Dear SCU Community:

As we approach the midpoint of October, we hope that the academic term continues to go well amid midterms and other projects. We also want to remind you to take advantage of the different programs and opportunities being offered across  our campus. Specifically, we wish to highlight the upcoming Election as well as the 2nd Annual Camino de los Muertos Event.

Election 2024 Election Day is on November 5, 2024, which is 20 days away. In an effort to better engage and prepare the SCU community for Election 2024, a number of campus partners have come together to develop a series of events. These events are designed to provide spaces for dialogue and education around issues and topics related to the election in an effort to raise greater awareness and engagement in the democratic process. A calendar of events is now available and includes information about voter registration and other resources.  We encourage all eligible members of the SCU community to participate and engage in the upcoming elections.

 

The 2nd Annual Camino de los Muertos event will take place on Saturday, November 2nd from 5 - 9pm on the SCU campus featuring arts & crafts, ofrendas, food and music. The event is being sponsored by SCU, the Consulate General of Mexico and Univision. We are seeking organizations and departments interested in creating ofrendas. If your area is interested, please complete the form to RSVP your spot. If you are interested in volunteering, please email: inclusiveexcellence@scu.edu. We will follow-up with more details.

 

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UNIT UPDATES

I. Inclusive Excellence Division

• Inclusive Excellence is located on the main floor of Nobili Hall in Suite 120.  We will be hosting an open house for our campus community members later in the quarter.  In the meantime please stop by and see us!
• SCU staff and faculty are encouraged to be a part of the Employee Resource Groups (ERGs). In addition to the current set of ERGs - Asian/Pacific Islander/South Asian (APISA), Black/African American, Indigenous/Native American, LatinX, Middle Eastern & North African (MENA), Multifaith and the Rainbow Alliance (LGBTQ+), we are pleased to announce the addition of the Disability and Chronic Illness Network (DCIN) to this group. The ERGs are co-sponsored by the Inclusive Excellence and Human Resources Divisions, and retain their historic connection to the Staff Senate, which was instrumental in their development in Fall 2020.

II. LEAD Scholars Program

• It has been a busy start of October for the LEAD Scholars program. 
  • On October 1st, the LEAD Scholars Program hosted a welcome back event for almost 200 LEAD Scholars with snacks, lawn games and raffle prizes.
  • On October 11th, LEAD coordinated a site visit to KPMG to connect with first-gen. professionals and take a tour of their campus.
  • On October 12th, we had the annual LEAD Scholars Celebration during SCU’s Grand Reunion that welcomed back our alumni and provided an opportunity for updates and (re)connection. 
  • On October 13th, LEAD hosted a visit to the Oakland Museum of California as part of our First-gen and Black initiatives. 
• The LEAD Scholars Program and Office of Diversity and Inclusion are hosting UndocuCon on Friday, October 18th with the Region IV Community Colleges. Over 250 students and allies will participate in workshops and community building.
• SCU’s FLI (First-generation and/or Limited Income) Forward Conference is back and ready to soar! This event highlights the experiences of first-gen and/or limited-income college students through engaging keynote speakers, panel discussions, interactive workshops, and networking opportunities. This year's keynote speaker is Josue De Paz ’15, co-founder and CEO of First Tech Fund (FTF). FTF provides free technology and broadband access, mentorship, digital skills training, and insights into career pathways.
  • Thursday, November 7 from 2-6 PM, Sobrato Center for Discovery and Innovation.

III. Multicultural Center (MCC)

• The Multicultural Center consists of the following student organizations

Asian & Pacific Islander Student Union (APSU) Chinese Student Association (CSA) Igwebuike (Black/Pan-African) Japanese Student Association (JSA) Korean Student Association (KSA) Middle Eastern North Africa Club (MENA) Undocumented Students & Allies Association (USAA) At Large: African Student Association (ASA)	Barkada of SCU (Filipino) Hermanas Unidas Intandesh (South Asian) Ka Mana'o O Hawai'i Latinx Student Association (LSU) Together for Ladies of Color (TLC) Vietnamese Student Association (VSA) At Large: Queer People of Color Association (QPOCA)

IV. Office of Accessible Education (OAE)

• Happy October from the OAE! We just wanted to remind everyone to schedule your exams in the OAE portal as soon as you can since space is limited. If you haven't requested your accommodations yet, please log in as soon as possible to do so. If you have any questions or concerns about your accommodations or how to register with the OAE, please don't hesitate to reach out at 408-554-4109 or stop by our office in Benson 1. We hope to see you soon, and good luck with the midterms!!
• OAE is coordinating a workshop focused on Procrastination & Exams - Strategies for Success by our Executive Function Coach, Heidi Qandah. It will be held on October 28th at 6pm in room 133 in the Library. Please scan the QR code to register.

V. Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX

• The Executive Committee, on behalf of the Board of Trustees, unanimously approved the two new policies, including:
  • Sex-Based Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation Policy
  • Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation Policy (Other than Sex-Based)
• Both policies are approved with an August 1, 2024 effective date and can be accessed at: https://www.scu.edu/title-ix/policy/

VI. Office for Diversity and Inclusion (ODI)

• SCU continues its Indigenous People’s Day efforts with a Teach-in on Wednesday, October 16th. This year’s Teach-in is taking place from 1:00pm - 3:15pm at the de Saisset Museum.  
• The Transfer Student Working Group in partnership with the student-led Transfer Student Union held a successful Transfer Student Welcome Social on Wednesday, October 2nd. Thanks to all of the transfer students that attended and we look forward to working closely with the different campus partners. 
• A number of Tenure Track positions for the 2024-2025 academic year have been posted. Please share information about these openings with your colleagues and peers at other institutions. To learn more, please visit:  https://www.scu.edu/hr/careers/ 
• Dates and times for the Fall quarter Safe Space and UndocuAlly Workshops for Faculty and Staff are now available on the ODI Website.
• A special thank you to our colleagues in the Alumni Association for their collaboration with the Grand Reunion Affinity group events. 

VII. Office for Multicultural Learning (OML)

• Film Showing: Crip Camp: We will be showing the Sundance Film Festival Award winning documentary, Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution on Wednesday, October 23 at 7pm in Library Commons 129 (Viewing Room A). Snacks provided, bring a blanket or comfy seat cushion! The collaboration is with the Office of Accessible Education (OAE).

• Una Noche en Latinoamerica: Come experience Una Noche en Latinoamérica! The evening will include dance, food, lottery and more in the Benson Williman Room on Friday, October 18 at 7pm. This event is in collaboration with SHPE, Hermanas Unidas, Ballet Folklórico, USAA and Sigma Omega Nu.

• DEI Training and Workshops: Are there topics related to identity, culture, and inclusion that your SCU unit could further explore? What aspects of LGBTQ+ identity are unfamiliar but relevant to your work? What exactly is racial justice and equity?  OML/RRC staff lead DEI workshops, training and other development opportunities for the SCU community. Email OML@scu.edu to schedule a consultation!

VIII. University Ombuds

• The University Ombuds is a confidential, informal, independent and impartial communication resource for faculty and staff. The Ombuds provides a confidential, no-obligation, space to discuss conflict and other communication challenges, unpack issues, identify goals, and explore options to address concerns. Additionally , the ombuds may assist with communication coaching to navigate interpersonal conversations; mediation between parties in need of dialogue; and facilitation for groups to explore questions and challenges in-depth, and workshops, available this quarter, to enhance communication skills for understanding and for cultivating calm for challenging conversations. More details to come on the Ombuds website. 
• If you would a confidential, no-obligation consultation with the Ombuds, contact the Office of the Ombuds at ombuds@scu.edu; dgalan@scu.edu; 408-551-3542

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DEI RESOURCES FROM THE LIBRARY

The library is celebrating Hispanic/Latiné/x Heritage Month with a book display. The display highlights authors and stories from Hispanic/Latiné/x backgrounds. Special thanks to the members of the Latinx ERG for their book selections and for providing ideas for the display. The book display will be available in the library from September 16th through mid-October. However, for this issue, we would like to share resources from our collection that celebrate Disability Awareness Month (nationally recognized as National Disability Employment Awareness Month) in collaboration with our campus partners.

*To access the SCU library resources off-campus you must login with SCU username and password. 

eBook Recommendations:

Guide to Disability and Inclusion in the Workplace

Description: Master the ethical and practical aspects of disability accommodation. Learn effective strategies, overcome common barriers, and build a thriving workplace for all. Real-world examples and best practices. Engage with practical scenarios and exercises. Go beyond compliance and build a culture of inclusion. Empower your workplace, unlock potential, and create a competitive edge.

Disability friendly : how to move from clueless to inclusive  

Description: Although progress has been made around equality for many marginalized groups, people with disabilities are still massively underrepresented in organizations’ Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts. People with disabilities make up at least 15% of the population, yet they are still too often overlooked. Many people with disabilities are highly motivated, create fantastic work, and add tremendous value to organizations.

Navigating the transition from high school to college for students with disabilities

Description: Effective strategies for navigating the transition process from high school into college for students with a wide range of disabilities. As students with disabilities attend two and four-year colleges in increasing numbers and through expanding access opportunities, challenges remain in helping these students and their families prepare for and successfully transition into higher education. Professionals and families supporting transition activities are often unaware of today's new and rapidly developing options for postsecondary education. This practical guide offers user-friendly resources, including vignettes, research summaries, and hands-on activities that can be easily implemented in the classroom and in the community and that facilitate strong collaboration between schools and families. 

Streaming Media Recommendations: 

Kanopy A streaming video service containing thousands of videos from leading producers around the world, including PBS, BBC, California Newsreel, A&E, and more. 

Disability Pride Month on KANOPY

Remember to Chat with a Librarian Librarians are available 24/7!

*Collaborate with the POP Committee on an upcoming library display for a heritage month or theme. Please fill out the form. 

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CAMPUS DIVERSITY CALENDAR

The Inclusive Excellence Division is committed to expanding awareness of the different diversity-related programming taking place on-campus. For those that use the Live-Whale Calendar, you can use the “diversity” tag to ensure that events will appear on the Diversity calendar on the Inclusive Excellence website. You can also send your program information to inclusiveexcellence@scu.edu.