MISSION AND OUTCOMES
Mission
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion education and professional development for employees are critical elements of UC Merced’s commitment to the Principles of Community. As such, strengthening the cultural competence of our employees and fostering inclusive workplace and educational environments are among the focuses and purposes of the University’s professional development and personal enrichment programming. In alignment with our commitment to access, equity and diversity, a primary intent of the Diversity Awareness Certificate Program (DACP) is to ensure that employees have relevant multicultural and diversity learning opportunities to (a) increase their knowledge; (b) build their awareness; and (c) enhance their related skills and competencies.
Outcomes
Participants who complete the DACP will:
• Report increased self-awareness of own identities and intersections of those identities.
• Report increased awareness of concepts of diversity, equity and inclusion.
• Accumulate social justice concepts as they relate to power, privilege and oppression.
• Articulate and demonstrate how to be an ally to marginalized communities.
• Develop strategies to meet specific challenges that may arise in the workplace or personal life.
• Fulfill UC Merced’s Diversity Core Competency requirement.
• Develop skills to become a facilitator for one or more of the Diversity Awareness Certificate Program core requirement course(s).
PROGRAM INFORMATION
Participant, Program, and Diversity Facilitator Information
Participants
All faculty and staff are invited to participate.
Program Information
DACP as stand-alone programs
Each of the core individual DACP courses can be attended as a stand-alone workshop. Participants who complete the 2-day Diversity Awareness Workshop will receive a Diversity Awareness Certificate. With the completion of subsequent workshops, participants will receive a badge that can be added to their Diversity Awareness Certificate. The certificate and badges will identify you as a trained DACP ally who offers a welcoming and safe space for members of the campus community.
Participants who complete all DACP activities are eligible to become a certified Diversity Awareness Workshop facilitator. The DACP consists of four core diversity workshops, two elective courses and completion of a service-learning project. Participants may complete this series at their own pace. Participants who complete DACP will be invited to the annual ceremony. To complete DACP, you must:
- Complete four core diversity courses:
- 2-day Diversity Awareness Workshop
- Ally Development 101
- Bobcat Connects Workshop
- Managing Implicit Bias- on-line modules
- Complete two electives:
- Queer Ally Program
- Gender Expansive Workshop
- Cross Cultural Communication
- Complete a service-learning project and workshop. To be initiated after completing the core workshops, with approval of the Director.
Core Requirements
Complete all four required courses
2-day Diversity Awareness Workshop – (Required)
Next workshop will be held Wednesday, June 17 and Thursday, June 18, 2020
Process: Submit online application
Contact: dacker@ucmerced.edu
This workshop uses a variety of experiential exercises to help participants identify and appreciate individual and collective differences and strengths, as well as explore their own knowledge, attitudes and experiences around diversity, equity and inclusion. The course uses social justice concepts as its foundation as they relate to power, privilege and oppression on individual, institutional and societal levels. Sponsored by the Office of Campus Climate, University Ombuds, Social Justice Initiatives and Human Resources
Learn how you can connect and create a “culture of caring” at UC Merced. By using UC Merced’s Principles of Community, we will explore empathy and theory and ways that we can actualize the Principles.
Sign up through HR Learning Management System.
Contact De Acker for more information.
Contact: dacker@ucmerced.edu
Ally 101 workshop (Required)
Contact: dacker@ucmerced.edu
- The role of power and privilege in the reinforcement of oppression
- Understanding what an Ally is
- Effective Ally behavior
UC Managing Implicit Bias Series – (Required)
Date: Online and Self-taught
Time: Online and Self-taught
Location: UC Learning Center
Process: Complete all six courses and submit certificate of completion to diversity@ucmerced.edu
These six self-paced, interactive online courses complement the existing equity and inclusion programs and can be completed individually. Together they form a series to earn the UC Managing Implicit Bias Certificate, or as part of the UC People Management Series and Certificate. Each eCourse is approximately 15-20 minutes in length. As members of the UC community, being aware of implicit bias and how it impacts the way we work and interact with others is especially important.
