Educational Efforts

• Each semester, the Cross Cultural Centers (the Jane Kopas Women's Center and the Multicultural Center) sponsor a number of small and large-scale events for the University community, seeking to raise awareness of topics related to diversity, identity, privilege, oppression, equity, and justice; help individuals develop a deeper appreciation of their own culture and identity; and engage in dialogue across difference to better understand others.  Signature large scale events include Love Your Body Day, Dia de los Muertos, Global Food Bazaar, Take Back the Night, and Festival of Nations.  Smaller events include film screenings, dialogues, and informal gatherings.  Please visit the respective websites for upcoming offerings. 
  
  
• The Office of Equity and Diversity provides training opportunities for students, faculty and staff on a variety of topics including sexual harassment and sexual misconduct, unlawful discrimination and harassment, microaggressions and implicit bias, equal opportunity hiring practices, search committee training, spotting issues for supervisors related to unlawful harassment and discrimination.  It also organizes lunch and learns as well as diversity and inclusive pedagogy workshops for faculty and staff, and works with faculty  and staff in providing training in the classroom and department setting. 
  
  
• The Office of Equity and Diversity also sponsors the "D + I Lunch & Learn" Series, which was started over a year ago to bring awareness to employees on varied topic related to diversity and inclusion.  The program provides faculty and staff an opportunity to come together a few times a year to learn from their peers.  Some topics previously covered include Intercultural Dialogue in a Diverse World, Business Case For Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace, What is Diversity.  Many of the programs have been recorded and can be accessed here:  Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Programs for Faculty, Staff and Students
  

• Race and Ethnicity Awareness Workshop- The objective of this workshop is to bring awareness, education, and action to the University Community related to our differences and similarities to assist in becoming a more inclusive and accepting campus for all of it current and future members.  It was developed by a subcommittee of the Provost’s Council for Diversity and Inclusion.  Anyone interested in availing themselves of this training are encouraged to contact the Cross Cultural Centers or the Office of Equity and Diversity. 
• Intervene: Bystander Engagement -- Adapted from a program developed by Cornell University, Intervene is a one-hour workshop that presents video reenactments of risky situations common on college campuses.  Students then engage in facilitated dialogue about the scenarios in a way that allows them to develop skills in addressing or preventing harmful, risky, or difficult interactions.
  • Topics covered include potential sexual assault, racial bias, hazing, academic difficulties, sexual harassment/gender bias, intimate partner violence, and an alcohol emergency. 
  • Intervene can be scheduled for set groups by contacting the Director of the Cross Cultural Centers at jkwc@scranton.edu.  Open sessions are also offered.   
    
    
• PACT -- The PACT program was developed to assist students at the University with the transition between high school and college. This peer-to-peer program is facilitated in small groups to bring awareness to the challenges of transitioning to a new college environment. Focused on healthy relationships, communication, consent, sexual harassment and sexual misconduct, reporting options and resources, this program is delivered in the fall to all first year and transfer students. 
  
  
• Safe Zone --  This workshop is designed to create an awareness of personal ideas, stereotypes, and assumptions related to people who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer, asexual, or with other marginalized genders or sexualities (LGBTIQA+) and increase a comfort level in and respect for addressing concepts and language related to LGBTIQA+ identities. Sixteen staff facilitators have trained over 360 members of the University community through Safe Zone.

• Start Smart Salary Negotiation Workshops -- Start Smart is a program developed by the American Association of University Women and facilitated by staff from the Cross Cultural Centers and the Center for Career Development. The workshop is designed to address the gender wage gap through education, and seeks to empower participants with the skills and confidence to successfully negotiate their salary and benefits packages.  Contact jkwc@scranton.edu for more information.
  
  
• D & I Pedagogy Workshops --  The Office of Equity and Diversity, with the assistance of a Faculty Development Specialist, offers workshops for faculty and staff on topics involving inclusive pedagogy. These trainings are funded by a Strategic Initiatives Grant from the Provost's Office. Pedagogy workshops are presented by University faculty and experts on topics of diversity and inclusion.  Find diversity workshop recordings

Vector Solutions Safe Colleges –is the University's online training platform that contains training videos on a number of topics, including diversity and discrimination awareness, and diversity and inclusion. The Office of Equity and Diversity sends out suggested trainings throughout the semester, and students, faculty and staff may access the on-line training portal to take any training.  

                  Student Access to Training Portal                              Faculty and Staff Access to Training Portal

• Classroom Presentations -- Staff from the Cross Cultural Centers regularly partners with faculty and staff members to develop classroom presentations and co-curricular workshops that complement course content or other objectives and expand understanding of diversity, inclusion, equity, and justice. 
  • Recent topics have included implicit bias and microaggressions in health care, cultural competency in health professions, gender inequality in the workforce, Latino culture, microaggressions and power and privilege in literature, effective communication and teamwork, gender and sexuality, and allyship. 
  • Cross Cultural Centers staff can be contacted directly to discuss needs and potential topics. 
    
    
• Diversity Initiatives Funding -- The University Administration and Board of Trustees seek to promote initiatives that energize the commitment to diversity, provide opportunity for inter-cultural engagement as well as expand opportunities for multicultural experiences for our community. The Office of Equity and Diversity oversees, supports and sponsors the development and growth of diversity awareness education programs through Diversity Initiatives grants. See guidelines and application for diversity grants.
  

• New Student Orientation Session -- All first year students attend a session during Summer New Student Orientation entitled "Fostering an Inclusive Campus Community." The session focuses on microaggressions and their impact. Students are asked to consider what type of community they would like to foster at the University of Scranton, while stressing that the University will not tolerate acts of bias, hate, or discrimination.