Helpful Info

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The Institute for Cultural Competence & Inclusive Excellence

The Office for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion is pleased to announce the Institute for Cultural Competence & Inclusive Excellence, a personal and professional development certificate program available to all WCU students, faculty, and staff. The certificate program, referred to as “the Institute” herein, reflects WCU’s commitment to create a learning culture that values diversity, equity and inclusion. The Institute consists of a combination of training and education workshops, self-study readings, books, on-demand video presentations, and a capstone project. Participants develop cultural competencies and are offered the tools necessary for linking diversity and inclusion to organizational and work performance. Programs and workshops are offered during the fall, spring, and summer semesters to provide a full range of required and elective workshops.

Institute applications are currently open until February 10, 2021 (Deadline). Stay tuned as space will be limited in future cohorts. You can find out more cultural competence and inclusive excellence.

WCU Receives the Higher Education Excellence In Diversity Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity Magazine

West Chester University was selected for the second consecutive year to receive the 2021 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education. WCU earned this honor for the first time in 2020, along with 89 other recipients. This year, 101 colleges and universities across the U.S. and Canada were selected. The HEED award measures an institution's level of achievement and intensity of commitment in regard to broadening diversity and inclusion on campus through initiatives, programs, and outreach; student recruitment, retention, and completion; and hiring practices for faculty and staff. West Chester and other award recipients are featured in the November 2021 issue of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine.

Navy and Gold Geometric Logo with the following text: INSIGHT into Diversity, Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award 2021. Top Colleges for Diversity."

Racial Climate

While racism is among America's greatest social problems, issues of race remain an uncomfortable topic for most people to discuss. News outlets reporting on racial incidents on college campuses across the United States have continued to grow over the last decade. During the Spring 2019 semester, all undergraduate students at West Chester University were invited to participate in a national racial climate survey. Student voices were heard! You may view the 2019 Racial Climate Survey Executive Summary .

Report Discrimination/Harassment

Use this online form to make the University aware of incidents of harassment, discrimination, hate or bias. After you submit this report, it will be reviewed by the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to assess next steps to ensure the safety of individuals and property. This assessment may or may not involved immediate intervention by staff in the office and/or WCU Public Safety based on the nature of the report.

Report Sexual Misconduct

If you or someone you know has shared with you they have been a victim of sexual misconduct, use this link to file a report and/or get more information and resources. The report goes to a few staff members in the Office for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. The complainant will receive outreach from the office to provide resources, supportive measures, and to review all options for resolution. The information in this form will be kept as private as possible and only shared with those who need to know.

Report a Student Conduct Incident

The Office of Student Conduct processes these reports of on- and off-campus violations of the Student Code of Conduct.

Report a Group Organization Incident

Please use this to report a violation of organizational, ethical, hazing, harassment, and/or group Code of Conduct violation. The information will be sent to the Office of Student Conduct. The team will assess next steps based on concerns for the people involved and concerns for the safety of the community. The students involved may be contacted to assess needs for resources and the accused organization will be contacted if and when an investigation has been approved. The information in this form will be kept as confidential as possible and only shared with those who need to know.

Report an Academic Integrity Incident

Academic violations include cheating, plagiarism or falsifying official records related to the University. General classroom misbehavior is considered a non-academic violation. If you have questions about whether a behavior is considered academic misconduct, please contact the Office of the Vice Provost. Learn more about Academic Integrity here.

Faculty and Staff Members:

Report Concerning Incident/Behavior

Concerning, strange, or disruptive or substantially destructive behavior that potentially impedes student’s ability to function successfully or safely should be reported here. The Assistant Vice President for Identity, Health, and Wellness in conjunction with the CARE Team provides outreach to students when concerns for their health, welfare and safety are identified. Learn more about Concerning Incident/Behavior here.

For more information, visit Pregnancy and Parenting Fact Resources

 

Helpful Strategies

  • Grayscaled square with a picture and text boxes. At the top picture of a balancing object. Below is the following text: "Helpful strategies to make your Zoom meetings more inclusive. Brought to you by the Office for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, in partnership with Information Services and Technology. Tip Number 1: Reduce the background noise! All participants should be muted except for the person who is currently speaking."
  • Grayscaled square with a picture and text boxes. At the top picture of a balancing object. Below is the following text: "Helpful strategies to make your Zoom meetings more inclusive. Brought to you by the Office for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, in partnership with Information Services and Technology. Tip Number 2: Go ahead and enable Live Transciption (captioning) whenever you start your meeting! Then, if anyone needs captions they can turn it on without having to ask."
  • Grayscaled square with a picture and text boxes. At the top picture of a balancing object. Below is the following text: "Helpful strategies to make your Zoom meetings more inclusive. Brought to you by the Office for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, in partnership with Information Services and Technology. Tip Number 3: Sharing your screen? Make sure you describe what's there for those using screen readers or participants who have a bad internet connection."
  • Grayscaled square with a picture and text boxes. At the top picture of a balancing object. Below is the following text: "Helpful strategies to make your Zoom meetings more inclusive. Brought to you by the Office for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, in partnership with Information Services and Technology. Tip Number 4: If you have a visual presentation, go ahead and send your materials or documents ahead of time. This way, even those who call in have access!"
  • Grayscaled square with a picture and text boxes. At the top picture of a balancing object. Below is the following text: "Helpful strategies to make your Zoom meetings more inclusive. Brought to you by the Office for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, in partnership with Information Services and Technology. Tip Number 5: Make sure your light source is in front of you. A backlight or window behind you makes it very difficult to see your face! This can cause problems in lip reading."