University of Maryland, College Park
PAE-8: Support Programs for Underrepresented Groups

The University of Maryland has an abundance of programs that support underrepresented groups within the student body. The Multicultural Involvement and Community Advocacy (MICA) has many connections with different parts of campus and serves University of Maryland students, staff, faculty, and alumni of all gender identities and sexual orientations to establish and maintain a safe, inclusive, and welcoming campus environment for people of all sexual orientations and gender identities or expressions. In pursuit of its vision, the Center builds community and networks; provides support and resources; fosters leadership; educates and promotes academic excellence; and advocates for equity. The University’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Equity Center has developed programs like the Rainbow Terrapin Network, Speakers Bureau, LGBT Scholarship Fund, Lavender Convocation, and Lavender Graduation. The University also has a Nyumburu Cultural Center that has served the UMD community since 1971 and continues to build on its foundations as the center for black social, cultural and intellectual interaction. Nyumburu’s productions and activities include lectures and seminars, art exhibits, workshops in the dramatic arts, dance, and music. Academic courses in blues, jazz, gospel performance and creative writing are also offered. The center has a large number of programs including the Nymburu Leadership Series, Sisterhood of Unity and Love (SOUL), Black Male Initiative (BMI) Program, Annual New Student Welcome, Miss Unity Scholarship Pageant, Black History Month Programming, The Maryland Gospel Choir, Black Explosion Newspaper, Dance Afrika!, Literature Conference, Adopt-A-Road, Tribute to our Warriors, Graduation Seniors Banquet, Annual Student Awards Ceremony, Kwanzaa Celebration, Shades of Harlem Performing Arts Ensemble, Student & Community Outreach to Campus Organizations, Black Ministries Program (Sunday Inspirational Worship Service). The Office of Multi-ethnic Student Education (OMSE) serves undergraduate multi-ethnic students to increase rates of matriculation, retention, graduation and overall GPA. OMSE provides programs and resources that support undergraduate students in their goals to achieve academic and personal success at the University of Maryland. While many of the students OMSE serves are high achievers, others experience academic and personal challenges that have an impact on their ability to thrive at the University. OMSE’s programs aim to increase rates of matriculation, retention, graduation among under-represented students. Currently, over 9,600 students are served. OMSE’S programs include the Academic Excellence Society, College Success Scholars, Sister to Sister, Annual Pow Wow, and the Tutorial Program. The University’s Global Communities program allows students to earn a Global Competencies notation on their transcript. The students are united by a common interest in the world at large, whether or not they have actually traveled internationally. They take courses together to gain the knowledge and skills needed to excel in an interdependent society and learn to communicate across cultural boundaries. They participate in globally-oriented events and activities outside of the classroom and global experiences, such as internships, education abroad, and service learning. The location near Washington DC gives access to people and institutions that bring the world to the students’ doorstep. Students live together and create a close-knit and supportive community. The program encourages students to embrace the world and seek to understand and experience it. Other Programs include…. In the Office of Diversity & Inclusion: Diversity Leadership Internship Program, Words of Engagement Intergroup Dialogues University of Maryland Incentive Awards Program (IAP)

The University has a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) Equity Center that works to establish and maintain a safe, inclusive, and welcoming campus environment for people of all sexual orientations and gender identities or expressions and serves the University of Maryland faculty as well. There are also people on campus who are active advocates for underrepresented groups within the faculty. Dr. Ellin K. Scholnick is the Faculty Ombuds Officer that deals with conflicts that arise among faculty members and between faculty members and administrators. Ombuds officers are people that members of the university community can consult with to get information about the University's policies or resolve problems that could not be resolved through ordinary channels. Dr. KerryAnn O'Meara is the Associate Professor of Higher Education in the College of Education and affiliate faculty in Women's Studies and is a large advocator for women, mentoring women faculty on campus. The Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs, Juan Uriagereka has created many programs for faculty including a program called Advancing Faculty Diversity that brings together faculty of color to form a network designed to strengthen each other's career advancement and find way to better attract and retain faculty of color.

The LGBT Equity Center also serves the staff at the University of Maryland. In addition to that program, Cynthia Tucker is the Staff Ombuds Officer that provides neutral, confidential, and informational assistance to exempt and non-exempt staff employees in resolving concerns related to their work. Also there is a program for staff in the Office of Diversity & Inclusion called the Sexual Harassment Prevention Program that seeks to lower incidences of sexual harassment on campus by providing education and training on the legal definitions of sexual harassment, supervisor responsibility/ liability with respect to behavior and climate in the employment or educational environment, intervention/ confrontation techniques, and resources available to those who may experience sexual harassment. Cynthia Tucker reports to the Chief Diversity Officer (CDO) and Associate Vice President and to the President. In her role as Assistant to the President, she monitors all searches for exempt staff and faculty positions on campus and advises the CDO and President on all matters related to search and selection as well as diversity and equity in the workplace. In her role as Staff Ombuds Officer, Cynthia is responsible for coaching staff and for meeting conflict for individual staff members and within teams, units, and departments.