Office for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Cross Cultural Communications & Conflict Resolution
Presenter: Dr. Tracey Robinson, Office for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Duration: 1 hour (groups of 20-24 participants) ; 1.5 hours (groups of 25- 40 participants)

Through a highly interactive activity, this workshop will allow participants to personally examine how communication and culture are interrelated, explore intercultural communications and learn strategies to address cross-cultural conflict.

Request this workshop for your department, class, group, or organization, on a specific date(s). Note: this workshop requires a minimum of 20 participants and a maximum of 40.

Inclusive Leadership 1.0: Understanding Identities
Presenter: Staff, Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Duration: 1 hour

We learn about our own identity and the identity of others through interactions with family, peers, organizations, institutions, media and other connections we make in our everyday life. Self-exploration is central to our growth as individuals, our relationships with others, and our ability to promote equity. No one is uni-dimensional. Our various social identities--sex, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, age, socioeconomic class, religion, and ability, among others--are important aspects of our selves that shape our attitudes, behaviors, worldviews, and experiences. As we work to create and participate in diverse and democratic environments, we need to understand how our own and others' identities affect our lives and our interactions with each other. In this thought-provoking, interactive workshop participants will have the opportunity to consider the impact of multiple aspects of their own identities, while hearing and sharing stories and experiences that acknowledge difference, privilege, oppression, and perspective.

Request this workshop for your department, class, group, or organization, on a specific date(s). Note: this workshop requires a minimum of 15 participants and a maximum of 120.

Exploring Dimensions of Cultural Competence and Inclusive Language
Presenter: Dr. Tracey Robinson, Office for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Duration: 1 hour

Cultural competency among 21st century graduates has become imperative in the workforce and daily community interactions. This workshop introduces multicultural and international diversity concepts while having individuals participate in reflective activities to develop cross-cultural competencies, identify culturally appropriate strategies, and utilize respectful and inclusive language.

Request this workshop for your department or group.

Inclusive Leadership 3.0: Microaggressions
Presenter: Staff, Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Duration: 1 hour

What are Microaggressions? How can they harm individual member of the University community? Participants in the workshop will gain better understanding of this form of bias and the building blocks that contribute to microaggressions. The workshop facilitator will use interactive exercises and discussions to help participants recognize microaggressions and learn strategies for addressing the messages sent that can create a feeling of marginalization among community members.

Request this workshop for your department, class, group, or organization, on a specific date(s). Note: this workshop requires a minimum of 15 participants and a maximum of 120.

Planning for Accessible and Inclusive Events and Programs
Presenters: Equity & Compliance Team, Office for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Duration: 1 hour

Festivals, fairs, music events, sporting events, and lectures are but a few of the many events that take place every day at WCU. These programs and events celebrate a "sense of community" and must encourage participation by all. This workshop serves to provide information to assist faculty, planners, and managers in making programs and events accessible to people with disabilities. Learn about the value of planning inclusive events, the ADA law, planning tips and strategies, and resources for achieving accessibility. Prior registration is required HERE. Sponsored by the Office for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and Office of Educational Accessibility

Sexual Misconduct Prevention & Response for Students
Presenters: Equity & Compliance Team, Office for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Duration: 1 hour

Beyond laws and policies, sexual misconduct is very damaging to the academic learning environment and student life experience. After taking this course, students should be able to recognize, prevent, and respond to sexual misconduct on campus.

Scheduled upon request. Request this workshop for your department, class, group, or organization, on a specific date(s). Note: this workshop requires a minimum of 15 participants and a maximum of 50.

Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in education programs/activities that receive federal funds. This dictates how the University addresses, investigates, and adjudicates sexual and interpersonal violence and harassment. Join us in a discussion about general updates to WCU's Sexual Misconduct (Title IX) policy and procedures. We invite you to submit questions in advance of this meeting through this link. Please submit questions by October 23rd. Details about the policy and resources are available on the Office for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion's website. We hope you join in our discussion on Tuesday, September 24th!

Tuesday, September 24: Title IX Open Forum | 3 pm - 4 pm | Virtual | Register Here

Unconscious/Implicit Bias Workshop
Presenter: Dr. Tracey Robinson Ray, Office for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Duration: 2 hours

Everyone has biases. If left unchecked, biases can harm others in the workplace, even if unintentional. This interactive workshop will allow participants to explore how our biases may play out and impact our interactions. In addition, participants will be introduced to scientifically-tested strategies to reduce bias.

