Dear SCU Community:

As another academic year is about to conclude, we want to congratulate the members of the Class of 2023. You faced a lot of challenges and uncertainty at the start of the COVID19 pandemic and perservered under extraordinary circumstances! We hope that you are leaving with many fond memories of your time at SCU and lifelong bonds as you move into your next chapter!  In addition, we want to thank the faculty, staff, family and friends that helped you on this important journey and milestone.

As a Division, we are grateful for the students, faculty, staff and others that have been engaged in inclusive excellence work over the course of the past year. From attending workshops and speaker presentations, engaging in dialogues, providing input on your area's strategic planning initiatives to supporting and attending student and faculty programs. All of these efforts continue to help shape and transform SCU and we look forward to the continued next steps.

Juneteenth

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. Today at SCU, Juneteenth is an administrative holiday for all employees.

We encourage you to engage with Juneteenth celebrations and events in the surrounding area. Santa Clara University has continued to serve as a sponsor of the African American Community Services Agency's Juneteenth events in San Jose and the events are open to all who would like to attend. We look forward to developing additional engagement opportunities around Juneteenth in the future.

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UNIT UPDATES 

I. Inclusive Excellence Division

• The Spring Quarter Diversity Forum was held on Monday, May 1st. The students, faculty and staff that attended got to engage in different table/group discussions on the Multicultural Center and their needs, a discussion about Diversity in the CORE Curriculum, Becoming a Hispanic Serving Institution (HIS), Campus Safety Service and student engagement, and insight into shifting from MENA (Middle East North African) to SWANA (Southwest Asian and North African). We look forward to sharing updates on these discussions on our website and in finalizing the dates for the next cycle of Diversity Forums.

• The Inclusive Excellence Division held an overnight retreat in mid-May to bring the entire division staff together. The facilitator, Dr. Jason Rivera from Ball State University, guided the group in a discussion around mission and values, defining excellence and reflecting on our goals and hopes for the upcoming year. It also included a session by Shirley Mata from SCU HR on wellness and boundaries.  

• The final Inclusive Excellence Innovation Lab for this Spring quarter will take place on June 7th from 2:30pm – 4pm in the Williman Room, Benson. All are welcome to attend and refreshments provided.

II. LEAD Scholars

• Congratulations to our graduating seniors! LEAD hosted their LEAD Senior Celebration on May 15th. Graduating seniors, family and SCU community members came together for remarks by President Sullivan and student speakers, as well as senior awards and distribution of LEAD stoles.  

• In May, LEAD also hosted:
• A beach trip with reflection and mindfulness activities
• Workshops on employment benefits and imposter syndrome
• An alumni panel on vocation
• Wellness workshops with reiki and painting
• Each year, LEAD offers six vocational exploration courses to help students explore and prepare for graduate school and career opportunities in health care, non-profit and social benefits work, law, business, and engineering.
  LEAD welcomes current students into our program! If you are or know a student who is a first-generation college student (parents or guardians have not graduated from a four-year college or university), and is not in LEAD, they are welcome to join. Students can learn more by contacting leadscholarsprogram@scu.edu. 
• Through its fellowship program, LEAD provides stipends and other funding for unpaid internships, undergraduate research, independent research, creative or community-based projects, educational travel and other co-curricular opportunities. We also partner with campus departments, faculty and staff to offer opportunities to our students. Please reach out to leadscholarsprogram@scu.edu to learn more. 
• Soaring Across Borders: A Migration Gala was co-hosted by the Undocumented Students and Allies Association (USAA), the LEAD Scholars Program and the Undocumented Student Working Group, a group of faculty, staff and students led by division members Ray Plaza and Erin Kimura-Walsh. The event featured nationally recognized poet Yosimar Reyes, Mariachi Guadalajara and food from across the globe. 

III. Multicultural Center

• The annual MCCBeary’s took place on May 21st and served as the formal transition between the 2022-23 and 2023-2024 MCC Board and the respective MCC organizations. A special thank you to Marielle Tellez-Castro (Director) and Zakiya Cooper (Associate Director) for their leadership and engagement.
• We are pleased to welcome the MCC Director and Associate Director: Tanvi Syed, Director and Sandra del Toro, Associate Director.
• Final Cultural Show of the Spring Quarter:
• Hawaii Luau, Saturday, June 3rd - 6pm Locatelli Student Center
• Queer and Allies within SCAAP will be hosting their Rainbow Prom on Saturday, June 3rd from 7 - 9 pm in the Mission Gardens

 IV. Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX

• Our new Program Coordinator starts June 5th. We look forward to welcoming Summer Reid into this critical role.
• We are actively working on hiring two investigators and appreciate the community circulating the job posting.
• We have posted and reshaped the Deputy Title IX Coordinator role that was vacated May 5th. The new position, Associate Director and Deputy Title IX Coordinator for Outreach and Supports, will focus on coordinating and strengthening supportive measures, ensuring investigations use trauma-informed practices, and conducting outreach.
• The Task Force continues to meet weekly to review the Nondiscrimination and Title IX Policy in light of the proposed federal regulations and best practices. The US Dept. of Education recently indicated that the regulations will be finalized in October. Earlier information had indicated a May 2023 finalization of the proposed regulations.

 V. Office for Accessible Education (OAE)

• If you are taking summer classes and need accommodations, these need to be requested through your OAE portal as soon as possible.
• For finals week in the OAE. Testing will take place 8:30am- 6:30pm. All exams must be scheduled (7) days in advance and there are no exceptions. 
• There is no testing on Friday June 16th as finals end on Thursday.
• Lastly if you have any questions or concerns for Fall, please make sure to stop by the office before the end of finals. Hope you have a great finals week and summer!!

