University of New Hampshire
PAE-8: Support Programs for Under-Represented Groups

Connect Pre-Orientation Program for Students of Color: Established in 1993, the program brings together new first-year and transfer students on campus a week before fall orientation. During that week, students meet with faculty and staff and with the help of student Connect mentors become acquainted with the campus and other students of color. In 2008, 60 students participated in the program. The Re-connect Program continues those activities throughout the academic year, providing students with academic and personal support. Upper class Connect students are encouraged to participate in the Diversity Network Program, where they receive mentoring to support them as they identify post-graduation opportunities whether employment, graduate school or professional education. The Connors Writing Center provides free writing assistance to students and members of the UNH community in a no-pressure environment. Our highly skilled peer consultants have backgrounds in many different academic disciplines and are trained to work with students on all forms of writing during any stage of the writing process. The Writing Center also offers assistance with speeches and oral presentations. The Center for Academic Resources (C-FAR) offers a wide range of academic support services. Services are available to all undergraduate students enrolled in at least one course at UNH. The Center also assists faculty and staff in improving the academic skills of undergraduate students. CFAR offers students: peer support for academic and personal concerns, ongoing and individualized learning skills instruction in time management, note-taking, and test-taking, weekly peer-led study groups for select highly-enrolled courses, and much more. Office of Multicultural Student Affairs: OMSA’s mission is to create opportunities for people to participate in an inclusive community and to explore and understand diversity, injustice and equity. OMSA is grounded in understanding diversity, that is includes people of all abilities, ages and ethnicities, genders, nationalities, races, religions/spiritual traditions, socioeconomic classes and sexual orientations. One of OMSA’s primary goals and the heart of their work is to provide support and development for African American/Black, Latina/o, Native American and Asian/Pacific Islanders, as well as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning students. The ability to contain and develop an office like OMSA at UNH provides prospective students and new students with the knowledge that they will have continual support from an on-campus and student-oriented program. Encouraging programs like OMSA help to attract a more diverse campus population. Programs OMSA implemented and/or continued: Safe Zones Program: This program offers training for students, faculty, and staff. This is an educational program to raise awareness of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered, Queer, Questioning, Allied issues and contribute to a campus climate of inclusion. Northeast Passage: Northeast Passage (NEP) is a service/research program of UNH's Recreation Management & Policy Department and an Affiliate of Disabled Sports, USA. NEP works to create an environment where individuals with disabilities can experience life and recreation with as much freedom of choice and independence as their non-disabled peers. Nationally recognized as a leader in innovative recreation programs for person with disabilities, NEP provides our students with a broad array of excellent practical learning experiences. GLBT Pancake Breakfast: This breakfast program showcases the mission of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender community at UNH. The breakfast features the recognition of individuals who have worked to build a safe and welcoming UNH campus. Kidder Awards were given to those who served as role models in contributing to a campus climate of equity and inclusiveness. The breakfast is an important program that helps to recognize the efforts in fostering understanding and advancing opportunities for those whose sexual orientation, gender identity or expression differ from the majority in our culture. The program is an important aspect of introducing and inviting new and prospective students to the GLBT life on the UNH campus.

Focusing on employees as leaders, the University of New Hampshire is sponsoring Leading as Diversity Champions (LDC) staff development program to highlight the benefit of employees being diversity champions who value excellence in the workplace. The goal of the LDC program is to encourage participants to prepare themselves and their departments and units for the future opportunities and challenges. The series of diversity in the workplace workshops and keynote address will offer participants the awareness, knowledge and skills to become active in building an engaged and inclusive living, learning and working community at UNH. Faculty are also supported by the Black Heritage Partnership as described below.

The Black Heritage Partnership links faculty, staff and students with black historical and cultural resources in the Seacoast area in order to serve the mutual interests of all constituencies. In addition, the Fund seeks to increase access to the University for organizations representing the African-American community and make the University a more welcoming environment for faculty, staff and students of color. Staff are also eligible to participate in the Leading as Diversity Champions program.