University of New Hampshire
PA-6: Support for Underrepresented Groups

STUDENTS
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. 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 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.

Career Center’s Diversity Network Program: Students in the DNP attend speical seminars throughout the year to learn about career development and planning, internship opportunities and networking skills. In addition there are Networking Lunches where career mentors dedicated to the value of diversity in the workforce, connect with students to provide an opportunity to practice their career skills and gain advice from those in the "real world." For more information about the program and/or to register go to: Diversity Network Program. We encourage students of color, international students, glbt students, students with disabilities, low-income/first generation college students, and students in fields traditionally under-represented such as women in the sciences and engineering, to join us for this program.

FACULTY
Through the Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Faculty Development Program supports UNH faculty and academic administrators in their ongoing quest for excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and leadership. To accomplish this goal, a broad range of seminars, programs, services, and resources are offered in two programmatic areas:

Faculty Mentoring Program focuses on the needs of pre-tenured and junior faculty
Professional development for Academic Leaders Program targets senior faculty and department chairs for leadership skill enhancement
The Faculty Mentoring Program (FMP) is designed to assist junior faculty in their academic career development through the guidance and support of experienced University faculty members who serve as role models, advisors and mentors. Interactive group mentoring sessions provide opportunities for pre-tenured faculty to dialogue with senior faculty, administrators, and peers about issues, to exchange ideas, pose questions, and to address concerns about navigating the promotion and tenure process at UNH, as well as, discuss challenges faced by faculty from under-represented groups.

The Professional Development for Academic Leaders Program (PDALP) is a comprehensive program that will offer knowledge-based, skill-enhancing and leadership development seminars to department chairs and senior faculty who mentor, supervise, and evaluate other faculty. The seminars and programs are designed to promote ongoing communication among academic administrators, provide leadership development opportunities, and support campus leaders (deans, chairs, and directors) in their efforts to foster academic excellence and organizational change in their units.

The UNH Graduate School also has a strong diversity initiative: http://www.gradschool.unh.edu/diversity.html

The University of New Hampshire is a public institution with a long-standing commitment to equal opportunity for all. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, veteran’s status, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, or disability in admission or access to, or treatment or employment in, its programs, services, or activities.

ReportIt! is the place to report and learn about incidents of bias, discrimination and/or harassment. By submitting a report or learning more about this type of behavior, you help us to improve our campus and community climate. If you have observed or experienced an incident of bias, discrimination, or harassment, please report the incident by using either ReportIt! Online or contacting the Affirmative Action and Equity Office at 603-862-2930 voice/tty.

The University System of New Hampshire has a longstanding commitment to providing a safe workplace and a comfortable learning environment for students and employees. To affirm that commitment, and because education is the most effective way to provide a harassment-free working and learning environment, the University of New Hampshire is providing Faculty and Staff an interactive training program from Workplace Answers that informs the participant about relevant laws, followed by sample situations. Employees will be registered to participate in this web-based training upon their hire and activation of their University e-mail account.

See also http://www.unh.edu/connect/connect-stem