Western Kentucky University
PA-7: Support for Underrepresented Groups

Western Kentucky University (WKU) is committed to equal opportunity in its educational programs and employment. As an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action/University ADA Services employer, WKU does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, disability, age, religion, veteran status, or marital status in admission to career and technical education programs and/or activities, or employment practices in accordance with Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Revised 1992, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990. On request, WKU will provide reasonable accommodations, including auxiliary aids and services, necessary to afford an individual with a disability an equal opportunity to participate in all services, programs, activities, and employment.
https://www.wku.edu/eeo/nondisc.php
https://www.wku.edu/eeo/#:~:text=Western%20Kentucky%20University%20does%20not,related%20medical%20conditions%2C%20or%20physical

Additionally, WKU has a statement of Student Rights and Responsibilities, which includes the following:
"The right to participate in all areas and activities of the university, free from any form of discrimination, including harassment, on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, or veteran status in accordance with applicable federal and state laws."
Full statement can be found here:
https://www.wku.edu/studentconduct/student-rights-responsibilities.php

The University has published policies and procedures for investigating and/or addressing discrimination or harassment in its educational programs and employment.
This protocol is different depending on whether the person is a student or employee. The protocol states that:
A person experiencing discrimination or harassment but who does not desire to make a formal report may consider the following alternatives:
1. Contacting the WKU University Ombuds Officer for information and guidance;
and/or,
1. Clearly informing the alleged offender / harasser that the behavior is offensive,
unwelcome and will not be tolerated.
If the person wishes to file a formal report, the policy states the following:
B. Formal Report / Procedure: Emphasis shall be on getting at the facts, assuring those facts are reported accurately to the proper authority, and providing a decision based on
verifiable information.
1. Stage I / Initial Report
a) A complaint of discrimination or harassment should be submitted within thirty (30)
calendar days of the most recently alleged discriminatory, harassing or retaliatory
action to the Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action/University ADA
Services (EEO) Director.
b) Any individual who believes he/she may have experienced or observed conduct which
is in violation of this policy should report this information immediately to the EEO
Director.
c) Any dean, director, faculty member, department head, manager, supervisor, or
other individual with supervisory or administrative responsibility who learns of,
or receives, information that conduct in violation of this policy has occurred (or is
occurring) must immediately report that information to the EEO Director.
d) The EEO Director is Mr. Joshua Hayes.
e) Upon receipt of information, the EEO Director will either initiate stage 2, or if the
report / complaint is an allegation of student to student violation of the policy, the
EEO Director will refer the report / complaint to the Vice President for Student Affairs,
who will initiate stage 2.
f) The EEO Director shall also notify the Title IX Coordinator of any reports or
complaints received.
2. Stage 2 / Investigation
a) Investigator: Responsibility for investigation of discrimination or harassment
complaints:
1) Student to student violations: A report or complaint brought forward by a student
where the accused is a student shall be investigated by the Vice President for
Student Affairs or his/her designee.
2) Non-student to student violations: Reports or complaints brought forward by a
student where the accused is an employee or non-university person (ex: visitor)
shall be investigated by the EEO.
3) All other violations: Reports or complaints brought forward by a University
employee or non-University person (ex: visitor), regardless of the status of the
person accused, shall be investigated by the EEO.

The full policy can be found here:
https://www.wku.edu/policies/docs/251.pdf

The Office of Student Conduct is the “Judicial Umbrella” at Western Kentucky University. Within the Division of Student Affairs, direct supervisory jurisdiction of student behavior matters involving violations of The Student Handbook is assumed by the Director of Student Conduct who serves as the senior conduct officer of the University.

A University Student Ombuds Officer and Employee Ombuds Officer exist as "an information source and point of communication for students who believe they may have a personal grievance regarding an alleged violation, misinterpretation or improper application of University policies and procedures, or alleged improper treatment."

Western Kentucky University places a premium on teaching and student learning and growth; therefore, it is important for the University to seek achievement of diversity among its faculty, staff and student populations. As stated in the University’s 2018-2028 Strategic Plan, Climbing to Greater Heights, three (3) of the five (5) Strategic Goals relate to the importance of diversity in the development of culturally responsible citizens, growing a high quality and diverse student body, and enhancing the climate for diversity and collegiality.

The International Enrollment Management and International Student Office provide specialized support services including admissions processing, immigration advising and guidance, programs and events, cultural adjustment, resources and so much more for more than 1300 international students and scholars from more than 70 countries.

The Cynthia and George Nichols III Intercultural Student Engagement Center (ISEC) promotes a culturally inclusive campus environment, cultural awareness and competence, inter-group dialogue, engagement and intercultural interaction, and supports lifelong learning about self and others. The office, with it’s five full-time staff, serves as a hands-on recruitment and retention resource for the many cultural, religious/spiritual, and gender identity groups reflected within the WKU community. The center provides student support services to foster academic success and sponsors culturally-based celebratory events. ISEC staff carry out programmatic initiatives designed to increase the cultural competency of students, faculty, and staff. Additionally, the center staff manages respectful spaces for students to learn about themselves and others through meaningful experiences, dialogues, and opportunities for growth. Two programs within ISEC, The Intercultural Student Engagement (ISEC) Academy and the Pride Center (LGBTQ+), offer Living Learning Communities for first and second year students.

The Intercultural Student Engagement Center (ISEC) Academy Living Learning Community (LLC) is for any student who identifies as a student of color (Black, Hispanic/Latino, Asian, Native American, and Multiracial) and/or is a first-generation college student, Pell eligible, and has some need with their transition, persistence, and graduation from WKU. In their first semester, ISEC Academy LLC participants are enrolled in two courses, UC 175: University Experience and ENGL 100: Introduction to College Writing. Common courses for subsequent semesters vary depending on scheduling and course availability. The linked, common courses are all grounded in at least one High Impact Practice – most commonly, service learning. In addition to common courses and living spaces, students in the LCC receive intrusive peer mentoring, coaching, and academic advising from a full-time staff member. Full-time staff and mentors in the center are available for personal as well as academic engagement.

