{"567781":{"#nid":"567781","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia Tech Moves Forward with 11 Recommendations from the Black Student Experience Task Force to Ensure a Welcoming, Inclusive Campus","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ECo-chaired by Institute Diversity Vice President Archie Ervin and Student Life Vice President and Dean of Students John Stein, the Black Student Experience Task Force presented its 11 recommendations to President G.P. \u201cBud\u201d Peterson late last spring. All recommendations were approved and will be implemented over the next three academic years.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWhile the task force was formed at the start of fall semester 2015 following allegations that several black female students were racially harassed on two separate occasions on campus, the group\u2019s charge was to examine the broader issues of climate and culture at Georgia Tech,\u201d said Stein.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERecommendations were based on the research findings and report from an independent consultant, who conducted more than 130 interviews\u2014both focus groups and one-on-one discussions\u2014with undergraduate and graduate students as well as faculty and staff. Student members of the task force also gathered feedback directly from the student body to form a list of issues for the Institute to consider.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cAfter reviewing the collective research findings and the consultant\u2019s report, the task force outlined 11 recommendations that fall into four broad categories: programs; trainings; physical spaces; and planning and assessment,\u201d said Ervin.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe 11 recommendations can be summarized as follows (not ranked by priority):\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch6\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPrograms \u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h6\u003E\u003Cp\u003E1. \u003Cstrong\u003EChallenge \u003C\/strong\u003E\u2013 Expand OMED\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/omed.gatech.edu\/challenge\/\u0022\u003EChallenge\u003C\/a\u003E enrollment from 75 to 175 underrepresented minority and women students per program over the next three years. Challenge helps prepare incoming freshmen for a successful college career, both academically and socially, during a five-week intensive summer program.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E2. \u003Cstrong\u003EFASET \u003C\/strong\u003E\u2013 Orient all new students and their parents, families, and guests to issues of diversity and inclusion and share campus resources that support Georgia Tech\u2019s commitment to diversity. At least one new session at \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/nssp.gatech.edu\/content\/769\/orientation-programs\u0022\u003EFASET\u003C\/a\u003E will highlight the successes of underrepresented students, faculty, and staff at the Institute.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E3. \u003Cstrong\u003EIntercultural Student Programs\u003C\/strong\u003E \u2013 Create and support collaborative intercultural student programs that foster interactions and learning among diverse student communities at Georgia Tech.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E4. \u003Cstrong\u003EReporting System \u003C\/strong\u003E\u2013 Create a data infrastructure or submission tool that allows students to submit information detailing any experienced discrimination on campus. Submissions would remain anonymous.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch6\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETrainings\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h6\u003E\u003Cp\u003E5. \u003Cstrong\u003ECommunity Orientation and Training \u003C\/strong\u003E\u2013 Launch online and in-service training for faculty and staff that addresses issues of gender and ethnic diversity, equity, and inclusion within the student experience. Following this training, faculty and staff will serve as ambassadors for an equitable and inclusive Georgia Tech.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E6. \u003Cstrong\u003ECultural Inclusivity Leadership Training \u003C\/strong\u003E\u2013 Expand and modify leadership training for leaders of student organizations to include modules on cultural inclusivity and managing student diversity. Incorporate these modules into \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/enrichment.gatech.edu\/gt-1000-first-year-seminar\u0022\u003EGT 1000\u003C\/a\u003E classes and other opportunities.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E7. \u003Cstrong\u003EGreek Education\u003C\/strong\u003E \u2013 Create a subcommittee of fraternity and sorority members who will plan programming on issues of race, gender, sexual orientation, and sexual assault for members of \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/greek.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EGreek Life\u003C\/a\u003E. This subcommittee will also be tasked with evaluating the current state of Greek Life at Georgia Tech.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch6\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPhysical Spaces \u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h6\u003E\u003Cp\u003E8.\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;Multicultural Center \u2014\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;Create spaces where all students feel welcome on campus, in support of students\u2019 overall adjustment and well-being.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch6\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPlanning and Assessment\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h6\u003E\u003Cp\u003E9. \u003Cstrong\u003EStrategic Plan \u003C\/strong\u003E\u2013 Examine how student diversity is operationalized through Georgia Tech\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.gatech.edu\/about\/strategic-plan\u0022\u003EStrategic Plan\u003C\/a\u003E. Prioritize and fund proposals that enhance diversity, equity, and inclusion experiences for students.