| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 83.37 |
| Liaison | Ruairi O'Mahony |
| Submission Date | Feb. 11, 2022 |
University of Massachusetts Lowell
PA-5: Diversity and Equity Coordination
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Leslie
Wong Dean of Equity and Inclusion Provost |
Does the institution have a diversity and equity committee, office, and/or officer tasked by the administration or governing body to advise on and implement policies, programs, and trainings related to diversity, equity, inclusion and human rights?:
Does the committee, office and/or officer focus on students, employees, or both?:
A brief description of the diversity and equity committee, office and/or officer, including purview and activities:
UMass Lowell has an Office of Equal Opportunity and Outreach (EOO) whose mission is to provide consultation to the campus community on the implementation of best practices in diversity and inclusion as related to workforce planning and management. This includes recruitment, outreach with minority communities, a variety of intake services and monitoring compliance programs. The Office of EOO offers the following services and programs:
• Diversity Education and Awareness workshops, civility tool-kits and online programming
• Search Committee Responsibilities
• Nondiscrimination Guidelines, Employee Conduct, and Equal Opportunity Complaint Procedure
• Sexual Harassment/ Title IX Procedure
The Mission of the Office of Multicultural Affairs is to create an inclusive campus community that promotes social justice and diversity. We serve and support all members of our community, particularly individuals from underrepresented backgrounds. Using a student-centered approach, our office strives to create change and transformation through programs, initiatives and support. The Office of Multicultural Affairs offers the following programs:
• Ally Space
• Diversity Peer Educator Program
• Faculty and Staff of Color Network
• Invisible Identity Series
• MLK Week
• Multicultural Programming Committee
• Student Committee on Fostering Inclusive Communities
• Training and Workshops
The Office of Equal Opportunity and Outreach serves faculty, staff, administrators and students.
http://www.uml.edu/HR/Equal/Default.aspx
The Office of Multicultural Affairs primarily serves students.
http://www.uml.edu/student-services/Multicultural/default.aspx
Estimated proportion of students that has participated in cultural competence, anti-oppression, anti-racism, and/or social inclusion trainings and activities:
Estimated proportion of academic staff that has participated in cultural competence, anti-oppression, anti-racism, and/or social inclusion trainings and activities:
Estimated proportion of non-academic staff that has participated in cultural competence, anti-oppression, anti-racism, and/or social inclusion trainings and activities:
A brief description of the institution’s cultural competence, anti-oppression, anti-racism, and/or social inclusion trainings and activities:
The University of Massachusetts Lowell believes in the importance of creating a safe and healthy environment for all of our employees and other communities. To this end, UMass Lowell partnered with third-party provider EVERFI to provide trainings that will help all staff be informed on topics vital to achieving our goal. These trainings, in addition to being highly interactive and engaging, are based in research around the best practices for communicating and maintaining healthy relationships with your colleagues and students and encourage reflection on social inclusion, among other topics. Completion of EVERFI courses is required for all employees of UMass Lowell.
For students, the required first-year and transfer orientation programs include trainings and activities from many components of campus life including the Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA). OMA also runs a well-attended, supplemental Student Success Summit that serves the following cohorts:
- new students of color
- new international students
- new DC-CAP students
- Disability Services
- LGBTQ+ students
- all first year and transfer students, and more
The Student Success Summit is required for international students and more information can be found at the following location:
https://www.uml.edu/student-services/Multicultural/Programs/Student-Success-Summit/
In addition to the required trainings, the Department of Human Resources and Equal Opportunity and Outreach offers workplace learning and development programs to the UMass Lowell community. The Workplace Learning and Development program offers Diversity and Inclusion training. The following training opportunities are offered on a rolling basis at UMass Lowell:
Respectful Workplace:
Explores the concept of respectful workplace and create a shared language for their team
DiSC: Behavioral Styles:
Program Goals:
- Learn preferred communication styles and the preferred style of your colleagues
- Identify how to communicate more effectively with colleagues with different styles
- Explore the ways in which communication styles may be different and how those differences and special talents are valuable in the workplace.
