Overall Rating Silver
Overall Score 62.26
Liaison Sean MacInnes
Submission Date Feb. 14, 2022

STARS v2.2

University of North Carolina, Greensboro
PA-7: Support for Underrepresented Groups

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 3.00 Sean MacInnes
Sustainability Specialist
Office of Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution have a publicly posted non-discrimination statement? :
Yes

The non-discrimination statement, including the website URL where the policy is publicly accessible:

https://policy.uncg.edu/university-policies/discriminatory_conduct/

The University of North Carolina at Greensboro is committed to the principle that educational and employment decisions should be based on an individual's abilities and qualifications and should not be based on personal characteristics or beliefs that have no relevance to academic ability or to job performance. Accordingly, UNCG supports policies, curricula and co-curricular activities that encourage understanding of and appreciation for all members of its community. UNCG will not tolerate any harassment of or discrimination against persons. UNCG is committed to equal opportunity in education and employment for all persons and will not tolerate any discrimination against or harassment of persons on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, political affiliation, genetic information, veteran status, disabling condition, or age.

AND

https://policy.uncg.edu/university-policies/sex_gender_harrassment/sex-gender-harrassment.pdf

The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, wherever located (collectively, the “University”), is committed to providing a safe and non-discriminatory learning, living, and working environment for all members of the University community. The University does not discriminate on the basis of sex or gender in any of its education or employment programs and activities. This policy prohibits specific forms of discriminatory behavior that violate Title IX of the Education Amendments of
1972 and its implementing regulation (“Title IX”), the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (“Title VII”).


Does the institution have a discrimination response protocol or committee (sometimes called a bias response team)?:
Yes

A brief description of the institution’s discrimination response protocol or team:

The University has a discrimination policy, and there is a formal, constituted team to respond to violations through the UNCG Police Department, Dean of Students, Human Resources, and additional offices. The University does not publicly publish the policy to prevent retaliatory action from individuals and external agencies. The anti-discrimination response is in the Student Code of Conduct: No student shall threaten, coerce, harass or intimidate another person or identifiable group of persons, in a manner that is unlawful or in violation of a valid University policy, while on University premises or at University sponsored activities based upon the person’s race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, political affiliation, genetic information, veteran status, disabling condition, or age.
II. No student shall engage in unlawful harassment leading to a hostile environment. Unlawful
harassment includes conduct that creates a hostile environment by meeting the following criteria: It is:
a. Directed toward a particular person or persons;
b. Based upon the person’s race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, political affiliation, genetic information, veteran status, disabling condition,
or age;
c. Unwelcome;
d. Severe or pervasive;
e. Objectively offensive; and
f. So unreasonably interferes with the target person’s employment, academic pursuits, or participation in University-sponsored activities as to effectively deny equal access to the
University’s resources and opportunities.
g. In determining whether student conduct violates these provisions, all relevant facts and
circumstances shall be considered. Care must be exercised in order to preserve
freedoms of speech and expression, as articulated in current legal standards. Legal advice should be sought from the Office of the General Counsel, as appropriate.

The university provides responses dependent upon the individual’s classification (e.g. Faculty/Staff incidents are managed by the Provost Office and Human Resources; Student incidents are managed by the Office of Student Affairs and/or Dean of Students Office).

Actions taken in previous three years, as examples:
1. Mandatory educational sanctions for all members of a group of University student organizations who were found to be engaged in activities of bias and discrimination.
2. Campus-wide forums and discussions with Vice Chancellor, Chancellor, and other senior-level staff when discriminatory and biased writings were found on campus property.
3. Group meetings with members of student organizations to provide counseling, support, and advocacy when acts of discrimination, intolerance, and bias occurred in the community.


Does the institution have programs specifically designed to recruit students from underrepresented groups?:
Yes

Does the institution have programs specifically designed to recruit academic staff from underrepresented groups?:
Yes

Does the institution have programs designed specifically to recruit non-academic staff from underrepresented groups?:
Yes

A brief description of the institution’s programs to recruit students, academic staff, and/or non-academic staff from underrepresented groups:

UNC System Strategic Plan goals call for all System colleges and universities to: increase low-income enrollment, increase completions of low-income students, increase rural enrollment, increase completions by rural students, and close the achievement gap by increasing underrepresented minorities' undergraduate degree efficiency and increasing Pell recipients' undergraduate degree efficiency, etc.
More details can be found here: https://www.northcarolina.edu/impact/strategic-plan/

In 2020, for the second year in a row, UNC Greensboro met its annual targets on all five of its priority metrics, and this year the University achieved the feat on all nine Strategic Plan metrics: https://news.uncg.edu/uncg-system-strategic-plan-metrics/

UNCG's progress in meeting those goals is reported here: https://www.northcarolina.edu/institutions-and-affiliates/university-of-north-carolina-greensboro-five-year-goals-and-associated-benchmarks/

For students, admissions team members attend a wide variety of fairs, events, meetings, recruitment activities, and programs geared toward under-represented groups, including Native American students, LGBTQ students, and more.

