Weber State University
PA-7: Support for Underrepresented Groups

Weber State University prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, pregnancy, genetics, age (over 40), disability, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, veteran, active military status and other classifications protected by law. The person responsible for the coordination of compliance efforts and receipt of inquiries concerning any of these types of discrimination is the university's Executive Director of Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity, who is also the university's Title IX Coordinator and one of the university's Disability Coordinators.

https://www.weber.edu/nondiscriminationandaccessibility

Many of the programs and supports that Weber State University had in place at the time the STARS review is addressing have been, or will be, reassessed due to the passing of H.B. 261 in the Utah State Legislature. This bill has required Utah's institutions of higher learning to reorganize the titles and ways in which we are able to support students with varying backgrounds, preferences, and needs.  

Support for individuals who have experienced or witnessed a bias incident, act of discrimination or hate crime is available in various forms, including:

1. An on-staff Survivor Advocate (housed in the Women's Center) - https://weber.edu/womenscenter This link will not work after July 1, 2024 so Weber State can be in compliance with H.B. 261.

1. Free counseling support services for students through the on-campus Counseling and Psychological Services Center and the faculty/staff psychological/counseling support available through the health benefits program - https://www.weber.edu/counselingcenter/ 

1. Support measures can be put in place via the Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Office on campus such as temporary reassignments for faculty/staff - https://www.weber.edu/equal-opportunity

1. The Strategic Threat Assessment (STAR) Team is charged with assessing and responding to actual or potential threats of violence of any kind at Weber State University, as more fully described in PPM 3-67, Violence Prevention. In cases of sexual violence, the STAR Team works with the Title IX coordinator, as appropriate, to make recommendations regarding the safety of individuals at Weber State University - https://www.weber.edu/SafeAtWeber/strategic-threat-assessment-response.html

In addition, the Safety, Response, and Reporting Policy assists in creating a safe and secure environment for students, faculty, staff, and campus visitors. This policy outlines the University’s response to reports of crime and defines reporting guidelines while complying with federal laws regarding safety on campus. https://weber.edu/ppm/Policies/5-36_Safety_Response_and_Reporting_Policy.html 

WSU's Multicultural Youth Conference includes 9th through 12th grade students from Northern Utah and beyond. Students participate in ethnic/cultural identity breakout sessions, expand their view of the world and community, learn about career and community opportunities through higher education, and how to access higher education. A keynote speaker each year kicks off the conference, sending students off with a renewed sense of their dreams and how Weber State University can help them achieve them - https://www.weber.edu/MYC This link will not work after July 1, 2024 so Weber State can be in compliance with H.B. 261. 

The Latinos in Action Leadership Conference is a free event for students sponsored by Latinos in Action. LIA is a nonprofit organization working to build future Latino leaders by having high school students tutor elementary school students. The LIA regional conference aims to engage and inspire students in college prep. Students will attend leadership and character development workshops and, most importantly, learn of the many resources and opportunities for student support that make a college degree a reality - https://www.weber.edu/lia This link will not work after July 1, 2024 so Weber State can be in compliance with H.B. 261.

TRiO is a set of federally-funded college opportunity programs that motivate and support students from disadvantaged backgrounds in their pursuit of a college degree. TRiO programs provide academic tutoring, personal counseling, mentoring, financial guidance, and other support necessary for educational access and retention. TRiO programs provide direct support services for students and relevant training for directors and staff - https://www.weber.edu/access/TRiO.html This link will not work after July 1, 2024 so Weber State can be in compliance with H.B. 261.

Weber State’s Search Advocate Program, housed in Human Resources, is designed to expand candidate pools, enhance equity, and mitigate bias in the hiring process. Through the program, hiring committees participate in unconscious bias training and are given practical strategies to incorporate inclusivity and equity throughout the hiring process. The program also provides guidance and resources to hiring managers while WSU’s Human Resources supports the process through the advertising and recruiting efforts of the positions - https://weber.edu/HumanResources/search-advocate.html

Finally, Weber State University has been selected as one of 18 institutions in the nation to participate in the third cohort of the Student Success Equity Intensive. The multi-year initiative by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities aims to help institutions close equity gaps for Black, Hispanic, Latino, Indigenous, and low-income students.

https://aascu.postsecondarytransformation.org/ 

The Women of Color Coalition is a group that includes faculty and staff and provides support, engagement, professional development, and networking opportunities. Additionally, Weber State has resources for Faculty/Staff Gay/Straight Alliance, a Men of Color Coalition, the first-generation faculty and staff group, and the Utah Women in Higher Education Network groups. https://www.weber.edu/equity-diversity-inclusion/student-faculty-staff.html This link will not work after July 1, 2024 so Weber State can be in compliance with H.B. 261.

Weber State does offer a traning curriculum for faculty and staff to bolster understanding around the LGBTQ+ community. These trainings can be requested and work to help mentor faculty and staff. 

https://weber.edu/lgbtq/lgbt-trainings.html This link will not work after July 1, 2024 so Weber State can be in compliance with H.B. 261.

Single stall bathrooms listings are available for students through the Student Access and Success Center. https://www.weber.edu/student-access-success/bathrooms.html 

Our institution is actively expanding existing programs and resources through the Student Access and Success Committees. These committees are tasked with enhancing college participation, retention, and graduation rates for low-income and underrepresented students, first-generation college attendees, and ethnically diverse - https://www.weber.edu/student-access-success/committees.html 

WSU also has an International Student Center. The International Student and Scholar Center advises and assists international students with their personal, cultural, and academic adjustment to WSU. An orientation program is provided for all new international students each semester. Advisement is available to assist students concerning immigration-related questions and concerns - http://www.weber.edu/sis/  This link will not work after July 1, 2024 so Weber State can be in compliance with H.B. 261.