Want to learn about creating and implementing a diversity statement for your program, organization or department? This week Friday, May 21, DIRECTO, The Diversity & Inclusion in Research & Teaching Organization, will be holding its last event of its 3rd Annual Spring Conversation Series. This week’s event is on the topic of diversity statements, specifically for programs and organizations. Session facilitators will discuss organizational/program diversity statements, and the process of integrating a statement’s values into faculty and student culture. This event is held virtually via Zoom, free of charge, and is open to all FSU students, faculty, staff, post doctorals, alumni, and members of the surrounding community.

*If your department, program or organization is creating or revising a diversity statement, bring it (virtually) to the session!

Topic & registration link provided below. You may register and attend all, or a portion, of the event!

• Friday, 5/21/21: Diversity Statements – register here: http://bit.ly/DIRECTO-CONVO-SP21-5-21-21  (See below for facilitator & topic details/abstract)​

Spring Conversation Series Goal

We hope these events will create a “brave-space” for individuals and groups within the FSU and surrounding community to discuss issues surrounding diversity, inclusion, and equity. More importantly, we want attendees and participants to walk away from the event with tangible ways to incorporate diversity and inclusion in their research projects and teaching methods.

Date and Location

Each of the Conversations in the Conversation Series will take place from 11:45am-1:30pm, via Zoom, on the following dates: Friday, 3/19, and Friday, 4/16, and Friday, 5/21. You may register to attend all, or a portion of, these events.

Details

Presentations will be designed in formats conducive to encouraging conversation and participation on issues related to diversity, inclusion and equity, with specific attention given to how these concepts relate to topics in teaching and/or research.

DIRECTO Spring Conversation Series Event #4

Diversity Statements: Going Beyond the Diversity Statement: Actionable Guidelines for Fostering Multicultural Competence in Higher Education

Date and Time: Friday, May 21, 2021, 11:45am-1:00pm (via Zoom)

Registration link: http://bit.ly/DIRECTO-CONVO-SP21-5-21-21

Conversation Series Session Facilitators: Dr. Laura Reid Marks, Dr. Deborah J. Ebener, Dr. Taylor Thompson (College of Education, Counseling Psychology and School Psychology)

Session Abstract: With the growing heterogeneity of the United States population, diversity statements for training programs are becoming more prevalent. However, due to numerous challenges, programs often fall short when implementing the ideals discussed in these diversity statements. In this proposed 60 to 75-minute roundtable, we seek to identify barriers related to and solutions for implementing how we can go beyond our diversity statements in teaching and research, particularly in times of crisis. We will first provide some diversity statements currently available from various university campuses. We will discuss what is common to these statements and what may be missing. We will discuss some ways to facilitate cultural humility, engage in organizational self-reflection, and facilitate the growth of multicultural competencies in students and faculty during a time of two pandemics – a COVID-19 pandemic and a racism pandemic. Using our combined school and counseling psychology doctoral program as an example, we will also discuss some of the ways to assess training programs’ gaps between the diversity statement and action. Finally, we will provide some resources to attendees that may be helpful in going beyond the diversity training statement in their respective programs. Participants are encouraged to bring their own diversity statements and challenges with the current crises to this discussion.

* Visit the DIRECTO webpage for updates: https://directo.fsu.edu/

*Presentations will be facilitated by students, faculty, staff, and administration from a variety of disciplines and academic offices at FSU and beyond.