In addition, these eCourses have been added to the UC People Management Series and Certificate as Core Requirements. The eCourses are as follows:
- What is Implicit Bias?: Describe how the brain uses shortcuts and schema to process stimuli. Explain how attitudes, stereotypes and biases form. Differentiate between explicit and implicit biases.
- The Impact of Implicit Bias: Describe ways in which implicit bias can affect our actions.
- Managing the Influence of Implicit Bias: Awareness: Assess your implicit biases. Recognize situations wherein you are more prone to the influence of bias. Recognize external factors that make you more prone to the influence of bias. Evaluate whether you are being influenced by bias. Understanding awareness and humility.
- Common Forms of Bias: Understand the common forms of bias.
- Managing the Impact of Implicit Bias: Mindfulness and Conscious De-biasing: Learn ways to minimize the influence of implicit bias.
- Managing Implicit Bias in the Hiring Process: Decouple the design procedures/structures that protect against biases by diversifying search committees, gaining more ideas, perspective, awareness, sensitivity and tapping into diverse networks.
Elective Requirements
Complete two of the following
Contact: undoc@ucmerced.edu
Process: Submit online registration form
Objectives
- Awareness of state and federal education and immigration policies that impact college access and employment for undocumented students
- Able to refer undocumented students to appropriate online resources for legal and financial support
- Knowledge of where and how to access local, state, and national resources
- Share information learned with campus and community partners
- Interpret how programs and policies affect undocumented students
- Apply information learned to your role on campus and as an ally
Wednesday, February 19, 9am - 12:30 pm
**Participants musthave completed the Queer Ally Program workshop after August 2016 in order to attend the Gender Expansive workshop.**
The Gender Expansive Workshop (GE) is the newest Queer Ally Program curriculum expanding participants' understanding of the varied gender identities which fall under the gender expansive umbrella. This 3.5 hour introductory workshop will:
- Raise awareness about the gender spectrum;
- Challenge deeply held notions of gender, gender identity and gender expression; and
- Identify ways to support the gender expansive community.
The liberating work that will be upheld in this workshop provides an opportunity for participants to understand themselves and others, recognize some of the challenges the gender expansive community face, and the ways in which we can all attempt to create a welcoming and affirming environment for the gender expansive community. In order for participants to enroll in the GE workshop, participants must have completed the Queer Ally Program Workshop after August of 2016.
Pre-req 2-day Diversity Awareness Workshop
Process: Sign up through the Learning Management System
Contact: Callale Concon, University Ombuds
Service-Learning Project
Date: Begin after completion of the four core programs
Time: TBD
Location: TBD
Process: Choose from one of the two options listed below. After your project is completed you must attend a Reflection Workshop with José Martínez. Email Jose to schedule your workshop.
Contact: De Acker, Director for Campus Climate
1. Partner with Vernette Doty and the Community Engagement Center. Two projects to choose from:
- Get partnered with a senior citizen at the Senior Center and visit at least three times.
- Distribute food at the Food Bank.
2. Propose your own idea. Contact De Acker to discuss and gain approval before initiating. Projects may include:
- Reflective journaling
- Facilitated meetings
- A portfolio and/or a topic paper
Apply to Become a Diversity Facilitator
Time: TBD
Contact: De Acker, Director for Campus Climate
Process: Eligible applicants will have completed the full DACSP, which includes 4 core courses, two elective courses and completion of the service learning project. Applicants who become facilitators will receive a STAR award after facilitating three Diversity Awareness Workshops. Upon completion of DACP, applicants must:
- Submit an application.
- Participate in an interview.
- Join the Diversity Awareness Workshop facilitation group.
- Attend the 2-day Diversity Awareness Workshop as an observer.
- Co-facilitate a Diversity Awareness Workshop with experienced facilitators.
- Meet with program coordinators to determine readiness.
