Weber State University
PA-5: Diversity and Equity Coordination

In January 2024, the Utah State Legislation passed H.B. 261 which required Utah’s institutions of higher education to end DIP programs providing that the offices promoted more separation than inclusion. In anticipation of the law taking effect in July of 2024, Weber State University restructured, implementing a Student Success Center to fill the void for students. More information can be found at: https://weber.edu/ssc.

Prior to H.B. 261, WSU had a Chief Diversity officer position and several centers/offices which served WSU’s EDI community. WSU also had an interim Vice President for Diversity also known as the Chief Diversity Officer. The Diversity and Inclusive Programs (DIP) aimed to assist students in exploring various diversity issues, such as culture, ability, ethnicity, gender, race, religion, class, political affiliation, national origin, and sexual orientation. The DIP  was dedicated to ensuring access, fostering community, and educating the campus about diversity matters. It’s mission was to create a learning environment that appreciated inclusion, cultural competence, and intercultural sensitivity for all students, staff, and faculty. The DIP served as the central hub for the WSUSA Diversity & Unity Team, Diversity & Inclusive Programs, and the LGBT Resource Center.

The Center for Belonging and Cultural Engagement (CBCE) oversaw six Area Councils, which  were student-run groups with representation in the WSU student senate. Each council advocated for the needs and issues of minority groups on campus. Student senators both attended and actively engaged in student senate meetings while also serving as leaders of their respective Area Councils. The CBCE served as the central hub for the Black Cultural Center, Hispanic & Latino Cultural Center, Native American Cultural Center, Pasifika Cultural Center, and The Pan-Asian Cultural Center. In our growth-focused plan called Weber State Amplified, spanning five years (2021 – 2026), WSU pledged to become a recognized Emerging Hispanic-Serving Institution (eHSI) by increasing the percentage of students identifying as Hispanic or Latino descent to 15% by fall 2025. With guidance from the Chief Diversity Officer, and collaboration with various campus partners, the executive director of HSI Initiatives plays a crucial role in supporting WSU's efforts to achieve and sustain eHSI status. This involved actively participating in strategic planning and strengthening the institution's capabilities to facilitate steady and lasting growth. As of June 5, 2024, this plan is being reviewed and updated as per H.B. 261.  https://www.weber.edu/strategic-plan

General Education at Weber State University supported the development of cultural competencies through designated Diversity (DV) courses that aimed to prepare students to recognize a plurality of perspectives, including their own, to function successfully in a global society. The mission was achieved using the following: a student who successfully completed a General Education Diversity course would be able to describe his/her own perspective as one among many, identify values and biases that inform the perspectives of oneself and others, and recognize and articulate the rights, perspectives, and experiences of others. DV was a graduation requirement, thus, 100% of students participate in some cultural competence training and/or workshops. All faculty, staff, and administrators completed diversity training or updates through Coaching Certification, Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Training, Diversity workshops, speakers, and panelists. Weber State University required the following training for ALL executive employees, faculty, adjunct faculty, exempt staff, and non-exempt staff employees: Ethics, Integrity, and Fairness: Legal Issues in Higher Ed Discrimination, Harassment and Sexual Misconduct Mandatory AA/EO Title IX Training There were several areas on campus that would provide other training applicable: The Office of Workplace Learning provides training on Unconscious Bias (an Introduction to Unconscious Bias and Unconscious Bias in Hiring). WSU also  did a training on inclusion called Outward Inclusion. We  worked to help provide the Safe at Weber Training. The LGBTQ+ Center at Weber State offered a full curriculum of training for faculty and staff to improve their understanding of and ability to work with the LGBTQ+ community. Examples of annual Conferences include the Diversity Conference, Hispanic Heritage keynote, MLK keynote, Black History Month keynote, Women’s History Month keynote, Holocaust Remembrance Commemoration keynote, Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage keynote, and Native Symposium, which are open and available to all students, faculty, staff and community. Starting in Fall of 2020 the Diversity Office highly encouraged students, faculty, and staff to participate in the YWCA 21-Day Racial Equity & Social Justice Challenge, and continues to promote the program. Starting in January 2022 the Diversity Committee rolled out the How to be an anti-racist program, which was serving student affairs as the pilot.

In response to H.B 261, these programs have been altered or will be to comply with the requirements of the Utah State Legislature.