University of Mount Union
PA-4: Diversity and Equity Coordination

The Office of Diversity and Inclusion is part of Student Affairs. The Director is also the Assistant Dean of Students.

At the University of Mount Union, diversity is firmly rooted in the University’s mission to prepare students for fulfilling lives, meaningful work, and responsible citizenship.

DIVERSITY STATEMENT
At the University of Mount Union, we continuously strive to welcome, accept, and respect all people. We believe that through the union of disparate perspectives, we strengthen our community, facilitate global enlightenment, and enable collective self-discovery. As such, we embrace diversity and inclusiveness to facilitate the development of ideas, the advancement of global perspectives, and to create a greater understanding and acceptance of all people. We actively promote a diverse and inclusive environment that obliges mutual respect and positive engagement to effectively enrich learning and living for our students, faculty, staff, administration, and community.

As members of the University of Mount Union community, we pledge to:

Acknowledge, respect, honor, and celebrate diversity.
Work together to create an environment that is both diverse and inclusive.
Take these inclusive attitudes with us as we continue our life journeys.

CONCERNS ABOUT BIAS BEHAVIOR
Incidents of bias, harassment, and discrimination undermine our efforts to create an inclusive campus that welcomes everyone. We are committed to maintaining an environment that values equity, inclusion, and mutual respect. The information received via this report is reviewed to determine appropriate follow-up in accordance with university policies and regulations. Due to confidentiality and privacy regulations, our ability to follow up with you regarding a specific response to this matter is limited. We understand incidents like this can have an impact and encourage members of the Mount Union community to explore some of the following campus resources for additional support:
Office of Counseling Services, counselingservices@mountunion.edu or (330) 823-2886
Office of Diversity and Inclusion, diversity@mountunion.edu or (330) 823-2138

The Anti-Racism Task Force was formed in 2020
The anti-racism task force is charged with

Recruitment of task force participants to include representation from across the entire campus community, including faculty, staff, and students.
Inventory our current efforts dedicated to anti-racism, recommending new initiatives, setting goals for improvement, and evaluating our impact. Recognize the work underway through entities currently on campus, such as the Diversity Initiatives Steering Committee and the Student Senate
Initiate activities that raise awareness of anti-racism issues on campus, such as Real Raider Talk or the Race Card Activity.

TIME FRAME FOR WORK AND DELIVERABLE
The Anti-Racism Task Force will provide a report on its inventory efforts and make recommendations for next steps for the current year and the upcoming academic years. An interim report is requested during the fall 2020 semester and a summary report during the spring 2021 semester.

MEMBERSHIP
The co-chairs will work with the relevant, key offices on campus, including the Faculty Senate, Support Staff Advisory Council, and Student Senate, to identify and invite the members of this task force.

CO-CHAIRS

Ron Holden, Assistant Dean of Students and Director of Diversity and Inclusion

Ron Holden serves as the assistant dean of students and director of diversity and inclusion at Mount Union. He has been in this role since 2015 and has been involved with institutional diversity initiatives since 2010. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from Baker University and a Master of Arts degree in higher education administration from the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Dr. Niki Johnson, Professor of Philosophy and Religious Studies

Dr. Niki Johnson is a professor of philosophy and religious studies and the chair of the Department of Interdisciplinary and Liberal Studies at Mount Union. She has been with the institution for 13 years and teaches a variety of courses in the peace-building and social justice program. She earned a Doctor of Theology degree from Boston University, a Master of Arts degree in applied theology from Wheeling Jesuit University, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and religion from Westminster College.

MEMBERS
Armon Cook, Student
Jordyn Granito, Student
Alejandra Twiss, Student
Dominic Zappa, Student
Dawn Adams, Director of International Student Services
Caitlin Clark, Associate Athletic Director for Compliance, Administration, and Inclusion
Michael Gregg, Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach
Mike Parnell, Interim Athletic Director
Caitie Shimp, Assistant Director of the Mount Union Fund
Eric Young, Director of Admission
Danielle Cordaro, Associate Professor of English and Director of the Center for Faculty Development
Anne Christo-Baker, Professor of Business Administration and Chair of the Department of Business Administration
Aaron Howell, Assistant Professor of Sociology
Carla Sarratt, Director of Libraries
Tim Campbell, University Counselor

WORKING GROUPS AND CONTACTS
Campus Climate Assessment: Aaron Howell
Curriculum: Danielle Cordaro
Athletics: Mike Parnell
Marketing and Messaging: Carla Sarratt
Policies and Procedures: Caitie Shimp

Message from President Botzman on Racial Injustice:

Members of the Campus Community,

As we continue to battle the COVID-19 global pandemic, another virus – racism – continues to plague our nation. Like many of you, I was angered and dismayed last week by the senseless shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin. This tragedy is horrific in its own right, yet it also underscores the immense urgency of addressing systemic racism in our country as we face yet another appalling incident of injustice involving a member of the Black community.

Undoubtedly, this most recent tragedy and the many that preceded it are weighing heavy on the hearts of many of our students, faculty, staff, alumni, parents, and friends. As a member of a campus community that strives to be welcoming, accepting, and respectful of all people, we have a duty to support our peers, colleagues, and friends who are impacted by injustice during these troubling times. But to truly move our society forward, we bear a greater responsibility – one that requires an active commitment to anti-racism.

As an educational institution committed to the development of responsible citizens, it is our obligation to help our community navigate these challenging times and develop an understanding regarding what it means to be anti-racist. Listening and dialogue will be paramount in this process. Thus, we invite the entire campus community to engage in a new discussion series – Raider Real Talk – dedicated to matters related to diversity and identity. These sessions, sponsored by the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, will be held every other week via Zoom and will tackle topics such as civil unrest and recent events; racial, ethnic, and personal identity; and the future of diversity and inclusion on campus. Keep an eye on your email for details regarding these events and other opportunities for diversity-related dialogue.

I realize that there is more that we could, and should, be doing to combat injustice in our world. To that end, I have asked Ron Holden and Dr. Niki Johnson to chair an anti-racism task force that will be charged with inventorying our current efforts, recommending new initiatives, setting goals for improvement, and evaluating our impact. The task force will include representation from across the entire campus community, including faculty, staff, and students. As I am re-familiarizing myself with campus, this group will inform the members of President’s Council and me regarding potential next steps in our efforts to combat racism.

As the fall semester gets underway, I encourage each of you to engage in thoughtful dialogue with your peers and colleagues. Let us work together to make others welcome and fully respected in our learning community, with each person on campus receiving respect and an invitation into conversation that moves us forward.

Regards,

Tom Botzman, Ph.D., President

Real Raider Talk Series
The Race Card Activity
Not Another Statistic Diversity Conference (NASDC)
MLK Day of Service
May Days (Lead by DISC)
DISC Mini grant program
Campus Speakers & Webinars/Virtual Events
Ally Training
Rhonda Talford Knight Compliance Days Training and Diversity Consulting
New Hire Diversity Onboarding
NEW 2021 - UMU Inclusive Teaching Summer Institute. The purpose of the institute is to connect faculty around diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in teaching and learning at UMU. Participants will learn how to improve course content and activities, but will also develop skills for engaging in difficult conversations with students, faculty colleagues, and others related to DEI and antiracism.

The Institute will be 100% online, and will occur from the week of May 10 through June 18. Active participation in the institute is rewarded by a $1,000 stipend.

Please see the attached document for an in-depth description and application. Please send questions about the program to the Center for Faculty Development.

Data provided by Ron Holden, Assistant Dean of Students, Director of Diversity and Inclusion