Communication Styles in the Workplace:
Program Goals:
- understand your behavioral tendencies and develop an understanding of how your behavior affects others.
- understand, respect, appreciate and value individual differences.
- develop strategies for working together to increase productivity.
- enhance your effectiveness in accomplishing tasks by improving your relationships with others.
Bystander Awareness Training:
Active Bystanders play a key role in valuing diversity and creating an inclusive workplace. As an Active Bystander, you can make the difference by speaking up, making room for silenced voices and minimalizing difficult situations. This program will provide you with the skills to empower you to take this challenging but important role.
Knowledge, Skills and Awareness: Develop Your Cultural Competence:
Developing cultural competence means that we move toward a deeper understanding and acceptance of ourselves and others. This session will provide participants with the opportunity to explore (1) personal values and experiences, (2) how these personal experiences impact behavior and relationships with others, and (3) the ways in which University policies and practices contribute to creating an inclusive and positive work environment.
Develop Your Cultural Competence Lunch & Learn Session:
Join your colleagues in reading articles which present research and perspectives on issues relating to understanding diversity and inclusion, developing cultural competence, and increasing personal awareness. Articles have been selected, and dialogues about these articles will be facilitated by members of HR/EOO and the Office of Multicultural Affairs. You will receive the designated article upon registration.
Understanding Title IX Training:
Learn the far-reaching implications of what gender equity at UMass Lowell means for you: equal access to all programs and scholarships; prevention of sexual violence including domestic violence; reporting responsibilities of employees who believe sexual assault or harassment may have occurred; resources and options available for possible victims; the definition of consent to sexual activity; the differences between a police investigation, Title IX investigation, and a student conduct hearing; the role of the Title IX Coordinator; and more.
Understanding Veteran Services:
As over 1.5 million service members leave military service over the next five years, the number of student Veterans attending UMass Lowell is expected to significantly increase. Student Veterans bring unique and meaningful life experiences to our academic culture. This presentation will review transitional issues facing student Veterans, cultural differences compared to traditional students; and avenues for staff and faculty to provide a supportive environment for student Veterans to be successful in their academic pursuits.
Quarterly Supervisory Sessions for all managers and supervisors:
Topics include:
- The Role of the Supervisor, DiSC: Behavioral and Communication Styles, Performance Management Program, Managing Change and The Respectful Workplace.
- Monthly “toolkit” sessions to include HR topics such as FMLA, Progressive Discipline, etc.
In addition, the Office of Residence Life offers a variety of training sessions and workshops focused on Cultural Competency for student and professional staff. Trainings are offered every July and January for student staff. In addition, the Office of Residence Life Inclusion Committee focuses on professional development for the graduate and professional staff.
OMA Trainings
Ally Space: OMA collaboratively offers Ally Space Trainings to the campus (faculty/staff and students) in conjunction with the Office of Student Activities and Leadership and the Office of Residence Life work. Trainings provide information and resources to support the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) members of our campus community. Additionally, as participants complete the training they become a part of a larger network of faculty, staff, and students who are prepared to serve as a resource for students by training small groups at a time.
Diversity Peer Educator: The Diversity Peer Educator (DPE) Program offers students of many academic disciplines, cultures, backgrounds, and interests an increased leadership credential in multicultural education. The DPEs are instrumental in creating a more inclusive environment at UMass Lowell. The DPE program is a unique leadership opportunity to educate the University of Massachusetts Lowell community about understanding, respect, and support for all people. DPEs go through a 2 day training with ongoing opportunities to hone skills and conduct programming on campus throughout the year.
Campus Recreation Diversity Training: annual diversity training of campus recreation student staff employees.
Department of Community Psychology:
Training with faculty on communication, diversity and cultural competency
Website URL where information about the institution’s diversity and equity office or trainings is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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.