Q Center, spring 2020
Q Center department operations
During the spring semester, the Q Center is being staffed by six undergraduate professional interns, two SOGIE Peer Educators, one full-time graduate assistant and one MSW intern. There are two new professional intern positions this spring: Social Media and Out of the Darkness Walk Team Captain.
Chosen-name Policy goes live
The Chosen-name Policy went into effect Jan. 2. The policy itself is housed on the Student Records and Registrar Services website. Students have access to the proper forms through MyBinghamton.edu and employees are instructed to see Human Resources for the proper forms. This page includes a list of systems where the chosen name can and cannot be added as well as a link to frequently asked questions. Since the policy went into effect, 90 students and several employees have requested changes.
Q Center education and training
Active Ally Program Foundations I: On Jan. 23, we held a training for 12 employees. To date, we have trained a total of 42 participants with 27 employees, four graduate students and 11 undergraduate students. Participant assessment shows positive growth. Pre-test scores average 81% and post-test scores average 94%. The average growth between the pre- and post-test is 17% and, to date, no participant has regressed between the pre- and post-test scores. Foundation Level I trainings for students are scheduled for March and April, with one more employee training at the end of March.
Active Ally I Deep Dives: Unpacking Cis-Het Privilege for employees was offered Feb. 17, with six participants. Two new Deep-Dives are scheduled for March and April for both students and employees. The Unpacking Cis-Het Privilege will also be offered to students in mid-April.
The Active Ally program has continued its branding strategy by separating the program from within the Q Center B-Engaged Group and is now an independent group within the platform. This shift allows for participant connection and the potential for community building within the platform.
The Training and Education Works also expanded since December. The education and training coordinator is developing canned trainings in LGBTQ competencies to be delivered separately from the Active Ally Program. This allows the work of the center to address professional and student needs directly while continuing to push the Active Ally Program as the continuation of these learning opportunities. The current offering is Human Sexual Identity, with the focus on the development of campus-wide language and understanding of human gender and sexuality. The coordinator is also working to develop pronoun and gender-affirming classroom offerings to address other campus concerns. These trainings have been delivered to the student group Men of Color Scholastic Society and to the First-year Research Immersion program so far this quarter, with trainings scheduled for human development and health courses, Master of Social Work courses, and student organization requests.