University of Minnesota, Duluth
PA-7: Support for Underrepresented Groups

The University of Minnesota Duluth prohibits discrimination in its educational programs or activities on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, age, religion or religious creed, disability or handicap, sex or gender (including pregnancy, sexual harassment and other sexual misconduct including acts of sexual violence such as rape, sexual assault, sexual exploitation, military or veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. Retaliation is also prohibited.

The Non-Discrimination statement and policy can be accessed at this policy website:
https://hr.d.umn.edu/supervising-umd/umd-policies-and-procedures

Also available to the public directly from this Google link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bx94yIDteFbIb0tDX2lDTWRvcVE/view

The Campus Climate Response Team (CCRT) was created to respond to issues or incidents that degrade or threaten the campus climate and that require a response beyond that provided by established processes. It reports to the UMD Chancellor, and its responsibilities include developing and facilitating the implementation of a timely and appropriate response to a campus climate incident. 

CCRT Process:

Students:
The Cultural Outreach & Retention Effort (CORE) is a branch of the Office of Diversity & Inclusion that works directly with students to support Black/African American, Asian/Pacific American, Latinx/Chicanx, and LGBTQ+ students. Staff act as secondary advisors to assist in guiding students to the proper resources and advocating for each student when necessary. CORE houses mentoring, tutoring, and student ambassador services. Additionally, the program is directly connected to the STEM Program. Student Ambassadors serve to recruit/increase the number of underrepresented students attending UMD. Mentoring and Tutoring services of CORE serve to retain students from underrepresented groups.

More information on CORE at: https://diversity.d.umn.edu/programs-services

Staff & Faculty:

Having a diverse workforce has always been a top University priority as a way to promote excellence, broaden perspectives, create a more inclusive campus, and increase student and employee retention. The Office of Human Resources (OHR), in partnership with the Office for Equity and Diversity, has expanded its efforts to attract diverse candidates for employment at the University. The University has a wide array of positions that require diverse skill sets and perspectives. To focus on bringing talented and diverse applicants to these positions, OHR has several recruiters in place focused on strengthening the University’s relationships with diverse communities, organizations, and campus groups, as a way to build pipelines of talent. Under the theme “Together, We'll Change the World,” OHR participates in diversity and veteran career fairs, has held its own virtual career fair, supports applicants in their job search, and consults with departments across the institution to promote best practices in hiring, including key student-facing positions. The University is also conducting implicit-bias training for search committees involved in hiring and is enhancing the onboarding experience to strengthen the connection to the University from the onset. Together, these initiatives will help the University fully reflect the diversity of our students, state, and nation. More info at https://campus-climate.umn.edu/initiatives-projects#anchor-faculty-staff-focus

Bridge Funds provide financial support to academic departments that have identified full-time faculty of color in tenure or tenure-track appointments to fill a specific academic niche, but do not immediately have adequate funding to extend an offer of employment. In such instances, departments may request bridge funding after the hire has been approved by the department chair and faculty, and by the collegiate dean and/or chancellor as appropriate for each campus. http://idea.umn.edu/signature-programs/bridge-funding-faculty-color-and-indigenous-faculty

College of Science and Engineering has a mentorship program and a BIPOC and Native American mentoring program. Additional campus-wide strategies to recruit and retain underrepresented faculty and staff are currently being developed. The College of Science and Engineering's efforts in this area will likely be a model for the rest of campus to grow from.

For the students the most popular support system comes from the Student organizations inside the Multicultural Center. The mission of the Multicultural Center is to enhance academic achievement, create a sense of belonging, celebrate diversity, and foster positive relations among UMD students, faculty and staff. This will be accomplished by:
-Providing a forum for communication, discussion and understanding of educational, political, social and cultural issues of concern to the students served at the Multicultural Center.
-Supporting programs and activities that promote appreciation and awareness for a truly multicultural and inclusive community.
-Providing support for and advising student organizations
-Serving as a catalyst for change and support of the University's effort to achieve pluralism.
-Providing personal and academic support, advising, and disability accommodations.

The Cultural Outreach & Retention Effort (CORE) is a branch of the Office of Diversity & Inclusion that works directly with students to support Black/African American, Asian/Pacific American, Latinx/Chicanx students. Staff act as secondary advisors to assist in guiding students to the proper resources and advocating for each student when necessary. CORE houses mentoring, tutoring, and the student ambassadors services. Additionally, the program is directly connected to the STEM Program. Student Ambassadors serve to recruit/increase the number of underrepresented students attending UMD. Mentoring and Tutoring services of CORE serve to retain students from underrepresented groups.

All faculty and staff have access to counseling support services through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) at no cost (up to 8 sessions).

UMD also has several faculty/staff associations to support underrepresented groups. 

Commission on Equity, Race, and Ethnicity (UMN Duluth)
The Commission on Equity Race & Ethnicity (CERE) works to create an equitable campus community for people of all racial, ethnic, and intersecting identities through education and institutional change at UMD.

Commission on Disabilities (UMN Duluth)
The mission of the UMD Commission on Disabilities is to advocate for meaningful access and inclusiveness across campus for all people; to promote educational awareness of both visible and invisible disabilities, and to assure legal compliance with all regulations in the area of equity for individuals with disabilities.

Commission for Women (UMN Duluth)
The Commission for Women provides support to women employees with an emphasis on advocacy, development, and connection, to enrich the professional working and learning environments at UMD.

GLBTQAI Commission (UMN Duluth)
The GLBTQAI Commission is committed to creating a safe, welcoming, and enriching climate for the UMD GLBTQAI community that enables GLBTQAI students, faculty, and staff to thrive intellectually, socially, and emotionally at the university and in surrounding communities.  We strive to accomplish this through education, advocacy, collaborative planning with other University and community groups, and outreach and support to members of the UMD GLBTQAI community.

Employees of Color and American Indians (UMN Duluth)
The Employees of Color and American Indians (EOCAI) association's mission is to foster a community of support and interdependence to assist members to navigate the university systems, so that members can thrive and, ultimately, be successful at UMD.  The association organizes mentoring programs and shares resources to support the professional development of its members, engages in campus diversity inclusion and equity activities, takes actions for racial and social justice issues, and works to promote infrastructure change to better serve its members. 

https://diversity.umn.edu/resources/faculty-staff-associations

UMD has many resources to support and prepare students from underrepresented groups, such as:
-- The Office of Diversity and Inclusion (multiple programs and services within)
-- Multicultural Center
-- Student Organizations
-- Disability Resources
-- Graduate School Diversity Office (located on TC Campus)
-- McNair Scholar Resources (assistance to low-income/first gen college students and students from underrepresented groups to prepare for and enter graduate and Ph.D programs). https://grad.umn.edu/diversity/mcnair-scholars-resources