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Office of Multicultural Services
Learning Outcome Planning Objectives
Division of Student Affairs
Objective 1: Students who participate in the human relations/diversity training will be able to identify and better understand the role of social identities in creating a safe campus environment where individuals are valued and respected, at the same time can live, proclaim, and celebrate the multiplicity of their social identities.
Rationale: In support of this goal the Office of Multicultural Services plans the following:
- It is best not to assume that everyone has an expansive knowledge and experience with the full range of social identities and similarly sensitivity to the spectrum therein.
- To offer a training opportunity where no area of identity is taboo is both educational and liberating. This will allow for growth in understanding of self as well as understanding and empathy for the journey and struggles of each other.
Measures:
- The human relations/diversity training will be offered to students, faculty and staff twice a year in October and April. Trainings will consist of a series of 3 2-hour sessions and a longer weekend timeframe consisting of 10 hours (for a total of 16 hours). A pre and post test will be administered to ascertain level of learning surrounding understanding of social identities. The Cultural Competence Self Assessment Instrument by Randall B. Lindsey, Kikanza Nuri Robbins, and Raymond D. Terrell will be used as a pre and post test (see attached). We will also do a post training focus group exploring the qualitative nature of valuing and respecting self and others to understand what impact the training has delivered. The focus group will use the outline of the Cultural Competence Self Assessment Instrument as a guide for areas to cover. After the training, participants will have a clearer understanding of the meaning of the various social identities although not necessarily Òfeel goodÓ about their own identity. This is a longer process. We will create or recommend follow-up activities to participants in order to continue their growth and expand their knowledge base.
Objective 2: By joining cultural clubs and organizations, students will gain understanding of their particular culture and learn to express appreciation in an informative way to others about aspects of their culture.
Rationale:
- At the university level, students developmentally are searching and testing their own sense of self. The Office of Multicultural Services wants to provide a healthy setting where underrepresented students can explore their self identity and also challenge them to look beyond themselves.
Measures:
- Students will be encouraged by the current membership of cultural clubs as well as by Office of Student Life to join cultural clubs and organizations through the sponsoring of social events, presentations, booth information sharing at club fair, and general marketing. The recruitment effort will be further enhanced by the Office of Multicultural Services working closely with the Multicultural Club Council in hosting special events such as Diversity WeekÑone of the days will be in outreach and recruitment for the various cultural clubs. The Office of Multicultural Services will do intermittent as well as formative assessments of their growth. Assessments will take place as follows: September, February, and May. Students will complete a likert scale questionnaire with questions related to the goals of the individual organizations. For example: Have you found supportive relationships within your organization? Has your leadership experience improved as a result of being part of this organization? Has this organization practiced advocacy? What three cultural traits have you learned or have been reinforced as a result of your participation with this club? Respondents will indicate through a likert scale (5 Ð strongly agree, 4 Ð agree, 3 Ð neutral, 2 Ð disagree and 1 Ð strongly disagree) their responses to the statement. Students will also show growth and appreciation for their heritage by their willingness to assume leadership positions within the respective organizations. This measure will focus on the active membership from the multicultural clubs that are part of the Multicultural Club Council.
Objective 3: The Diversity Team, after assessing the office locations/spaces at the university will identify areas for growth and service to enhance our cultural mindfulness in serving the historically underrepresented ULV student population.
Rationale:
- There has been a demographic transition taking place at the university, where there are a high percentage of historically underrepresented students (over 50%). At the same time, the university has a low percentage of staff (% unknown) and faculty (17%)* who are part of these historically underrepresented populations. Therefore, there is a learning curve to familiarizing ourselves with the needs of these underrepresented students. (*Fall 2005 Data)
- Staff working within their respective office areas will become more conscious about how their space and services are being perceived. This review of their space and services will allow them to adjust accordingly.
Measures:
- During spring 2007, the Diversity Team, being chaired by the Director of the Office of Multicultural Services, began a pilot program of assessing the office/space locations of three departments within the Division of Student Affairs. All the departments from the Division of Student Affairs will be assessed by April 27, 2007. The information gathered from the initial pilot will be reviewed on Wednesday, March 21, 2007. Slight modifications are being made to the instrument. During the month of August 2007, information will be sent to the university community advising them of the initiative to assess the various departments for cultural mindfulness. This will help establish a mind set for improving our service to underrepresented students. The Diversity Team, upon completion of the assessments, will meet with the appropriate individuals to help them understand the needs that have been identified.
Questions regarding the programs and outcomes of the Office of Multicultural Services can be addressed to Daniel Loera at 909.593.3511 ext. 4253 or loerad@ulv.edu .
