Inclusive Excellence

Be An Ally - 5 Easy Ways to Normalize Pronoun Usage

Anonymous — Tue, 12 Jan 2021 04:00:44 +0000

Be An Ally - 5 Easy Ways to Normalize Pronoun Usage Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 01/11/2021 - 21:00

Nothing may be more personal than how people refer to us. Using a person’s chosen name and desired pronouns is a form of mutual respect and basic courtesy. Everyone deserves to have their self-ascribed name and pronouns respected in the workplace. And it’s up to us to create a safe space for everyone who is comfortable displaying those pronouns. (Of course, this is a personal choice, and no one is required to share their pronouns.) Below are 5 easy ways to help create that safe space:

Designate your pronouns in your email signature

For many of us, email is our primary point of contact. And with that, it’s helpful for others to know our pronouns and how we want to be addressed.

Video instructions for different platforms can be found below:

Web-based Outlook 365 - Video

Windows-based Outlook software - Video

Mac-based Outlook software - Video

Make Zoom meetings more inclusive

Even before COVID, Zoom meetings were increasing in popularity. And to ensure there is no confusion about how attendees wish to be referred to, there are two easy steps you can take.

Update your Zoom name with your pronouns

Update 7/2/2021 - Zoom has released new guidance on how to add pronouns to your profile.

Simply visit https://cuboulder.zoom.us/ and once logged in, select “Edit” next to your profile.

If introductions take place, introduce yourself with your pronouns. It’s as simple as, “Hi, I’m Vanessa Luna. My pronouns are she/her/hers and I am a Staff Council representative”

Ask faculty if their syllabus is up to date

Academic Affairs recently released updated syllabus statements, which can be found at /academicaffairs/policies-customs-guidelines/required-syllabus-statements. It includes an updated statement about pronouns.

You can also encourage your faculty to include their pronouns in their syllabus under their name. (However, please remember that this is not required, and some may not be comfortable sharing their pronouns.)

Encourage pronoun usage during onboarding

If you are an HR manager or supervisor, during onboarding a new employee you can ask if the employee has pronouns they would like to share. An example may be “If you have pronouns you would like to share, please let me know.”

When in doubt, use “they”

It is never safe to assume someone’s gender. Living a life where people will naturally assume your correct pronouns is a privilege that not everyone experiences.

If someone tells you their pronouns, use those. But if you don’t know their pronouns, use gender neutral ones, like “they”. It takes some practice, but in the end you will be helping create a more inclusive environment for all.

For more information about pronouns, you can visit the Center for Inclusion and Social Change website. They even offer a pronouns guide.

Everyone deserves to have their self-ascribed name and pronouns respected in the workplace. And it’s up to us to create a safe space for everyone who is comfortable displaying those pronouns. Included are 5 easy ways to help create that safe space.

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Heal from Invisibility: Land Acknowledgments and an Invitation to Indigenous Narratives

Anonymous — Mon, 11 Jan 2021 18:14:56 +0000

Heal from Invisibility: Land Acknowledgments and an Invitation to Indigenous Narratives Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 01/11/2021 - 11:14

Staff Council is committed to honoring and recognizing the land in which the University of Colorado at Boulder resides and the communities of Indigenous Peoples at the University. We understand the importance of elevating Indigenous voices and strive to authentically acknowledge the Indigenous Peoples and territories of Colorado. We start this journey by including a land acknowledgment on our website.

We lead with responsibility as Staff Council to represent a community of voices at CU and foster an inclusive and socially responsible community of staff, faculty, and students. We invite our council members and constituents of the University to participate in land acknowledgments to reclaim space of “traditional territories and ancestral homelands of the Cheyenne, Arapaho, Ute, Apache, Comanche, Kiowa, Lakota, Pueblo and Shoshone Nations. Further, we acknowledge the 48 contemporary tribal nations historically tied to the lands that comprise what is now called Colorado.”

As we reside on ancestral lands and seek to honor Indigenous Peoples of the CU community, we must learn about the history weaved into the land, the stories of Indigenous Peoples in our community, and the tribal nations who comprise the traditional territories and homelands of Colorado. To elevate Indigenous voices, we must disrupt Native American invisibility and begin a path of healing to resurface Native American history, traditional storytelling, and ancestral knowledge of those most sacred to the land and bloodlines of Indigenous Peoples.