VI. Office for Diversity and Inclusion (ODI)

• A special thank you to everyone that participated in the Inaugural Native American Symposium that was held on Friday, May 5th and the 3rd annual PowWow on Saturday, May 6th.  The recording from the Symposium is being finalized and will be made available shortly.

• ODI has been working on a series of Departmental Climate Studies – Biology, Chemistry & Biochemistry, Classics and Physics throughout the Winter and Spring terms, and engaging with additional departments for the upcoming school year.  If your area is interested, please reach out.

 VII. Office for Multicultural Learning (OML)

• June marks LGBTQ+ Pride Month! The Office for Multicultural Learning (OML), which incorporates Rainbow Resource Center (RRC), is excited to celebrate the beautiful spectrum of orientation, bodies, intersectionality, love and connection as we close out the academic school year. 
• Come honor our graduates during our six Multicultural Recognition Ceremonies! These celebrations acknowledge the accomplishments of graduating students of color and LGBTQIA+ students. The RSVP window is closed for student registration, but these events will be open to the public. We hope to see you there!

• • Latinx (Sunday, June 11th, 2:00pm-3:30pm)
  • Lavender Graduation (Sunday, June 11th, 6:00pm-7:30pm)
  • Native American (Monday, June 12th, 5:00pm-6:00pm)
  • Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) (Monday, June 12th, 6:30pm-7:30pm)
  • Black/PanAfrican (Tuesday, June 13th, 5:00pm-6:30pm)
  • Asian Pacific Islander South Asian (APISA) (Wednesday, June 14th, 5:00pm-6:30pm)

• Listen to the most recent episode of Word on the Street: An OML & RRC Podcast that dives into conversations on Queer Mental Health. 
• Come to the Wellness Center today, June 1 at 5pm, for an Ice Cream Social! This event is hosted by RRC and Wellness Center.
• Queer Craft Corner presents Crochet Pride Pillows! Friday, June 2 from 2-4pm in the RRC (Benson 11).
• Looking to build community with other BIPOC and/or LGBTQ+ Broncos? Join our FAM Network and Rainbow Buddies Groups on Bronco Exchange!

 VIII. Office of the University Ombuds

• The University Ombuds doesn’t just assist with issues when open conflict has broken out, but can help you prevent small encounters from becoming big issues. The Ombuds offers tools to help understand communication and to better think about how relationships and climates may evolve as the result of our actions, enabling you to consider your next steps carefully.
• The Ombuds is an informal, impartial, and confidential resource to assist faculty and staff with conflict and communication issues with colleagues and the organization. The Ombuds offers coaching, consultation, facilitation and mediation to prevent and address issues as they arise. For a confidential and no-obligation consultation, contact the Office of the Ombuds at ombuds@scu.edu; 408-551-3542

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DEI Resources from the Library

The Library is celebrating LGBTQIA+ PRIDE Month with a book display at our Library Help Desk. Feel free to stop by and browse the items we have available to learn more about the contributions of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ+) community. 

Book Recommendations: 

I wish you all the best 

When eighteen-year-old Ben De Backer tells their parents that they are non-binary they are immediately thrown out of their home, without even time to put on a coat or shoes, despite the cold January North Carolina weather; Ben is rescued by Hannah, their estranged older sister and her husband Thomas, and desperately hopes to finish the last half of senior year while dealing with an anxiety disorder and without calling attention to themselves--a plan that goes awry when they meet Nathan Allan, a charismatic student, and start to fall in love.  

How We Fight For Our Lives 

Haunted and haunting, Jones's memoir tells the story of a young, black, gay man from the South as he fights to carve out a place for himself, within his family, within his country, within his own hopes, desires, and fears. Through a series of vignettes that chart a course across the American landscape, Jones draws readers into his boyhood and adolescence--into tumultuous relationships with his mother and grandmother, into passing flings with lovers, friends and strangers. Each piece builds into a larger examination of race and queerness, power and vulnerability, love and grief: a portrait of what we all do for one another--and to one another--as we fight to become ourselves.

It was vulgar & it was beautiful : how AIDS activists used art to fight a pandemic

The story of art collective Gran Fury—which fought back during the AIDS crisis through direct action and community-made propaganda—offers lessons in love and grief.

Resource Guides: 

• LGBTQ+ History Month Spotlight
• Queer People of Color (QPOC)

Streaming Media Recommendations: 

Out in the Open 

Database: Kanopy

Out in the Open destroys the misconceptions, fears, and myths about the LGBTQ community and presents that no single person is the same and that all people should be celebrated. There are interviews with celebrities, politicians, and everyday allies, straight and gay, who openly celebrate the LGBTQ community.

Musical Matters: LGBTQIA+ Artists on Inclusivity

Database: Digital Theatre+ 

Musical Matters explores inclusivity and representation in American musical theatre with artists from historically marginalized communities. This exclusive five-part series is hosted by actor, writer, and advocate for inclusion, Christine Toy Johnson. Tony Award-winning writer Lisa Kron (Fun Home) and actress Aneesh Sheth (Bombay Dreams) discuss their work championing queer stories, power structures within the industry, and how to create more inclusive spaces.  

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The Inclusive Excellence newsletter will continue to be published throughout the summer to provide important updates as we gear up for the new academic year

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 CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CLASS OF 2023!