities in doctoral programs. • The Center for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching fosters excellence in education throughout the University of Kentucky by providing academic support services for students and faculty that enhance student learning, promote scholarship, and facilitate teaching innovations. Through workshops, conferences, lectures, and individual consultations the Center has become a support unit for both new and experienced faculty. • The National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity (NCFDD): The University of Kentucky has partnered with the National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity. This nationally recognized independent organization provides online career development, training, and mentoring resources. As part of the University’s membership, all faculty members, postdoctoral scholars, and graduate students will have access to tools to increase research and writing productivity and improve work-life balance. https://www.uky.edu/ofa

Regarding gender neutral bathrooms, a formal document and policy is in development. Currently, neutral bathrooms are available on request.