Inclusive Excellence Newsletter - June 2022
Dear SCU Community:
As we approach the final days of this academic term and commencement, we just wanted to extend our gratitude and thanks to all of the students, faculty, staff, faculty, administrators and alumni that have contributed to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion efforts throughout this academic year. We realize that it has not been easy with the ongoing challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the struggles with mental health, the challenges with racial injustice, the increasing political polarization and the senseless gun violence.
Amid all of the challenges, we continue to move forward to ensure that we can foster a community where each of us can feel like we belong, we can be our genuine authentic selves and thrive in this environment, as we live out our Jesuit mission and values.
JEDI Strategic Plan Update
It has been a busy quarter for the Inclusive Excellence Liaisons, whose work has been invaluable in helping to lay the groundwork for the Justice Equity Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Plan. Throughout this term, they developed initial SWOT analysis in their respective areas. A SWOT analysis looks at strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats within an organization/unit. From these SWOT Analysis, they started to work on developing strategic goals that would be an essential part of their implementation plans. Each implementation plan framework consists of defining the strategic goal, key efforts, key indicators, metrics/basis for assessment and determining who is accountable for making the goal happen.
This work has helped to inform a draft of the Strategic Plans’ vision, mission and values as well as overarching areas. We plan to share more details throughout the summer.
Juneteenth
On May 26th, the University formally announced that Juneteenth (June 19th) would become an official paid holiday at the institution. Juneteenth commemorates the historic date —June 19, 1865 —when the federal liberation of enslaved people called for in the Emancipation Proclamation reached the southern holdout state of Texas.
A federal holiday since 2021, Juneteenth is typically observed as a joyful celebration of the resilience and brilliance of people of African descent. Santa Clara has in the past celebrated Juneteenth with a discretionary administrative closure day.
We encourage you to engage with Juneteenth celebrations and events in the surrounding area. For example, the African American Community Services Agency is coordinating a week-long series of events in San Jose. We look forward to developing additional engagement opportunities around Juneteenth in the future.
UNIT UPDATES
I. Division of Inclusive Excellence
- Currently searching for positions in the Office for Equal Opportunity and Title IX and the Office for Accessible Education.
- The first meeting of the Graduate Student Inclusive Excellence Advisory Council took place in May and we look forward to ongoing engagement throughout the summer as we gear up for efforts at the start of the Fall term to help better support our graduate students.
- A special thank you to the Undergraduate students involved with the Inclusive Excellence Student Advisory Council (IESAC), especially to our graduating seniors Alexis Lipscomb and Josh Raymundo. Congratulations to our new IESAC Leaders Daniel Martinez and Alexandria Perez for AY ‘23. Thank you to the entire IESAC team and Alexandria Perez, Alexis Lipscomb, and Marielle Tellez-Castro for your exemplary leadership this past year!
IESAC Leaders at Top Golf Social
II. LEAD Scholars
- Throughout the month of May, LEAD offered a range of programs to help our seniors prepare for life after graduation including workshops on financial planning, employment benefits and tips for post-grad success.
- The LEAD staff and student-led LEAD Council also offered events to help our students connect and unwind including a painting workshop led by LEAD resident artist, Marqus Koranteng; LEAD check-in; make-your-own-self-care-kit activity, and a Wave Imaginarium event in collaboration with SCU’s XR/ AR/VR club.
- Students are currently applying for LEAD fellowships which offer funding for unpaid internships, undergraduate research, study abroad and other co-curricular opportunities. We look forward to supporting a record number of students in these important developmental experiences!
LEAD Class of 2022 Seniors
III. Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX
- 50th Anniversary of Title IX: This year marks the 50th Year since Title IX was implemented. We have certainly come a long way since its inception as an Educational Act of 1972 and yet we still have much room to improve and grow to ensure that everyone is treated equitably and with dignity and respect. Originally known and referring to equity in Athletics, Title IX has since morphed to encompass gender and sexual based harassment, discrimination and misconduct.
- What is Title IX? Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 is a Federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in any federally funded education program or activity. Title IX promotes equity in academic and athletics programs, prevents hostile environments on the basis of sex and sexual misconduct, and prevents discrimination against pregnant and parenting students. Under Title IX, discrimination on the basis of sex can include sexual harassment or forms of sexual violence, such as rape, sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual exploitation, and stalking. Learn more about Title IX Practitioners experiences around the country.
