“The Elephant in the Room: Conversation and Action for Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity in the Classroom and Beyond” begins for the spring semester on January 31 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. with Thomas Segar, vice president for Student Affairs, leading a workshop, “When Saying the Wrong Thing is Okay.”
The program will be held in room 114 of the Humanities and Social Sciences building.
The Elephant in the Room series of workshops is designed to be a part of the IUP community's ongoing commitment to conversations and positive action about diversity and inclusion. The workshops are free and open to all members of the IUP community.
Additional programs in the series planned for this semester include:
February 5, 12, 19, 25, and March 4, “Leadership in a Multi-Cultural Society,” presented by Kevin Foster, assistant director of student involvement and leadership development. This is a weekly workshop held from 12:15 to 1:15 p.m. in Elkin Hall Great Room.
February 8, 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Start Smart, presented by the President's Commission on the Status of Women and AAUW of Indiana County, “How to Negotiate Your Starting Salary.” Humanities and Social Sciences building room 114.
February 21, 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., IUP Safe Zone Training workshop, Humanities and Social Sciences building room 125. Participants must complete a brief online orientation at the Safe Zone by 9:00 a.m. on February 10 prior to attending this session.
March 20, 3:30 to 5:00 p.m., Brittany Pollard, Lorraine Guth and Hopeton Bailey (Department of Counseling), “Strategies to Intentionally Use Group Work to Transform Hate, Facilitate Courageous Conversations and Enhance Community Building,” Humanities and Social Sciences building room 114.
April 17, 3:30 to 5:00 p.m., Rachel DeSoto-Jackson (Department of Theatre, Dance, and Performance), “Tools for Dialogue” workshop, Humanities and Social Sciences building room 114.
Complete of four events over the academic year will earn participants a Certificate of Training in Diversity and Inclusion.
The series is organized by Women's and Gender Studies and the Center for Teaching Excellence. Co-sponsors include the Office of the Provost, John J. and Char Kopchick College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, the Department of Theatre, Dance, and Performance, and the Department of Sociology.