Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 65.90
Liaison Steve Mital
Submission Date March 6, 2020

STARS v2.2

University of Oregon
PA-7: Support for Underrepresented Groups

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.00 / 3.00 Sarah Stoeckl
Assistant Director
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:

Statement of Non-discrimination
The University of Oregon is committed to ensuring that all students have access to a quality learning experience and the opportunity to pursue their academic goals in a safe, supportive learning environment. Any form of discrimination or harassment, including sexual harassment or sexual violence, that interferes with a student’s ability to be an engaged learner is contrary to the community values of the institution.

Discriminatory harassment, including sexual harassment, regardless of the relative power of the harasser, is disruptive of workplace and campus life, and denies its subject equal opportunity as a student, employee or campus community member. For questions or concerns about prohibited discrimination or harassment contact the Office of Investigations and Civil Rights Compliance.

Sexual harassment is a form of discrimination on the basis of sex. The University of Oregon does not tolerate discrimination on the basis of sex—this includes sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating and domestic violence, gender-based stalking and bullying, and other forms of harassment.

Questions regarding sex or gender based discrimination and harassment Title IX may be referred to the University of Oregon’s Title IX Coordinator, who is located in the Office of Investigations and Civil Rights Compliance, or to the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights.

Darci Heroy
Associate Vice President, Chief Civil Rights Compliance Officer, and Title IX Coordinator
5221 University of Oregon
677 E. 12th Ave., Suite 452
Eugene , OR 97403
P: 541-346-3123
titleixcoordinator@uoregon.edu

US Department of Education
Western Region Office for Civil Rights
P: 206-607-1600
ocr.seattle@ed.gov

https://investigations.uoregon.edu/nondiscrimination


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:

UO has two relevant protocols/teams.
1-The Bias Education and Response Team (BERT), based in the Office of the Dean of Students, works to provide those who have witnessed or themselves become a target of an act of bias an opportunity to be heard and supported. The fundamental role of the Bias Education and Response Team (BERT) is to respond to situations that affect the larger University of Oregon community through education about current and historical issues surrounding bias. Utilizing best practices in our field, the BERT provides services to witness(es), bystander(s), targeted individual(s), offender(s), or a member(s) of the community in order to create change in a timely, effective, and comprehensive way. It is through our education services and initiatives that we hope to eliminate acts of bias within our community. https://dos.uoregon.edu/bias

2-The Office of Investigations and Civil Rights Compliance (OICRC), formerly the Office of Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity and the Office of the Title IX Coordinator, offers the UO community a place to discuss and report issues, concerns, and conflicts regarding discrimination and harassment, including sex or gender-based harassment, stalking, bullying, or violence in accordance with university policy and federal and state laws. They support faculty, other staff, and students, and include an office commitment to equal access and a statement from President Michael Schill committing to inclusion on their homepage. https://investigations.uoregon.edu/


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:

Students
UO Admissions has several programs and initiatives designed to recruit and support college enrollment and success for students from underrepresented groups.

UO Connections
The University of Oregon Connections program is a college advocacy program designed for first-generation, ethnically diverse, or economically disadvantaged high school students. The program consists of half-day visits to the UO campus to provide students with valuable college preparatory information. Each program hosts up to 130 students. visit.uoregon.edu/connections

Opportunities Program
The Opportunities Program empowers families of underrepresented communities to pursue higher education. It brings students and parents together to consider college as a viable option and as a family investment. Our goal is to help students and parents understand the process of transitioning to college and make this transition as smooth as possible. Throughout the school year, we visit communities throughout Oregon, and invite families to workshop-style evening meetings at local schools and community centers. The program is geared towards sixth through ninth grades, but children of all ages are welcome to attend with their parents. All Latinx programs are in Spanish and English. The workshops are for both students and their families and cover topics not only about student preparation for college, but tips for how families can be supportive over the coming years. In addition, current UO students share their insights on all aspects of college life—including making ends meet financially and balancing work with studies. admissions.uoregon.edu/opportunities

Duck Express Application Workshops
Duck Express serves Oregon high schools with high populations of low-income students. UO admissions counselors travel throughout the state hosting application workshops at the school site. All Duck Express application workshops occur every fall term during the first two weeks of November.