To truly understand the land in which we reside is to unveil the history and instigate a sense of responsibility of acknowledgment, respect, and honor to Indigenous Peoples and their homelands. Integrating land acknowledgments into spaces and practices of higher learning invites Indigenous perspectives to heal truths of the past and lead with visibility and strength.

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IDEA Council Update

Anonymous — Tue, 20 Oct 2020 21:36:47 +0000

IDEA Council Update Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 10/20/2020 - 15:36

The Inclusion, Diversity and Excellence in Academics (IDEA) Plan is the campus’ blueprint for diversity, equity and inclusion efforts and outlines 3 key areas of impact: Climate, Infrastructure and Leadership. Designated by campus leaders, the 26-member IDEA Council has begun their work of prioritizing the recommendations outlined in the IDEA Plan.

Led by co-chairs Teresa Hernandez and Lisa Flores, the full council began meeting monthly in September 2020 and will spend the next few months gathering data and focusing on student, staff and faculty recruitment and retention. During this time, subcommittees will identify gaps and areas where the campus can improve its recruitment and retention efforts.

Watch out for updates from the IDEA Council in CU Boulder Today and be sure to reach out to your unit council representative to ask how you can be a part of the change you want to see.

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CU Diversity Summit - November 10th

Anonymous — Tue, 20 Oct 2020 21:00:49 +0000

CU Diversity Summit - November 10th Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 10/20/2020 - 15:00

CU Boulder’s work towards a more inclusive, diverse and equitable environment is always situated within the broader context of our society. We are linked to the social climate of our campus, region, state and nation. The sessions in this year’s remote Diversity Summit will explore the multiple intersecting events impacting our immediate community, which in turn affect our broader communities.

The worldwide COVID-19 pandemic has changed how we learn, teach and work, and has altered the ways we create inclusive communities while physically separated. This has deepened the meanings of resilience and service. With this in mind, staff are invited to virtually attend the Fall 2020 Diversity Summit and extend the conversation around the summit theme to build awareness, foster community and connections; and to equip participants with actionable ideas and strategies to move our campus to one where inclusion is central to our identity.

The Diversity and Inclusion Summit is free and open to all CU Boulder staff.

Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2020 Schedule:

Featuring the Ivalas Quartet 2020 Festival Fellows performance of George Walker’s “Lyric for Strings,” available for streaming throughout the day.

9:00am to 10:15am
Panel: “Cultivating Inclusion in the Classroom: Practices that Make a Difference” with moderator Vice Provost Michele Moses and panelists Dr. Susan Jurow from the School of Education, Dr. Donna Meija from Theatre and Dance, Dr. Reiland Rabaka from Ethnic Studies, and Dr. Becca Ciancanelli from the Center for Teaching and Learning

11:00am to 12:15pm
Conversation: “Anti-Asian Racism, COVID-19, and Anti-Racism Work” with Dr. Jennifer Ho from the Center for Humanities & the Arts and Ethnic Studies and Linds Roberts from University Libraries

1:00pm to 2:15pm
Panel: “Discussion on our Campus One Read, So You Want to Talk �鶹��Ƶ Race” with moderators Kalyani Fernando and Amanda Rybin Koob from the University Libraries and panelists Gwendalynn Roebke from the Black Student Alliance, Dr. Sam Flaxman from Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, and Amy Moreno from Engineering and Applied Science

6:00pm to 7:15pm
Stories and presentation: “Heartwork: Finding Your Fire” with Tanaya Winder from CU Boulder Upward Bound

Look for more information soon. Please contact odece@colorado.edu if you have any questions.

CU Boulder’s work towards a more inclusive, diverse and equitable environment is always situated within the broader context of our society. The sessions in this year’s remote Diversity Summit will explore the multiple intersecting events impacting our immediate community, which in turn affect our broader communities.

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Campus Leadership Open Forum and Clarification

Anonymous — Mon, 10 Aug 2020 18:57:10 +0000

Campus Leadership Open Forum and Clarification Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 08/10/2020 - 12:57

CU Boulder Staff Council would like to thank all who participated in the Open Forum with campus leadership.

If you were unable to attend, the event was recorded and can be viewed at the following link*:
https://cuboulder.zoom.us/rec/share/5JJ5A62p2FhISbOd1UvURr8bRt_bX6a82iEa8qIJyhy7gTcvgBRJjFLazsYPuUIi

*Please be aware, CU credentials are required to view this recording.