- Senate Bill 493: Senate Bill 493 is a California law mandating that all staff and faculty members are considered Mandatory Reporters of incidents or concerns involving Gender-Based Discrimination, Harassment, and Sexual Misconduct. Mandatory Reporters or "Responsible Employees" are people who have the authority to take action to redress sexual harassment or provide supportive measures to students, or who have the duty to report sexual harassment to an appropriate school official who has that authority.
- What does that mean for SCU? - All staff and faculty are now mandatory reporters and when students disclose incidents of sexual misconduct (past or present) they must report these incidents to the Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX. Students still have full autonomy in choosing whether or not to pursue a complaint, but the report allows us to reach out and ensure that students are provided with and connected to support resources and supportive measures around campus.
- Update to the 2020 Title IX Regulations: The current Biden Administration is looking to modify aspects of the 2020 Title IX Regulations/ Final Rule that went into effect in August 2020. Universities are anticipating aspects of these modifications to be released in June 2022 (this month!). There will be a review and comment period (as there was for the 2020 Regs) for people to provide feedback to the government on the proposed changes and modifications. If you are interested in learning more about this process, please get in touch with Jenna Elliott jrelliott@scu.edu, Interim Director and Title IX Coordinator for the Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX.
- Congrats Class of 2022, and especially to our student assistant for the last three years, Isabelle Reitz!
IV. Office for Diversity and Inclusion (ODI)
- We are gearing up for the next cycle of Faculty searches for the 2022-2023 academic year. ODI works with faculty departments in assisting with recruitment plans, Inclusive Search workshops and other support. In addition, ODI collaborates with Human Resources on related efforts for Staff hiring.
- Special congratulations to the SCU Student veterans that are graduating as part of the Class of 2022 ceremonies. ODI oversees the Veteran Support Efforts in partnership with the Registrar, One Stop and Admission.
- Dates are being finalized for Safe Space and UndocuAlly workshops to take place this summer prior to the start of the academic year.
V. Office for Multicultural Learning (OML)
- OML and the RRC continue its Multicultural Recognition Ceremonies with three more on Thursday, June 9th as well as a Multicultural Mass, co-hosted with Campus Ministry and the Division of Mission & Ministry. Although the formal RSVP form has closed, we still welcome members of the campus community to celebrate the graduates by watching the LiveStream. Please email oml@scu.edu for the LiveStream link. Dates and times for the mass and ceremonies are below.
- Multicultural Mass, Thursday, June 9th, 2pm-3pm, Mission Church
- MENA (Middle Eastern North African) Recognition Ceremony, Thursday, June 9th, 4:30pm-5:30pm, California Mission Room
- Native American Recognition Ceremony, Thursday, June 9th, 6pm-7pm, California Mission Room
- Lavender Graduation, Thursday, June 9th, 7:30pm-8:30pm, Williman Room
Recognition Recipients from the Asian Pacific Islander South Asian (APISA), Black/Pan-African and Latinx Ceremonies
- In honor of Pride month and 10 years of educating, empowering, and celebrating the LGBTQ+ community at SCU, the Rainbow Resource Center is proud to unveil its new logo! As we end the 2021-2022 academic year, where we celebrated the RRC's 10th Anniversary, this logo serves as a bridge into the next 10 years of the RRC and beyond! The logo was created through collaboration: designed by Student Inclusion Educators in the Rainbow Resource Center and professional staff in University Marketing and Communications. There are multiple versions of the logo, with the flag that the Bronco is holding representing a variety of identities, showcasing the diversity of LGBTQ+ identities we have here at SCU. Be on the lookout in the Fall for new swag!
VI. University Ombuds
- We are excited to welcome David Galan, who started on May 9th as the inaugural University Ombuds. He can be contacted at dgalan@scu.edu. Information about David and the new Ombuds role was shared in the University announcement of May 13th.
The Division newsletter will continue to be published throughout the summer to provide important updates as we gear up for the new academic year.
CONGRATULATIONS CLASS OF 2022!
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