Indigenous Pre-College Academy
The IPCA summer academy aims to create a cohort of college-bound Indigenous students. Over the course of this eight-day program, native students will be acquainted with the UO's campus, facilities, students, and staff. The academy's classes and workshops cover college prep, the admissions process, financial aid, navigating predominantly white institutions as a native scholar, professional development, health and wellness, cultural knowledge, and various academic areas. The ultimate goal for this academy is to help prepare our native students for college, offer them a chance to meet other youth from around the state and beyond, and build their academic confidence. Native students belong in spaces of higher education, and this program will offer them a chance to start claiming space NOW. admissions.uoregon.edu/ipca

Embracing the Future
Embracing the Future is a recruitment and yield event for UO admitted (freshmen/transfer) students who have identified as one or more of the underrepresented racial or ethnic groups. The goal of this invitation-only event is for admitted students whom identify as students of color and come from a broad range of ethnic and cultural backgrounds to learn more about the community at the UO, and connect with faculty, staff and students who may share the same culture as them. The event is designed to be a celebration of students’ accomplishments and to give the students an opportunity to decide if the UO is the right school for them. admissions.uoregon.edu/embracing-the-future

Academic/Non-Academic Staff
The UO's Affirmative Action Program includes both specific job goals and active outreach strategies that apply to both academic and non-academic staff, described in Chapter 9 here: https://hr.uoregon.edu/affirmative-action-plan-document.pdf

The Active Recruitment Team of Tenure-Track Faculty or ART works to increase the representation of women and underrepresented communities among UO's TT academic staff: https://provost.uoregon.edu/active-recruitment-tenure-track-faculty-searches . As well, the UO's Dual Career Support Program helps dual career couples find job satisfaction in our community, which supports the recruitment of underrepresented groups to faculty and staff positions: https://provost.uoregon.edu/dual-career-support .

Additionally, the President's Diversity Advisory Community Council advises on, among other things, efforts to recruit and retain students, academic staff, and non-academic staff from underrepresented groups: https://inclusion.uoregon.edu/presidents-diversity-advisory-community-council-pdacc

The Division of Equity an Inclusion (DEI) is also helming a Search Advocate Pilot Program, which is designed to provide a disinterested advocate on hiring committees for both academic and non-academic staff to push committee thinking and minimize the impacts of cognitive and structural bias: https://inclusion.uoregon.edu/search-advocate-pilot-program
Initiative for Faculty Diversity (academic staff only): https://inclusion.uoregon.edu/initiative-faculty-diversity-ifd


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:

These efforts are largely helmed by the Division of Equity and Inclusion (DEI), with other units also providing support. DEI offers a host of support resources for students, academic staff, and non-academic staff particularly through the office of Campus and Community Engagement (CACE). CACE partners to host community-based gatherings for communities of color and their allies and provide a home for multiple identity-based working groups for faculty, staff, and students to provide community and support, and advance the work and success of those groups. These working groups including a group for Asian, Desi, and Pacific Islander faculty, staff, and students; LatinX faculty, staff, and students; and Black faculty, staff, and students.

Students have additional opportunities for mentoring, counseling, peer support, and other programs. These include: The Center for Multicultural Academic Excellence, which provides advising, mentorship, programming, and social support for traditionally underrepresented students, with a goal of increasing retention and student success; the student-focused MultiCultural Center; and affinity alliances for Black and Latinx Male Students. The Center of Diversity and Community provides support for graduate students specifically.

The Center on Diversity and Community also provides targeted development and support for faculty from underrepresented groups, including workshops, writing circles, and on-campus advocacy.

Information about these and other offerings can be found at: https://inclusion.uoregon.edu/campus-and-community-engagement-cace


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?:
Yes

A brief description of the institution’s programs to support and prepare students from underrepresented groups for careers as faculty members:

The UO Office of Equity and Inclusion offers a wide array of programs to foster academic excellence and academic careers in all fields and majors for underrepresented and minority students. The three programs below highlight efforts being made by our institution to support future faculty diversity. The Center for Multicultural Academic Excellence specifically states: "Our mission is to promote student retention and persistence for historically underrepresented and underserved populations. We develop and implement programs and services that support retention, academic excellence, and success at the UO and beyond. We reaffirm our commitment to all students, including undocumented and tuition equity students." https://inclusion.uoregon.edu/center-multicultural-academic-excellence-cmae

The Creating Connections Program provides social support for graduate students from traditionally underrepresented groups: https://inclusion.uoregon.edu/graduate-support

The McNair Scholars Program prepares qualified juniors and seniors for graduate study leading to PhD degrees. McNair Scholars receive comprehensive support to earn undergraduate degrees, complete research projects in their fields of study, and apply to graduate schools. The program’s limited size provides a close-knit community while helping students gain a broad understanding of research and university culture. McNair participants are either first-generation college students with financial need, or members of a group that is traditionally underrepresented and have demonstrated strong academic potential. The goal of the McNair Scholars Program is to increase graduate degree awards for students from underrepresented segments of society. The link is below.

https://mcnair.uoregon.edu/

Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) exists to create a supportive scientific community at the University of Oregon. Their goal is to encourage students of all backgrounds to pursue a career in any STEM field. SACNAS is dedicated to fostering the success of scientists—from college students to professionals—to attain advanced degrees, careers, and positions of leadership in science. Link is below.

https://uosacnas.uoregon.edu/


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:
---

Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
---

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.