The Student Experience
Resources and Support
- Utilize assessments to identify new and changing student needs, and to build programming connections across the Student Life division and other campus units.
- Overseen by: Daniel Cosacchi, Vice President for Mission and Ministry; Elizabeth Garcia, Executive Director, Office of Equity and Diversity; Michelle Maldonado, Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs, Lauren Rivera, Vice President of Student Life, and Dean of Students; Shannon Zottola, Vice President, Enrollment Management
- Item Status: Work in progress.
- Updates:
- NSSE Survey now includes questions on Diversity Equity and Inclusion. The HEDS survey will be administered in Spring 2023 and will provide additional assessment data to inform work.
- The Fall 2023 Admitted and Student Parent Inventory responses will be explored based on demographic information to identify perceived areas of strength and weaknesses, as well as expectations and value assignment on several factors related to the student experience.
- Recruit staff from historically underrepresented populations to better support diverse students in several areas of the University, including, but not limited to the Counseling Center, Advising, and Career Development.
- Overseen by: Elizabeth Garcia, Executive Director, Office of Equity and Diversity; Michelle Maldonado, Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs, Lauren Rivera, Vice President of Student Life, and Dean of Students; Patricia Tetreault, Vice President of Human Resources; Shannon Zottola, Vice President, Enrollment Management
- Item Status: Work in progress.
- Updates:
- Human Resources and OED worked together to identify community-based recruitment for staff. Recruiting materials have been translated into Spanish for job fairs.
- Human Resources and OED identified and invested in additional position advertising sites to reach a larger number of potential applicants and generate more diverse applicant pools.
- An accessibility notice has been added to the Human Resources webpage and the Employee Opportunities portal.
- Staff search training will be provided by OED on a semester basis starting in Spring 2023.
- The Counseling Center contracted with a third party to provide teletherapy counseling opportunities to students including historically underserved students who may wish to work with a counselor with a specific identity not represented among counselors at the Counseling Center. This service is partially funded by the DEI Strategic Plan budget.
- Student Life hosted a professional development session for staff to learn more about Inclusive Hiring Practices in Fall 2022. Thereafter, Student Life made several diverse hires and looks forward to continuing to diversify the Division in a way that will best support students.
- The most recent admission counselor hired is a bilingual to assist in the recruitment and admissions of Hispanic/Latine/x students.
- Human Resources is working with the Diocese of Scranton on outreach to Hispanic/Latinx communities. The University sponsored the Misa Pontifical Y III Encuentro Diocesano Hispano held in September 2023.
- The Office of the Provost hired Student Success Specialist to work with underrepresented students, including first generation and student of color in the Office of Student Success and Support.
- Increase our ability to support students and other members of our community for whom English is a second language.
- Overseen by: Lauren Rivera, Vice President for Student Life, and Dean of Students; Gerald Zaboski, Senior Vice President, Office of the President, Shannon Zottola, Vice President of Enrollment Management Admissions
- Item Status: Work in progress.
- Updates:
- A number of key admission publications are being translated into Spanish with a plan for future translations established.
- The University has established a partnership with Marywood University that allows accepted students to get ESL training prior to enrollment while beginning to get acclimated to the University’s campus. This includes getting a Royal Card and having access to campus services, including housing, dining, and the library.
- Student Life has worked to offer in time translation services with some programs when families come to campus to participate. Examples include New Student Orientation and ROCK. Additionally, the Assistant Director of the Cultural Centers (Multicultural Center) has offered to help students and families with Spanish translation on many occasions thereby supporting students and other members of our University community.
- Expand worship experiences that reflect the cultural and language diversity of the Catholic Church.
- Overseen by: Daniel Cosacchi, Vice President for Mission and Ministry
- Item Status: Work in progress.
- Updates: The Division of Mission and Ministry and other Divisions utilized ASL interpreters on various occasions throughout the academic year. The Division of Mission and Ministry plans to utilize ASL interpreters for regular Sunday Mass during the academic year.
- Enhance mentoring programming for students of color to support their sense of belonging, and increase retention and graduation rates.
- Overseen by: Daniel Cosacchi, Vice President for Mission and Ministry; Elizabeth Garcia, Executive Director, Office of Equity and Diversity; Michelle Maldonado, Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs, Lauren Rivera, Vice President of Student Life, and Dean of Students; Shannon Zottola, Vice President, Enrollment Management
- Item Status: Work in progress.
- Updates:
- THR1VE’s peer mentorship program known as GU1DE continues this year. In coordination with the Cultural Centers, GUIDE has been expanded to invite first-generational students as well as students of color to participate. Through one-on-one and small group meetings with students, GU1DES ease the college transition by helping with questions or concerns, sharing tips and tricks about the college experience, and connecting students to on-campus resources. In 2023-2024, a new partnership with OSSS will allow for enhanced support.
- Partners in Learning, Leadership, and Reflection (PILLAR) is a pedagogical partnership program that pairs students with faculty to create, support, and enhance inclusive learning environments that encourage and value all learners, which is in its third year and expanding.
- ROCK (Royals of Color Kickoff) early arrival program expanded in August 2022. This program for new students of color was a key aspect of efforts to positively impact retention, persistence, and sense of belonging for these students. The feedback from both new students and mentors has been positive, with students sharing that the program helped them feel more connected and comfortable on campus. The Multicultural Center also led an effort to check in with students throughout the year, including ROCK reunions throughout the Page 16 of 45 semester. The Assistant Dean of Students collaborated with the Cultural Centers in Fall 2022 to expand the GU1DE mentoring program to include students of color as another avenue to ensure continued support.
- Continue to review current student gathering and other physical campus spaces to expand opportunities for engagement and the reach and resources of the Cross-Cultural Centers.
- Overseen by: Elizabeth Garcia, Executive Director, Office of Equity and Diversity; Edward Steinmetz, Senior Vice President, Finance; Lauren Rivera, Vice President of Student Life, and Dean of Students
- Item Status: Work in progress.
- Updates:
- The Multicultural Center relocated to a larger, newly renovated space in the DeNaples Center. The space was intentionally designed to foster community, education and collaboration and opened in January 2023.
- The Black Student Union was offered the opportunity to use the Gonzaga House as a gathering and programming space on campus. With support from the President, Student Life and OED, the space opened in Spring 2022. Outdoor furniture, funded by the President’s Office, was purchased for the BSU in Summer 2023.
- In Summer 2023, the Jane Kopas Women’s Center expanded its footprint to encompass the former Multicultural Center space. This will allow for greater gathering and programming space for the JKWC.