Office of Inclusion & Intercultural Relations
Informational Session on Working with Underrepresented Populations
Presented to Illinois Academic Advising Committee (IlliAAC)
Wednesday October 23, 2013
Office of Inclusion & Intercultural Relations (OIIR)
Transformative opportunities for all students, faculty and staff
Creating a Welcoming Environment
Improving retention & the campus climate for students from underrepresented groups.
Students who feel welcomed, valued and comfortable are the ones who succeed & finish their degrees. Campus Cultural Centers
Visit http://oiir.illinois.edu for center addresses and detailed contact info
Native American House
2002
Asian American Cultural Center
2005
La Casa Cultural Latina 1974
Bruce D. Nesbitt African American Cultural Center
1969
Women’s Resources Center
2009
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Resource Center
1993
OIIR Leadership
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Dr. Gigi Secuban | Associate VC for Student Affairs & Director of OIIR
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Dr. David Chih | Director ‐ Asian American Cultural Center
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Dr. Gioconda Guerra Perez | Director ‐ La Casa Cultural Latina
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Mr. Rory G. James | Director ‐ Bruce D. Nesbitt African American Cultural Center
•
Ms. Pat Morey | Director ‐ Women’s Resources Center
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Ms. Leslie K. Morrow | Director ‐ Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Resource Center
•
Dr. Jamie Singson | Director ‐ Native American House
•
Mr. Ross Wantland | Director ‐ Diversity Education & Social Justice
Bruce D. Nesbitt African American Cultural Center • “…provides a network of programs and support services promoting the individual, social, cultural and academic well‐being of Illinois’ African American students.”
• 100 STRONG ‐ Retention program that promotes high academic achievement, community building, and leadership development among African American students
• BNAACC partners frequently with the Counseling Center’s Sankofa African American Outreach Team to discuss: healthy/unhealthy relationships; coping mechanisms; substance abuse; identity development
Native American House
Medicine Wheel Model of Health
• Academic success hinged on need for balance in the experience.
• Cultural counseling has a complexity of consideration factors.
• Building trust and recognizing connection to Tribal Nation key.
Asian American Cultural Center Inclusive Programming: • For international students: mentoring program and workshop series on cultural adaptation
• For Asian American students: monthly dinner discussions with elders on special topics, mentoring program
• For student organizations: workshops, trainings, and advising Popular workshop topics:
• Family – acculturation conflicts, culture and gender roles in family of origin
• Identity – ethnic minority, multiethnic + multiracial, trans‐national, third culture, • IntraGroup conflicts ‐ FOB vs. Twinkie/Coconuts (generational differences)
• Interracial dating, body image, media stereotyping, racism/sexism/homophobia, religious differences
La Casa Cultural Latina
• Relevant Cultural Programs
• Targeted Social Interventions
• Satellite Collaboration • Mentoring Program
• Latino Outreach
PERTINENT
INTERVENTION HOLISTIC APPROACH Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Resource Center LGBT Resource Center collaboration with the Counseling Center includes:
•
Co‐coordinating and co‐facilitating University‐wide ally trainings from developing curriculum to the facilitation of trainings for students, staff, faculty and community members
•
Outreach with the counseling center includes an LGBT consult hour that takes place in the LGBT Resource Center to facilitate private consults as well as providing workshops targeting issues that impact LGBT students and their allies
•
In collaboration with members of the counseling center including graduate interns and paraprofessionals, we facilitate presentations across campus for various departments and student groups on a range of issues that increase the awareness of and education about LGBT individuals and important issues.
Women's Resources Center (WRC)
•
Empower women and strengthen alliances with men
•
Offer opportunities for all students, including trans and gender non‐
conforming students to participate in all programs and services
•
Build leadership skills
•
Challenge sexism, racism, heterosexism, ableism and all forms of social oppression
•
Achieve greater gender equity and cultural diversity
Diversity & Social Justice Education • Formerly the Program on Intergroup Relations (part of Counseling Center)
• Attends to the intergroup dynamics of oppression and privilege
• Provide opportunities for CC interns and staff to facilitate social identity intergroup classes
Academic Collaborations & Advising Opportunities
OIIR
• Readying Illinois Students for Excellence (RISE)
Individual Centers/Units
• EPSY Courses |DiversityEd
• InterConnect workshops & InterLink mentoring (International students) | AACC
• InterCultural Horizons (new course) – Exploration of Chinese & American cultures in‐ and out‐of‐classroom activities | AACC
• Internships for Gender & Women’s Studies academic credit | WRC
• META | La Casa
• Queer Studies minor | LGBTRC
• 100 STRONG | BNAACC
M
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T
A
Program Highlight:
META
• META focuses on student retention and entoring
professional, personal and academic achievement increasing college knowledge and skills sets to navigate the university and building narratives and social networks to increase the sense of belonging and ncouraging
achievement for Latina/o students and all students interested in the Latina/o community
eaching
chieving
• Areas of focus:
– Finding the right program of study
– Finding the strengths within yourself and your network
– Finding the people, programs and resources you should use
META
M
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(Program Components)
entoring
• Hybrid strategies for individual students
• Informationals for navigating the intercollegiate transfer process
• Twice weekly workshops on the knowledge and skills it takes to achieve a college degree
ncouraging
• Distance mentoring with alumni and alumni networking events eaching
chieving
• Social networking with students, staff and faculty
• Drop in hours with advisors and META professional and paraprofessional staff
• A certificate program for those who participate in all aspects of the program