The Stonewall Suites (LGBT+) Living Learning Community, another group under the umbrella of The Cynthia and George Nichols III Intercultural Student Engagement Center (ISEC), is for students who strive to promote social integration and change for all gender identities, gender expressions, and sexual orientations. This Stonewall LLC is open to any student interested in participating, but interested participants must go through an interview process before being selected into the community. Since the Stonewall Suites are part of ISEC, students in the LLC also take linked, common courses grounded in at least one High Impact Practice, receive intrusive peer mentoring, coaching, and academic advising from a full-time staff member. In addition to the five, full-time staff in ISEC, the Pride Center and Stonewall Suites have a part-time staff member who serves as an advisor and access to specialized services offered by the WKU Counseling Center.

Western Kentucky University’s Facilities Management Department employs the majority of campus staff persons. The department partners with the WKU International Center and the Bowling Green Refugee Center to recruit and place eligible individuals in staff positions at WKU. The success of these efforts have led to a significant increase in diversity in University staff and the establishment of ESL programming in Facilities Management.

WKU developed a Diversity Recruitment Officer (DRO) position in the Office of Admissions who is tasked with creating, coordinating, and implementing recruitment efforts geared specifically to communities of color within the institution's service region and the Commonwealth. As outlined in WKU’s DEI Plan, the DRO is charged with “leveraging relationships with service region high schools and community members by identifying key personnel to arrange occasions to speak with URM students, low-income students, and their families or support persons.” The minority recruitment office, in collaboration with the Intercultural Student Engagement Center (ISEC), also piloted a Multicultural Preview Day that included a free application fee waiver. Communication about the Multicultural Preview Day organized by ISEC begins in late summer and information is sent to all students who identified as Black/African American, Hispanic/Latinx, American Indian/Alaskan Native, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, or self-identified as two or more races within a 400 mile radius of WKU. Invitations for this event are sent in the form of postcards via mail, email invitations, and social media and the event wis listed on WKU’s calendar events, which was sent to local and regional counselors.

Lastly, WKU recently developed the F1RST Gen Initiative. To create a welcoming and belonging atmosphere on campus for first-generation college students we have developed the First-Generation Faculty and Staff Initiative. The Initiative is designed to develop a group of faculty and staff from across campus who identify as first-generation college graduates or who are supporters of first-generation college students. This initiative is designed to increase student success by strengthening the experiences of this unique and valuable population of Hilltoppers.

The ONE Inclusive Teaching Academy (ITA) and the WKU Staff Cultural Competence Certificate (WKUC3): Both are certification/microcredential programs

The idea for the ONE WKU ITA came out of a pilot initiative called the ONE WKU Academy. The ONE WKU Academy started in fall 2020 with the goal of offering a series workshops/modules on microagression & biases, intercultural/interracial communication, and allyship to a group of faculty and staff with the end goal of microcredentialing. Diverting slightly from the original pilot, the ONE WKU ITA focuses on pedagogical practice to ensure inclusivity in the classroom. The Institute, directed by Marko Dumančić in the Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning and led by WKU’s DEI Communities of Practice Fellows, graduated its first cohort in spring 2022. Participants who successfully complete the academy are awarded TopperCred micro-credentials. Applications for each cohort will be available in the fall semester every year.

The WKU Staff Cultural Competence Certificate (WKUC3), an initiative of the “One WKU” campaign, is a professional development opportunity for all staff. The certificate course for staff was created to fulfill four interrelated functions: To introduce and/or deepen participants' knowledge of diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education. To offer a collegial space for participants to reflect on their current thoughts and practices. To grow the community of practitioners focused on inclusivity. The course is designed to develop advocates rather than experts. The course’s facilitator(s) and its architect do not assume the role of authority on DEI issues and do not seek to train participants to become experts. Rather, the goal is to cultivate a mindset of continuous growth through praxis and reflection as a way to foster DEI advocacy at WKU. The program, organized in a hybrid format, will allow participants to study online content, complete assignments, and meet once a month to reflect and discuss concepts as well as how to implement key principles of cultural competence and diversity management to work effectively with students and colleagues. Staff who complete the program will be awarded the WKUC3 micro-credential badge.

The Office of Scholar Development (OSD) challenges URM students to dream big and assists them in making those dreams attainable. Additionally, OSD offers support to faculty and staff members in their endeavors to assist individual students and promote research, creative activities, and achievement university-wide. The offices collaborates with faculty and staff to apply for grants and create opportunities for URM students, develop workshops related, and celebrate the successes of WKU students and their faculty advisors. In support of the institutional mission to increase the diversity of faculty, the OSD assists with application for Ford Foundation Fellowship programs, described below:

"Through its Fellowship Programs, the Ford Foundation seeks to increase the racial and ethnic diversity of the faculty of the nation’s colleges and universities, thus maximizing the educational benefits of diversity and increasing the number of professors who can and will use diversity as a resource for enriching the education of all students."

WKU is committed to assisting individuals from minority groups in obtaining their higher education goals. The Distinguished Minority Fellows program is designed to help minority students attain graduate degrees by providing tuition as well as employment opportunities and careers in higher education.

At Western Kentucky University, the Minority Teacher Recruitment Center (MTRC) is committed to increasing the number of minority teachers in Kentucky classrooms through recruitment and retention efforts. The MTRC is dedicated to assisting students who are pursuing teacher education as a major, and collaborates with the Kentucky Department of Education and area school districts in bringing resources together.