Staff Council and campus leadership would also like to provide some follow up information to a specific question that was asked during the forum:

“Given we’re all required to wear masks on campus, what is CU doing to prevent and/or ensure all employees (including student staff) do not engage in racial profiling?”

After reviewing the response, Staff Council connected with campus leadership to provide additional context and engage in a conversation regarding racial profiling experienced by various communities on campus. This can include the use of face masks and how it can inhibit non-verbal communication (such as smiling) to navigate situations where racial profiling exists.

Staff Council and campus leadership would like to reiterate the importance of safety measures such as mask wearing in preventing the harmful impacts of COVID-19. We are dedicated to protecting the herd.

All parties involved in these discussions agreed to actionable items specific to this concern. In addition to existing efforts, there will be ongoing conversations regarding bias, working to incorporate new messaging specific to this concern in future campus communications, and including language crafted with Human Resources below:

CU is devoted to broadening awareness of Bias occurring on campus. And while we are committed to safety measures such as mask wearing to Protect Our Herd, we wish to acknowledge that many persons of color have been taught to express non-threatening signals through facial expressions (like smiling) to safely navigate the world in situations of profiling of any kind. We encourage all CU community members to educate yourself regarding bias, and strive to lead all interactions with kindness and good will.

-Inclusive Excellence, Boulder Campus Staff Council

CU Staff Council would like to thank all that attended. You can re-watch the forum, and read more about a clarification made related to bias.

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Spring Diversity Summit - Intentionality: Humanity in Action

Anonymous — Wed, 29 Jan 2020 18:09:46 +0000

Spring Diversity Summit - Intentionality: Humanity in Action Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 01/29/2020 - 11:09

The Diversity and Inclusion Summit is a free multi-day event open to the CU Boulder community and city of Boulder personnel. One of the campus' longest-running events, the upcoming event on Tuesday, February 25th at the UMC marks the 30th Diversity and Inclusion Summit.

The spring Summit theme is Intentionality: Humanity in Action and will address how we move from merely talking about diversity and inclusion to how we model behaviors and practices that produce real change for all of us.

CU Boulder will welcome Kali Fajardo-Anstine, the author of the Campus One Read book, Sabrina & Corina: Stories. Her critically acclaimed collection of short stories, set in Colorado, lean into themes of race, feminism, queerness and class, and explore societal injustice.

ODECE and the Summit planning committee have partnered with the University Libraries to extend Fajardo-Anstine’s work in additional sessions throughout the day, including a panel on gentrification’s impact on Colorado communities and a map exhibit showcasing historic views of Denver and Boulder. To learn more about these sessions, visit the Libraries webpage.

Print and ebook copies of Sabrina & Corina: Stories are available for the campus community. To learn more, visit the ODECE website.

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2020 Spring Diversity Summit

Anonymous — Fri, 17 Jan 2020 18:01:52 +0000

2020 Spring Diversity Summit Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 01/17/2020 - 11:01

The theme of the upcoming summit is Intentionality: Humanity in Action to be held on Tuesday, February 25 in the Glenn Miller Ballrooms. The opening presentation will be given my Kali Fajardo-Anstine, the author of Sabrina & Corina, our Campus One Read. CU Boulder Libraries have developed special summit sessions to compliment the author’s presentation and compel participants to dive deeper into some of the books themes. There will also be a pop-up map exhibit that invites viewers to appreciate the significance of place along the Front Range and in Colorado.

The goal of the summit is to move from merely talking about diversity and inclusion to modeling behaviors and practices that allow us to return to the heart of who our work impacts -- people. Intentionality is about what you do and how you do it.

If you are interested in submitting a summit session, please visit the Office of Diversity, Equity and Community Engagement session submission page. Be a part of the change that makes excellence inclusive at CU Boulder.

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Activate Your Allyship - Changes to make today

Anonymous — Tue, 05 Nov 2019 18:15:49 +0000

Activate Your Allyship - Changes to make today Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 11/05/2019 - 11:15

We at CU should all strive to be an ally in our community. Below we list just a few actions you can take in your day to day life to be a better ally.

Ally (plural allies): (noun) an individual who is not a member of a particular group but who works for the rights of that group; e.g., a white person who works against racism, a man who works against sexism, a heterosexual who works against heterosexism.

