Intent and Purpose
We commit to establishing a campus culture and learning and work environment in which all members of the campus community can thrive. Nationally, Black, Indigenous and students of color, low-income, and first-generation students retain and graduate at lower levels than overall rates. Nationally, rates for tenure and promotion for Black, Indigenous, and faculty of color are lower than the average, for both negative reasons, such as microaggressions and systemic racism affecting on-campus interactions and performance reviews, and for positive reasons, such as robust competition for faculty who are thriving in their fields. College staff and administrators remain predominantly White; students are more likely to encounter BIPOC people in service roles (maintenance, campus safety, etc.) than in leadership positions.
$1.1 MILLION GIFT TO SUPPORT
STUDENT EXPERIENCE, WITH FOCUS
ON EQUITY AND INCLUSION
–
“The work of diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism is many times underfunded and built on the backs of those who are impacted or care for it. This gift allows us to change that narrative and support the efforts, ideas, and work that will make us a stronger, more equitable, and inclusive community.”
Vice President For Equity And Inclusion
María Pabón Gautier
PARTNERS IN ACHIEVING GOAL 3
- Academic Division
- Center for Advising and Academic Support
- Co-directors of External Fellowships
- Counseling
- Director of the Taylor Center for Equity and Inclusion
- Human Resources
- Piper Center for Career and Vocations
- POSSE
- Student Life
- Tenure and Promotion and Faculty Life committees
- TRIO Student Support Services and TRIO McNair
- Wellness Center
3A: Strengthen and advance a culture of inclusion through the development of networks and affinity groups, the orientation of new community members to promote connections; identify points of welcome
- A revised Week One orientation for students (also see Appendix 1 for related issues
of training) - St. Olaf Orientation to Academics and Resources pilot in 2018-19; 2019-20 expansion
- Connect for Success (see 3.b)
- The Taylor Center staffing and programming for domestic multicultural, international,
and LGBTQIA+ students - POSSE and SSS TRIO specialized programming and mentoring for certain members
the student body - CILA programming including
- Orientation for new faculty members
- Learning communities for new faculty members
- Mentoring program for faculty members
- Orientation for new staff members
- All-staff meetings (launched in 2017)
- To Include is To Excel sponsored sessions for faculty of color, focusing on professional
thriving
- Implement a 12-month staff orientation along the lines proposed by the “Leadership to Legacy” team looking into hiring diverse staff members.
- Explore the feasibility of a new student orientation mentoring program throughout
the first year and paired with programming now available through SOAR (see 3.b).
3B: Invest in robust advising and academic support services
- See Goal 1 regarding the training of new advisors.
- The Center for Advising and Academic Support provides a robust array of support services. Specialized services include:
- Academic coaching
- Workshops: study strategies, time management mindfulness, test anxiety
- Supplemental Instruction and tutoring.
- Additional writing assistance and courses
- Accessibility and Access services, including advising and accommodations
- Connect for Success, a pilot program launched in spring 2018 that pairs a cohort
of first-generation, first-year students with a faculty or staff mentor. - SOAR—Student Orientation to Academics and Resources—piloted in 2018/19 by
the Athletics Department, Center for Advising and Academic Support, and Piper
Center for Vocation and Career offering workshops. In 2019/20, a second pilot of
SOAR is expanded to include up to 250 first-year students. - Ole Pass (Professional and Academic Student Support): provides students on
probation with support and resources - Intensive advising for students on probation
- Advising support for DACA students
- TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) TRIO. With retention and graduation rates for
participating students that are typically on par with the college overall, St. Olaf’s SSS TRIO
program is nationally recognized. - Summer Bridge. As part of the SSS TRIO program, qualifying first-year students arrive on
campus early to take two college courses, learn about campus life, and begin to establish
good study habits and supportive relationships. - The POSSE program enrolls annually 10-12 first-year inner-city students and provides
specialized advising and enrichment programs for the students’ four years. SSS TRIO also
extends much of its programming to POSSE students. - Hiring of mental health counselors who specialize in counseling international and
domestic students of color.