Human Resources provides Search Committee policy and guidelines for Equal Employment Opportunities, which includes guidance on making sure diverse and under-represented groups are reached when advertising the job opportunity. Human Resources administers programs for recruitment of faculty and staff, including posting advertisements in professional journals focused on underrepresented groups in different academic and administrative fields. See Search Committee Resources at the bottom of the page: https://hrs.uncg.edu/affirmative_action/#inclusive-excellence


Does the institution have mentoring, counseling, peer support, academic support, or other programs designed specifically to support students from underrepresented groups on campus?:
Yes

Does the institution have mentoring, counseling, peer support or other programs designed specifically to support academic staff from underrepresented groups on campus?:
Yes

Does the institution have mentoring, counseling, peer support or other programs to support non-academic staff from underrepresented groups on campus?:
Yes

A brief description of the institution’s programs designed specifically to support students, academic staff, and/or non-academic staff from underrepresented groups:

UNCG sponsors several programs and organizations which support under-represented groups of students and/or provide avenues for students to work with under-represented groups in the Greensboro community. Students are represented by and participate with the following (those not self-explanatory are described):
-Asian Students Association
-Associated Campus Ministries Center
-Better Days Coalition - To raise awareness, take action and foster debate on issues of social justice both in the Greensboro area and the world, while building ties between the UNCG student body and the greater Greensboro community.
-Black Business Student Association
-The Black Graduate Student Association
-Black Nursing Students Association
-Caribbean Students Association
-Center for New North Carolinians - Aims to build bridges among immigrant populations and existing communities throughout the state of North Carolina by providing:
* Outreach and Educational Programming
* Research and Evaluation
* Information Services
* Technical Support
* Immigrant and Refugee Leadership Development
-Chinese Student Association
-International Programs Center - Helps students negotiate Study Abroad and Exchanges, as well as to help international students discover UNCG. Also serves Visiting Scholars and Faculty to enhance the academic experiences of students and faculty alike.
-International Student Association - Promotes international diversity on campus. Seeks to promote fellowship among the representative nations on the campus of UNCG.
-The Muslim Student Association
-NAACP College Chapter
-Native American Student Association
-Neo Black Society - Strives to make the University community aware and appreciative of African-American culture and achievements. With African-American pride as the dominant theme, the Society serves to develop awareness among people of all races.
-Office of Multicultural Affairs - Promotes cultural awareness and appreciation of cultural diversity and fosters intercultural and cross-cultural understanding. Provides programs and services that support the academic mission of the University by enhancing the educational, personal, cultural, and social development of students. Builds positive advocacy and collaborative relationships with students of color who represent the African American, Hispanic/ Latino, Asian and Asian American, Native American, LGBT and multiracial communities. The Office also strives to build relationships with the general student body. The Office continues to build partnerships with UNCG departments and Greensboro groups and organizations.
-PRIDE! - A gay, lesbian, transgendered, questioning and allied student association which is designed to be an
educational, political awareness and social organization. It mission is to educate members about sexual identification and its place within society. Weekly meetings, social functions and community outreach events are
held regarding the concerns of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered and questioning community.
-Race and Gender Institute - Fosters greater inclusion of minority perspectives in the curriculum. Encourages a
critical dialogue about race, gender, and sexual orientation in teaching, research and scholarship, and intellectual discourse at UNCG. Serves as a catalyst for healing old wounds connected to the southern past and a progressive force with respect to social justice, civility, and academic freedom.
-SAFEZONE - A campus group of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, and questioning individuals supported by student, faculty, and staff allies. Provides resources for students, faculty and staff who want to offer a safe, comfortable environment for anyone who seeks it. Encourages an atmosphere free of homophobia and heterosexism. Provides a setting of appreciation, affirmation, and information for and about the GLBT community.
-Spanish American/Latino Student Association (SALSA)
-Students of Action - Serves the UNCG Community through community and campus activities in conjunction with various organizations.

Employees are supported and mentored through the LEARN network (for LGBTQ employees), Black Faculty and Staff Association, and Alianza (LatinX support).


Does the institution have training and development programs, teaching fellowships and/or other programs that specifically aim to support and prepare students from underrepresented groups for careers as faculty members?:
No

A brief description of the institution’s programs to support and prepare students from underrepresented groups for careers as faculty members:
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Does the institution produce a publicly accessible inventory of gender-neutral bathrooms on campus?:
Yes

Does the institution offer housing options to accommodate the special needs of transgender and transitioning students?:
Yes

Website URL where information about the institution’s support for underrepresented groups is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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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.