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E10. \u003Cstrong\u003ECampus Climate Assessment \u003C\/strong\u003E\u2013 Conduct a broad-based campus climate assessment by an independent entity to obtain a deeper understanding of the concerns and experiences of all students at Georgia Tech.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E11. \u003Cstrong\u003EInstitutional Climate Change and Growth\u003C\/strong\u003E \u2013 Establish a joint student advisory group to advise and recommend actions that enhance diversity and inclusion experiences among Tech students.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI applaud the work of the Black Student Experience Task Force members who volunteered their time and experience to create a more inclusive academic environment,\u201d Peterson said. \u201cDiversity is a community value at Georgia Tech, and embracing different perspectives is critical to the success and vitality of our campus community. These recommendations will help us enhance a culture of close collaboration, global perspective, and intercultural respect.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Black Student Experience Task Force comprised 13 student, faculty, and staff members. Student Government Association President Nagela Nukuna was one of those members: \u0022Working with such a dedicated group of student leaders and administrators on the task force helped push forward the recommendations. Finding actionable solutions to a problem that also is a societal issue was not easy, but I think we\u0027re taking great steps toward progress.\u0022\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMoving forward, an implementation team from Institute Diversity, Student Life, and Undergraduate Education will meet regularly to monitor progress on these recommendations. Additionally, the Student Intercultural Advisory Committee was recently established to offer guidance on diversity and inclusion and to participate in these implementation meetings in the future.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor any questions about the Black Student Experience Task Force and\/or its recommendations, email \u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:institutediversity@gatech.edu\u0022\u003Einstitutediversity@gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E. For more information, visit \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/diversity.gatech.edu\/blackstudentexperiencetaskforce\u0022\u003Ediversity.gatech.edu\/blackstudentexperiencetaskforce\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":null,"format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":"","field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The Black Student Experience Task Force presented its 11 recommendations to President G.P. \u201cBud\u201d Peterson late last spring. All recommendations were approved and will be implemented over the next three academic years."}],"uid":"27465","created_gmt":"2016-08-25 12:57:54","changed_gmt":"2016-10-08 03:22:26","author":"Annette Filliat","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2016-08-25T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2016-08-25T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"567841":{"id":"567841","type":"image","title":"Black Student Experience Task Force","body":null,"created":"1472145042","gmt_created":"2016-08-25 17:10:42","changed":"1475895374","gmt_changed":"2016-10-08 02:56:14","alt":"Black Student Experience Task Force","file":{"fid":"218306","name":"bse_task_force_members_1_.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/bse_task_force_members_1_.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/bse_task_force_members_1_.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":398833,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/images\/bse_task_force_members_1_.jpg?itok=-Cxml-ux"}},"568011":{"id":"568011","type":"image","title":"Challenge Program","body":null,"created":"1472146816","gmt_created":"2016-08-25 17:40:16","changed":"1475895374","gmt_changed":"2016-10-08 02:56:14","alt":"Challenge Program","file":{"fid":"218307","name":"challenge_program_participants_2015.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/challenge_program_participants_2015.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/challenge_program_participants_2015.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":650648,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/images\/challenge_program_participants_2015.jpg?itok=JeJjYC4X"}}},"media_ids":["567841","568011"],"groups":[{"id":"1182","name":"General"}],"categories":[{"id":"129","name":"Institute and Campus"}],"keywords":[{"id":"170623","name":"black student experience task force"},{"id":"4100","name":"challenge"},{"id":"57231","name":"climate assessment"},{"id":"2362","name":"faset"},{"id":"21601","name":"greek life"},{"id":"9034","name":"GT 1000"},{"id":"9171","name":"institute diversity"},{"id":"167488","name":"strategic plan"},{"id":"172286","name":"Student Intercultural Advisory Committee"},{"id":"167141","name":"Student Life"},{"id":"1561","name":"undergraduate education"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39501","name":"People and Technology"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71871","name":"Campus and Community"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAnnette Filliat\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECommunications Manager\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EInstitute Diversity\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:annette.filliat@gatech.edu\u0022\u003Eannette.filliat@gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["InstituteDiversity@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}