Request this workshop for your department, class, group, or organization, on a specific date(s). Note: this workshop requires a minimum of 15 participants and a maximum of 50.

Hillel International's "Understanding Antisemitism on Campus" Curriculum delves into the origins, evolution and context of past and present manifestations of antisemitism. This video-based curriculum aims to help participants understand and feel better-equipped to identify, respond to, and proactively educate others about antisemitism. Join us as Rabbi Jeremy Winaker, Executive Director, Greater Philly Hillel Network, facilitates the following video topics: What is Judaism? Who are Jews? History of Antisemitism, and Antisemitism Today. Presentation will be hosted by Dr. Jonathan Friedman's HIS 349 Jewish History class. Please register for Understanding Antisemitism on Campus HERE. Sponsored by WCU Hillel and Office for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. For more info, contact Porsche Johnson, 610-436-1109.

2025 dates to be announced.

Individuals with Disabilities: Creating an Inclusive Environment
Presenter: Meg Hazel, Office for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Duration: 1 hour

WCU is committed to fostering an environment where individuals with varying degrees of abilities can thrive academically and within the campus community workforce. In this workshop, attendees are provided with an overview of the resources available, best practices, as well as policy information related to the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Office for Civil Rights (OCR), U.S. Department of Education. Note: this workshop requires a minimum of 15 participants and a maximum of 50.

Moving Forward:   Supporting your teams - Sexual Harassment and Discrimination
Presenters:  Meg Hazel & Allison Wisniewski, Office for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Duration: 1.5 hours

As a manager, have you experienced a difficult situation, 
and you wished you knew more?   Beyond laws and policies, sexual misconduct and discrimination are extremely damaging and impacts all involved, including eroding the workplace environment. Together, we will learn to embrace compliance and learn valuable skills to support members of the WCU community. After taking this course, faculty and staff should be able to recognize, prevent, and respond to sexual misconduct and discrimination on campus.

Upcoming Sessions:
January 30, 2025 – 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
March 4, 2025 – 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Register Here

Search Committee Orientation: Hiring, Recruitment & Implicit Bias
Presenters: Office of Human Resources and Office for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Duration: 1 hour

Are you chairing or serving on a search committee? Learn about tips and strategies to maneuver through WCU’s selection and hiring process to ensure an open, fair and equitable search process. Learn about the do’s and don’ts of serving on a search committee, discuss pre/post interview procedures, interview questions, selection criteria, and recruitment resources to maximize the benefits of an inclusive search process.

Individuals can register by visiting this link!

Sexual Misconduct Prevention & Response for Faculty/Staff
Presenters: Equity & Compliance Team, Office for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion 
Duration: 1 hour

Beyond laws and policies, sexual misconduct is very damaging to students and the workplace environment. After taking this course, faculty and staff should be able to recognize, prevent, and respond to sexual misconduct on campus.

Request this workshop for your department, class, group, or organization, on a specific date(s). Note: this workshop requires a minimum of 15 participants and a maximum of 50.

Sexual Harassment Prevention & Response for Supervisors
Presenters: Equity & Compliance Team, Office for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Duration: 2.5 hours

Our University also has a formal policy that prohibits sexual harassment on campus—a policy ALL supervisors are responsible for enforcing. But beyond laws and policies, sexual harassment is very damaging to the workplace and work environment. After taking this course, supervisors should be able to recognize, prevent, and respond to sexual harassment on campus.

Request this workshop for your department, class, group, or organization, on a specific date(s). Note: this workshop requires a minimum of 15 participants and a maximum of 50.

Register for Sexual Harassment Prevention & Response for Supervisors:

Dates: TBD

Universal Design for Learning: An Introduction
Presenter: Meg Hazel, Office for Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
Duration: 1 hour

The goal of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is to use a variety of teaching methods to remove any barriers to learning and give all students equal opportunities to succeed. It’s about educating people on how to effectively accommodate students and building in flexibility that can be adjusted for every student’s strengths and needs. This workshop will give an overview of UDL principles, examples of UDL practices, and a discussion of application to current courses and/or physical campus spaces.

