Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclustion/UDiversity Educational Institute summer 2019

The Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) received personnel reporting from PeopleFluent, an outside consultant on affirmative action planning, in April. The reports provide key information regarding affirmative action compliance with the Department of Labor for Binghamton University. This is the first study of is kind at Binghamton University in at least 12 years and DEI plans to report on the impact of Binghamton University’s hiring practices for minorities, women and individuals with disabilities in the early fall. The University has contracted with PeopleFluent through DEI for an additional year of consulting and will receive reports next year as well.

DEI is also intricately involved in both the inclusive campus diversity committee for the Road Map process and the new, SUNY PRODiG initiative, with Nicole Sirju-Johnson, interim chief diversity officer, serving as co-chair for both committees. PRODiG (Promoting, Recruitment, Opportunity, Diversity, Inclusion and Growth) is a SUNY initiative developed to intentionally diversify faculty across SUNY institutions over the next 10 years. Binghamton University will present a proposal for faculty positions in early July to SUNY.

UDiversity Education Institute

During this quarter, University Educational Institute provided four trainings (two workshops for students and two programs for the campus and community) with a total of 89 participants (23 undergraduate students, two staff and 64 community members). DEI provided its Building Bridges to Cultural Competency Phase I workshop, which examined ways to build cultural awareness for faculty, staff and students.

DEI co-sponsored a program with the Broome Tioga NAACP Economic Development Committee Youth Employment Preparation Program. This program series conducted two sessions, providing 25 participants ages 14−24 with skill development and resources to facilitate their access to employment in Broome County. Some of the resources provided to participants included job-application assistance, review of the dos and don’ts of interviewing, job etiquette, and connections with community organizations (such as Cornell Cooperative Extension) that provide youth employment programs.

UDiversity facilitated a Cultural Competency and Student Leadership workshop with National Residence Hall Honorary as a part of its leadership development program for the spring. Topics included ways to improve communication across cultural identities and within organizations, team building and leadership development through a culturally inclusive lens. UDiversity also convened bi-weekly meetings with the DEI Student Advisory Council Campus Speech Subcommittee this quarter. The committee provides the campus with resources and recommendations on ways to address issues related to intercultural relations around free speech and/or hate speech.

Presentations this quarter:

April 2019

• Building Bridges to Cultural Competency Phase I (Fleishman Center students, one session)
• Broome Tioga NAACP Youth Employment Preparation Program (community members, one session)

May 2019

• Broome Tioga NAACP Youth Employment Preparation Program (community members, one session)
• Building Bridges to Cultural Competency Phase I and National Residence Hall Honorary (Students, one session)