Utah State University
PA-6: Support for Underrepresented Groups

"USU sees an environment in which every individual has an opportunity to learn, work, and contribute, and where full inclusion and respect for all people encourages creativity and productivity. The result will be students, faculty, and staff working together, serving and strengthening our local, national, and global communities." http://catalog.usu.edu/content.php?catoid=12&navoid=3143

The Access and Diversity Center provides support and advocacy for underrepresented student populations including Multicultural, LGBTQA and Nontraditional students. We provide mentoring, peer support, academic support and additional programs to enhance the educational experience while ensuring increased rates to graduation for underrepresented students. The Counseling and Psychological Services center provides counseling and peer support for all students including underrepresented students. AAEO [http://www.usu.edu/hr/files/uploads/Policies/303.pdf],outlines USU’s commitment to affirmative action and equal opportunity laws, requirements and concepts. This policy prohibits all forms of discrimination and harassment based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age disability, or veteran's status. In addition, discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation for employees in all aspects of employment and for students in academic programs and activities is prohibits. The institution has established a Bias Response Team that is comprised of representatives from the AAEO office, CAPS (Counseling and Psychological Affairs), campus police, the Disability Resource Center, Student Conduct Officers and the VP of Student Affairs. This team serves in a supportive role for staff, faculty and students to who have experienced or witnessed an incident of discrimination.

o The purpose of the Women and Gender Research Institute is to assist USU in attracting, recruiting, and retaining female faculty. Committee members assist in recruiting women for faculty teaching and research positions by meeting with candidates during on-campus interviews, and introducing them to campus administrators and support programs. o The AAEO office contacts the chair of a search committee whenever a new job has been posted to request a meeting. During the meeting, they discuss the importance of recruiting a diverse pool of candidates. This is standard procedure. In addition, the committee is strongly encouraged to advertise in a variety of diversity publications, professional organizations, and through special mailing lists. Example text from this email: This position falls into a job group which is underutilized. Before the position is advertised, someone from our office would like to speak with you (either via telephone or in person) to discuss good faith efforts in advertising. Affirmative action laws require us to make good faith efforts to attract qualified women and/or minorities into our applicant pools. Some of these resources are available from our office. o The Office of Admissions funds one full-time recruitment position with the specific mission of recruiting students from underrepresented groups. In addition, the Educational Opportunity Scholarship is awarded to incoming freshman students who are from historically underrepresented groups. This scholarship is awarded through the Office of Admissions.

Utah State sponsors the Aggie Advantage Peer Program. A program designed to match peers with first-gen multicultural students to provide mentoring, support and guidance. The Access and Diversity Center provides support and advocacy for underrepresented student populations including Multicultural, LGBTQA and Nontraditional students. It provides mentoring, peer support, academic support and additional programs to enhance the educational experience while ensuring increased rates to graduation for underrepresented students. The Counseling and Psychological Services center provides counseling and peer support for all students including underrepresented students.