Request this workshop for your department, class, group, or organization, on a specific date(s). Note: this workshop requires a minimum of 15 participants and a maximum of 50.

Veterans Cultural Awareness Training
Presenter: Dr. Tracey, Robinson Ray, Office for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Duration: 1.5 hours

A historic number of military personnel and veterans are enrolling in colleges/universities pursuing higher credentials as they serve within and outside of their military service. Transitioning from the Military to campus life can be challenging for a variety of reasons. Awarded the honor of being a “military-friendly” campus since 2015, West Chester University strives to support the needs and success of our military veteran students and their family members. Veterans Culture Awareness Training (VCAT) is a forum that allows advisors, faculty and staff the opportunity to increase their skills and awareness as it relates to serving military service members, veterans and their families. This forum includes opportunities to hear directly from student veterans about their experience as a Military Service Member and as a student at WCU. Strategies for ensuring inclusive practices and ways to support the success of student veterans are provided through short video clips, case studies, personal stories and group discussions. Resources available to Veterans on campus and in the local community are also shared.

Request this workshop for your department, class, group, or organization, on a specific date(s). Note: this workshop requires a minimum of 15 participants and a maximum of 50.

Creating an Inclusive Classroom
Presenters: Office for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Duration: 1.5 hours

Students come to the University with a wide variety of experiences, cultures, abilities, skills, and personalities. Teaching inclusively means embracing and valuing student diversity in all forms as an asset. It means designing, managing and teaching courses in ways that foster talent and drive the success of students. The seminar will introduce faculty to real scenarios related to designing, managing and teaching in higher education in today’s climate. Designed for all faculty, not just those that teach about diversity, this workshop will enlighten faculty to understand the benefits of inclusive teaching approaches.

Scheduled upon request. Request this workshop for your department, class, group, or organization on a specific date(s). Note: this workshop requires a minimum of 15 participants and maximum of 50.

Teaching and the ADA (For faculty)
Presenter: Equity & Compliance Team, Office for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Duration: 1 hour

West Chester University is committed to fostering an environment where individuals with varying degrees of abilities can thrive academically within the classroom. In this workshop, faculty are provided with current information regarding ADA law, best practices, as well as policy information related to the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Office for Civil Rights (OCR), U.S. Department of Education. Special attention will be paid to accommodations and modified attendance agreements.

Request this workshop for your department, class, group, or organization, on a specific date(s). Note: this workshop requires a minimum of 15 participants and a maximum of 50.

Teaching in Turbulent Times
Presenter: Dr. Tracey Robinson Ray, Office for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Duration: 1.5 hours

As the daily news often reminds us, there are moments in our society that are fraught with controversy and contention. As a University that values diversity and inclusion, how can you assure that our classrooms are places for civil discourse and respectful disagreement? This discussion will allow faculty to explore this issue through an examination of University classroom case studies.

Request this workshop for your department, class, group, or organization on a specific date(s). Note: this workshop requires a minimum of 15 participants and a maximum of 50.

In November 2018, through a partnership between Academic Affairs and the Office for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, West Chester University became an institutional member of the National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity. The NCFDD is a highly regarded center with a national reputation and success record for supporting faculty members throughout their careers and towards accomplishing developmental career milestones. West Chester’s diverse cadre of faculty and graduate students have access to resources and support in the form of webinars, forums, mentoring and other materials that assist with navigating academia. All Faculty and Graduate Students are encouraged to activate their accounts for this membership with the National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity (NCFDD). Activate your membership today!

Some of the on-demand webinar titles through the NCFDD include, but not limited to:

• Addressing Incivility in the Classroom: Effective Strategies for Faculty
• Bully in the Ivory Tower: How Aggression and Incivility Erode American Higher Education Creating a Harassment-Free Lab
• Disability and Living/Working in the Academy
• Creating an Inclusive Classroom: Students with Disabilities
• Developing Anti-Oppressive Communities: Supporting Black Students and Mentees
• How to Challenge Race and Gender Bias in Student Evaluations
• Micro-Aggressions, Micro-Resistance, and Ally Development in the Academy
• Presumed Incompetent: Race, Gender, and Class in Academia
• Successful Strategies for Faculty Diversity: Valuing Faculty Work that Promotes Equity
• Teaching in Color: Effective Teaching Strategies for Faculty of Color