Inclusive Excellence Newsletter - September 2024
Dear SCU Community:
We hope that the Labor Day weekend went well. While Labor Day is often associated with the end of the summer, it is much more than that. Labor Day, observed on the first Monday of September, is an annual celebration of the social and economic achievements of U.S. workers. The holiday is rooted in the late nineteenth century, when labor activists pushed for a federal holiday to recognize the many contributions workers have made to the U.S.’ strength, prosperity, and well-being. In the spirit of Labor Day, we lift up the range of roles that are critical for the functioning of our SCU community, whether it consists of faculty, staff, or student employees—each plays a key part in the success of our campus.
Preparation and Planning for Election 2024
The 2024 Election will be held 63 days from today. Inclusive Excellence is collaborating within the larger effort coordinated by the Office for Student Life. To this end, Inclusive Excellence has been engaging with campus partners interested in collaborating on educational programming and dialogue opportunities focused on promoting a democracy and pluralistic society for the SCU community. It is not too late if your area is interested in partnering on this programming initiative, please reach out to inclusiveexcellence@scu.edu. A formal calendar of events will be shared by September 20, 2024.
UNIT UPDATES
I. Inclusive Excellence Division
- Inclusive Excellence is excited to welcome the first cohort of Posse Scholars this Fall term. Inclusive Excellence’s Mo Lotif, Assistant Vice President (Strategy & Planning), and Sandra Hayes, Assistant Vice President for Enrollment Management, are providing leadership in stewarding the Posse Program at Santa Clara. Alongside them both, Dr. Brett Solomon, Associate Professor Child Studies, will be serving as the inaugural Posse Mentor for Posse cohort 1.
- A special thank you to all members of the SCU community that took part in the Silicon Valley Pride Parade that took place on Sunday, August 25th.
II. LEAD Scholars Program
- The LEAD Scholars Program is excited to welcome our LEAD Week Student Staff, including almost 70 LEAD Week Assistants, Peer Mentors and Peer Educators back to campus in early September to participate in LEAD Formation. They will help implement LEAD Week, and support new students in and out of the classroom throughout the year.
- On Sunday, Sept. 15th, we will welcome our largest cohort -- 230 new LEAD Scholars! We are excited to host them during LEAD Week and support them throughout their time at SCU.
- On Sunday, Sept. 15th from 4:15-5:00 PM, we will offer a 60-minute College Information Session to new students and their families in multiple languages. We are looking for staff and faculty members who are interested in leading these sessions now or in the future in English, Vietnamese, Korean, Mandarin, Cantonese, Tigrinya, Indonesian and other languages. Currently, we are not looking for Spanish-speaking facilitators. If you speak another language and would like to volunteer to welcome new students and families and share a little about college life, please sign up HERE. We will follow up if your help is needed this year or in the future.
III. Multicultural Center (MCC)
- The MCC leaders are gearing up for the start of the academic year. If you have any questions about the MCC, please reach out to Denae Rivera, MCC Director (drivera@scu.edu), and Kenneth Park, MCC Assistant Director (kspark@scu.edu), or at scu-mcc@scu.edu.
IV. Office of Accessible Education (OAE)
- Never too early to start thinking about your respective needs and services for the upcoming academic year. Please reach out with questions: oae@scu.edu and/or (408) 554-4109
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)
- In partnership with Alumni and Orientation/Student Involvement, a series of Welcome Back receptions will be taking place on Saturday, September 21st for incoming new students. We welcome faculty and staff to join us if you can. Please email rplaza@scu.edu and/or ymagdalenosolis@scu.edu for more details.
- 5:30pm - 7:00pm
- Latinx Social - SCDI Courtyard
- Asian, Pacific Islander, and South Asian Social -SCDI North Lobby (Nearest to Admissions office)
- Middle Eastern and North African Social -SCDI South Lobby (Nearest to the Library)
- Black and Pan-African Social - SCDI East Lobby (Behind the Café)
- 6:00pm - 7:30pm
- Jewish Welcome Dinner (Williman, Benson)
- 7:00pm - 8:30pm
- Muslim Welcome Dinner (California Mission Room, Benson)
- 7:30pm - 9:00pm
- LGBTQ+ Reception (Parlors B/C, Benson)
- A number of Tenure Track positions for the 2024-2025 academic year have been posted. Please share information about these exciting openings with your colleagues and peers at other institutions. To learn more, please visit: https://www.scu.edu/hr/careers/
- Dates and times for Fall quarter Safe Space and UndocuAlly Workshops will be announced shortly via email.
