In Student Affairs, we believe that access to high-quality education in a safe and inclusive environment is the right of all individuals and imperative for the continued advancement of a strong democracy and workforce. We also believe higher education institutions have an obligation to work toward and demonstrate progress in ensuring equity amongst their students, faculty and staff. Equity is grounded in the principle of fairness. In higher education, equity refers to ensuring that each student receives what they need to be successful through the intentional design of the college experience.
Student Affairs at Portland State University is committed to becoming an antiracist organization. We are working to center social justice in our internal and external work as a division and are committed to addressing structural and institutional racism, and holding ourselves accountable to this work. Following the murder of George Floyd, Student Affairs and Global Diversity and Inclusion leadership met to coordinate a campus message that spoke to our shared, continued commitment to progressing to become the kind of antiracist organization we have long aspired to be. GDI and Student Affairs convened together in September of 2022 where staff connected in small groups, met new employees, and reignited our connected purpose and goals. Since then, GDI and Student Affairs leadership teams have met together three times to discuss work being done to incorporate guidance from the Time to Act: Plan for Equity and Racial Justice into strategic plans for the academic year. All areas have expressed a strong interest in more opportunities to come together and build relationships in this work across campus. Toward that end, we are planning a few specific combined initiatives, including a shared training space with the opportunity to learn more and practice culturally specific trauma-informed care.
As we build on core values that underpin our work in Student Affairs, including honoring and celebrating diversity, equity, inclusivity and universal access, we have decided to create a working group that will be called the Student Affairs Equity, Belonging, and Inclusion (EBI) Team. Each alignment area will identify 1-2 members of their area to serve as part of this group.
Charge
During AY 23/24, co-chairs of the Student Affairs EBI Team will be encouraged to attend NCORE or NASPA's Racial Equity and Social Change conference, become the designated IDI Qualified Administrator for PSU Student Affairs, or complete other appropriate professional development training. Additionally, the VPSA and Senior Staff will identify and host an outside consultant/trainer to provide professional development and team-building in the region or on campus at PSU each year for the Student Affairs EBI Team.
Co-Chairs may also participate in training to provide vision and leadership in use of assessment and learning tools (e.g. the Intercultural Development Inventory) for the division.
During AY 23/24, the Student Affairs EBI Team will review relevant past initiatives and plans (at the unit, division, and institution-wide level) and develop a shared understanding of the history and theoretical underpinnings of the field of Student Affairs, consider the work of the MCOD and the commitments made in the joint GDI and Student Affairs statement from 2020, and review the Time to Act Plan. Based on review of these efforts and documents, work with the Vice Provost for Student Affairs to evaluate and prioritize the following next steps:
- Develop an Equity, Belonging, and Inclusion action plan for Student Affairs that includes annual and 3-year goals, with specific recommendations and measurable and achievable action items addressing best practices around equity and inclusion within Student Affairs at PSU. Work with the Vice Provost for Student Affairs and Senior Staff for approval of the plan;
- Once the plan is approved, move forward with implementation of identified goals and tasks. While this group may be charged with some of the implementation, they are also empowered to delegate some tasks to colleagues in the division with particular expertise and/or oversight of the area;
- Engages in capacity building work as a group and shares gained knowledge with the division of Student Affairs. Suggest areas for division-wide professional development on anti-racism;
- Bring forward to the Vice Provost divisional issues or impediments that may negatively impact our work on matters of diversity, equity and inclusion;
- Create a lens for professionals working in Student Affairs to review divisional goals, plans, protocols and policies, including consideration of relevant laws, stakeholders, and decision-makers. Be available to serve as a sounding board for alignment areas and units within alignment areas to review policies and procedures for consistency with institutional and campus-wide anti-racist values and commitments; and
- Produce an annual report of work accomplished to be and shared with Provost and President and included in the Student Affairs Annual Report.