Think We instead of us and them. We really are all in this together.
Recognize the skills you have and use those skills for a worthy cause to help others.
Knowledge is power. Educate yourself about groups you don’t belong to: see a film, read a book, listen to a podcast. Share what you have learned with others.
Notice what stereotypes come to YOUR mind. Risk a little bit of discomfort…and you’ll not only help to change the world but you’ll grow as a person.
Be aware of casual comments that perpetuate stereotypes. Ask others to think about them too.
Ask about things that you don’t understand. People may be will be willing to talk with you. Remember you are responsible for your education.
Become media savvy. You can learn a lot of good stuff from the media - and you can learn a lot of misinformation. Learn to tell the difference.
Be willing to help others but don’t assume you know what they need. Ask.
Know your own culture. Everyone has a culture – often multiple cultures.
There are many ways to be active. Do what fits: Sign petitions, attend cultural events, write to officials, write a letter to the editor, march, stuff envelopes. Stretch a little.
Remember, it is not others’ job to assert their identity in a way that is convenient or comfortable for you.
Communities of people exist, but don’t forget: they are made up of individuals like you and me.
Become an active bystander. If you see something, say something. Don’t just let inappropriate comments or actions go. It’s on us - ALL of us!

For more information on how to activate your allyship, you can attend any number of the talks taking place at the CU Diversity Summit, November 12th and 13th.

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Diversity Summit: Tues. & Wed., Nov. 12 & 13, 2019

Anonymous — Mon, 30 Sep 2019 19:54:15 +0000

Diversity Summit: Tues. & Wed., Nov. 12 & 13, 2019 Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 09/30/2019 - 13:54

Save the date and participate in the campus-wide One Read.

A "One Read" offers participants an opportunity to read a common book and engage in a community-wide discussion on its subject matter. This year’s Diversity and Inclusion Summit One Read offers CU Boulder staff an outstanding opportunity to become immersed through the power of story-telling into the cultural experience of local author Kali Fajardo-Anstine. Several copies of Fajardo-Anstine’s book, Sabrina & Corina are now available at Norlin Library. The Kirkus Review of Fajardo-Anstine’s debut collection of short stories notes, “Fajardo-Anstine takes aim at our country's social injustices and ills without succumbing to pessimism. The result is a nearly perfect collection of stories that is emotionally wrenching but never without glimmers of resistance and hope.” Sabrina & Corina was selected by the Diversity Summit Planning Committee to expand and deepen awareness of identity and belonging. For more information about the summit and the theme visit ODECE’s website.

Interested in Making Excellence Inclusive?

Think about the times you might have witnessed a microaggression, a thinly-veiled derogatory comment against yourself or someone else regarding innate factors of personal identity. Did this happen in the office... on a public bus... or in a classroom or on campus? When it happened, did you speak up? Did you feel equipped to respond in the situation? Do you ever get to debrief about these kinds of interactions, or discuss what might have been done differently?
Individuals across our CU Boulder community who are interested in making excellence inclusive are invited to attend ODECE's open Inclusive Communities of Practice (ICoP) sessions, where exploring microaggressions is just one topic.. These 90-minute meetings are organized around a topic related to diversity, inclusion, equity, social justice, and human interaction. These conversations are meant to be “brave spaces” where faculty, staff and students can talk honestly about areas of concern and practice techniques for making excellence inclusive in your everyday experiences. Two sessions are held each month in CASE W313 from 10:30-noon. For more info visit the ICoP page.

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Be Inclusive Every Day

Anonymous — Tue, 21 May 2019 21:24:40 +0000

Be Inclusive Every Day Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 05/21/2019 - 15:24

Inclusive Excellence Belongs to All of Us!

In early May 2019, the Inclusion, Diversity, and Excellence in Academics (IDEA) Plan steering committee released an update in CU Boulder Today regarding the status of the revised draft IDEA Plan. Visit the ODECE website to read the draft plan. As noted in the article, the steering committee mapped the plan’s priorities and aligned them with the other strategic initiatives currently underway.

It’s an exciting time for staff to immediately engage in making excellence inclusive by reading the plan and attending town halls and other engagement opportunities to learn how to individually contribute to transforming our campus community starting today.

With 4000+ staff at CU Boulder, we have the capacity to authentically cultivate diversity, embrace equity and be a welcoming and inclusive university. To get involved, please visit What’s Your Next Step? on the ODECE website, sign up for information about inclusive communities of practice dialogues, participate in the fall diversity summit, and sign up for diversity and inclusive excellence professional development opportunities available through the CU Boulder Department of Human Resources.

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