VII. Office for Multicultural Learning (OML)
- The Office for Multicultural Learning (OML), which includes the Rainbow Resource Center (RRC), are excited to announce Hispanic Heritage Month! From September 15th to October 15th, we come together to celebrate the rich and diverse cultures, histories, and contributions of Hispanic and Latinx communities.
- Hispanic/Latiné/x Heritage Month Planning
- If your department, unit or student group is planning an event for Hispanic/Latiné/x Heritage Month (September 15 - October 15), please submit an SCU Heritage Celebration Intake Form. This will allow your event to be included in the month’s Heritage Celebration Calendar (see example of last year’s Heritage Month Calendar).
- Event organizers are responsible for event logistics and execution. OML will help amplify your event by providing additional marketing in addition to listing your event on our comprehensive calendar of Heritage Month Celebrations. The deadline for Hispanic/Latiné/x intake forms is Wednesday, September 4th.
- We are thrilled to introduce our student staff for the 2024-25 school year. 10 Student Inclusion Educators (SIE), undergraduate and graduate, will generate programming ideas, execute events, lead workshops/trainings and staff the front desks of OML and RRC.
- 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 provides multipartial, informal and confidential communication support services to faculty and staff. The ombuds assists visitors by listening and helping to clarify goals, identify issues and to explore options when addressing communication challenges, including conflict. Visitors can explore interpersonal tools to navigate challenging situations and the ombuds may provide mediation and facilitation services to promote dialogue, dignity, and respect among participants.
- If you would like to set a confidential, no-obligation meeting with the ombuds to explore your situation, contact the Office of the Ombuds at ombuds@scu.edu; 408-551-3542.
DEI RESOURCES FROM THE LIBRARY
The library is ending our 'Summer Fun' book display on September 13th! This display features engaging reads from our popular collection designed for your summer enjoyment. Whether you’re traveling, working, or simply relaxing, the SCU Library invites you in to explore our recreational popular reading section or to browse our library catalog for eBooks. Our next display will honor the Hispanic/Latiné/x Heritage Month (September 15, 2024 – October 15, 2024).
*To access the SCU library resources off-campus you must login with SCU username and password.
eBook Recommendations:
Learning the Birds: A Midlife Adventure
Description: In Learning the Birds, we join Rogers as she becomes a birder and joins the community of passionate and quirky bird people. We meet her birding companions close to home in New York State's Hudson Valley as well as in the desert of Arizona and awash in the midnight sunlight of Alaska. Along on the journey are birders and estimable ornithologists of past generations—people like Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Florence Merriam Bailey—whose writings inspire Rogers's adventures and discoveries. A ready, knowledgeable, and humble friend and explorer, Rogers is eager to share what she sees and learns. - Provided by Publisher
Speak Up! : Speeches by Young People to Empower and Inspire
Description: Speak Up! is a joyful celebration of 45 speeches by children and teenagers who have stood up for causes they passionately believe in and challenged adults in power to take note. This collection is testament to the hopefulness and spirit of the next generation, and the positive belief that we can, and should, act to protect the things we love. From ground-breaking scientific inventions to pleas for the environment, anti-war speeches to incredible testimony of lived experiences, the speeches collected here demonstrate the profound wisdom of youth and why it is important to speak up and out on what concerns us.‘A society that cuts itself off from its youth severs its own lifeline; it is condemned to bleed to death.'—Kofi Annan
Psychology : Why We Smile, Strive, and Sing
Description: A fascinating exploration of why we do the things we do, according to science! Dive into the psychology of the human brain with STEM activities and research projects that get readers excited about learning their own minds. Psychology: Why We Smile, Strive, and Sing introduces students to the science behind behavior. From the developing teenage brain to genetics, psychology, and social environments, readers ages 12 to 15 gain a greater understanding of the complexities behind how we behave. Why does one person react to test anxiety by studying harder while another person gives up?
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.
Browse Films played at the Venice Film Festival
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.
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.
Inclusive Excellence will have an additional Back-to-School edition on Monday, September 23rd.