- Develop a one-stop shop website providing information about resources for students.
- Consider assessing the use of email aliases and newsletters to create easier access to
resources available to students. - Develop an informational Admissions/New Student brochure that provides information
about programming, opportunities, and other resources available for all students,
including resources serving particular cohorts of students. - Review pilot programs such as OLE Pass, SOAR, Connect for Success to identify which
elements should be applied broadly to all students and which programs should focus on
particular cohorts. - Launch proactive advising for students who may be at higher risk of not retaining
- Develop a case management and early alert system to identify and support struggling
students
3C: Further under-represented students’ post-baccalaureate preparation through vocational and scholarship/fellowship programming.
- Ronald E. McNair program Post-baccalaureate Achievement Program (TRIO McNair
Scholars) is a graduate school preparatory program at St. Olaf College funded by a grant
from the U.S. Department of Education. The TRIO McNair program supports 30 students
annually through research opportunities, internship placements, a summer research
writing class, graduate school preparation, and assistance with financial aid. - TRIO Student Support Services collaborates with the Piper Center, International and Offcampus
Study, and Collaborative Undergraduate Research and Inquiry to provide
opportunities for TRIO SSS students to learn about and plan for off-campus study,
research, and internship opportunities. SSS also helps students learn about graduate
study. - Specialized career advising for international students. Facing unique barriers to
employment in the U.S., all international students are seen by Piper Center coaches and
Peer Advisors and receive training related to relevant cultural and immigration factors.
International students participate in the Piper Center’s student Peer Advisor team and
contribute to projects to improve services and resources for international students.
Advising and trainings include:- Optional Practical Training (OPT) Workshop: a joint meeting with the Piper Center
and International Student Advising staff for international students interested in postgraduate
employment in the U.S. A Piper Center representative reviews job search
techniques and resources, and shares information about the application process,
application materials and costs, deadlines, and responsibilities while working on OPT. - Nuts and Bolts of Networking with Introduction to Curricular Practical Training (CPT):
In this workshop, students learn the basics of networking, observe mock networking
scenarios, and practice key skills. The workshop connects the practice of networking
to landing internships, and introduces Curricular Practical Training (CPT) work
authorization for U.S. internships. - Curricular Practical Training (CPT) Workshop: a joint meeting with the Piper Center
and International Student Advising Staff that provides an overview of Piper Center
resources, strategies, and best practices to streamline international students’ time
and efforts in the job search process.
- Optional Practical Training (OPT) Workshop: a joint meeting with the Piper Center
- Post-graduation fellowships and scholarships reach out specifically to TRIO SSS and Pelleligible
students. - Participation in the Associated Colleges of the Midwest (ACM)- Mellon Diversity Scholars
program for students, matching students with research mentors at select universities. - The Johnson Family Fund provides financial resources for low-income students to
participate in internships and other high-impact learning experiences.
- Building on the successful strategies and collaborations that facilitate participation for
many first-generation, low-income, domestic multicultural, and international students in
career and vocational opportunities and internships, identify opportunities and craft
strategies to address remaining disparities. - Explore the feasibility and advisability of developing a McNair-like program as a way of
expanding access to this kind of opportunity. - Investigate opportunities to enhance international student applications for postbaccalaureate
fellowships and scholarships.
3D: Enhance support systems to retain under-represented members of the tenure-track faculty and staff
- Implicit bias training (see Goal/Appendix 1)
- To Include is To Excel-sponsored session for department chairs and administrators
regarding career issues experienced by faculty of color. - Several To Include is to Excel grants awarded for studying departmental culture.
- All-staff meetings, established in 2017/18, intended to help staff members get to know
each other and to provide knowledge about the college generally, and about specific
issues pertinent to staff members - Programming for new faculty members through the Center for Innovation in the Liberal
Arts and To Include is To Excel (see 3.a, above) - Participation in the ACM-Mellon Faculty Fellows program, which provides resources and
networking opportunities for the fellows - The college offers membership of new tenure track faculty of color in the National Center
for Faculty Development and Diversity.