Report on Expanding the Role of the Elon University Multicultural Center
Strategy 1: Expand Support and Services for Students of Diverse Populations
The historic roots of diversity at Elon University, as well as the foundational work of the Center, are entwined with the African-American student community on campus. Therefore, primary to the functioning of the Center and the success of making Elon a diverse campus is providing high quality services and support for African-American students. In the same spirit, the Center must now provide support and services for the constantly expanding populations of diverse students at Elon. The Center must serve as the hub of mentoring for all students of diverse populations. Mentoring offerings coming from the Center should be expanded and enhanced so that all students of diverse populations have opportunities to receive academic and social support.
1. Campus Diversity Statement
a. Convene a committee to write a campus diversity statement, which will clearly explain the value of diversity on campus and the centrality of diversity to the university mission.
b. The committee should both consult other university diversity statements and develop a process for including students, faculty and staff in writing/responding to the statement.
c. After approval by the senior staff and the president, distribute statement to entire campus for feedback and discussion.
d. Ensure the statement is used as a reference point for this document and campus multicultural education efforts.
2. Co-Curricular Support/Mentoring
a. Expand the SMART (Student Mentors Advising Rising Talent) mentor program to be the overarching umbrella of all Center mentoring programs.
i. Expand SMART to provide mentors for all incoming students of diverse populations.
ii. Streamline mentoring in the SMART, Watson and Odyssey programs to reduce repetition.
iii. Include more developmental model and programming on topics such as transition skills, time management skills, four year planning, study abroad/internship preparation, identifying campus resources, and developing social networks needed for identity formation and transition to a predominantly majority institution.
iv. Develop short and long-term plans to add assessment components (focus groups, surveys, etc.) in order to study longitudinal results of the program and determine the most effective practices/strategies.
v. Develop methods for SMART mentors to communicate with, recruit and provide training for prospective students.
vi. Develop methods to provide faculty/staff Hand-to-Hand mentors more opportunities to mentor and advise students on planning and connecting coursework and out-of-classroom learning experiences.
b. Provide support for LGBT students and education about sexual orientation.
i. Plan and implement a Safe Zone program for LGBT students to easily identify faculty and staff trained to provide support and serve as allies.
ii. Charge the Multicultural Center staff with providing support to Spectrum (Elon gay-straight alliance student organization) and Spectrum advisors and collaborate with departments across the university to ensure support for LGBT students (i.e. Athletics, Greek Life, Counseling Center, etc.).
iii. Evaluate policies, programs, and services to ensure they are inclusive of the needs of the LGBT community.
iv. Further develop/support a faculty and staff affinity group based on sexual orientation.
c. Create gender-specific support groups for students of diverse populations.
i. Develop a program for male students to promote academic excellence and integrity, advocate for responsible living by male students, and dispel myths and misconceptions of college males.
ii. Develop women’s group to uplift and promote the well-being of women on campus, promote unity among campus women, foster female students’ personal growth and development and engage women in service in the local community.
d. Explore methods for developing transitional experiences focusing on both academic and social needs of first year students of diverse populations.
i. Consider a summer first year experience program, for Watson and Odyssey scholars and other interested students, to orient students to the opportunities and programs of the university and prepare to be fully engaged academic citizens.
ii. Consider an intensive pre-orientation experience to connect students of diverse populations with diversity advocates, co-curricular advisors and academic advisors.
e. Consider methods for emergency financial support to assist students of diverse populations:
i. Work with the Truitt Center for Religious and Spiritual life to provide financially support from the Chaplain’s Discretionary Fund for unforeseen medical/dental/mental health or family emergency situations.
ii. Collaborate with the SGA Loan program and Textbook Loan program to ensure availability of emergency funds and short-term loan funds to meet curricular and co-curricular needs (books, travel/transportation home and supplies) of students with high-financial need.
f. Collaborate with the Career Center to increase opportunities and developmental workshops for students from diverse populations.
i. Plan a “Beyond Elon” lecture series focused on students of diverse populations, including sessions on financial planning, networking, alumni relations and life-planning sessions.
ii. Leverage internship, networking and career development opportunities for underrepresented students. Work with Career Center staff to identify these distinct opportunities, present workshops to Center students and develop annual opportunities.
iii. Create a para-professional position to serve as peer educator linking students of diverse populations with Career Services.
iv. Create a Multicultural Career Fair to broaden student exposure to employers with high diversity needs.
g. Recreate the Multicultural Leadership Roundtable (leaders of all multicultural student organizations) as the student advisory committee for the Center to assisting in promoting a healthy campus climate, identify diversity needs/initiatives and implement diversity programs and services, and link to other student initiatives on campus.
3. Scholarship/ Student Academic Success Programs
a. Expand the Odyssey and Watson Programs
i. Work with Advancement and Admissions to grow the Odyssey program, scholarship offerings and increase the population of diverse students on campus.
ii. Develop a Watson/Odyssey video allowing students to tell donors how these programs impacted their lives.
iii. Increase the number of returning students and current faculty and staff serving as mentors and resources.
iv. Redefine the four years of the Watson and Odyssey students around leadership, identity development, global perspective and civic responsibility.
4. Curricular Support: Work with Academic Advising on support mechanisms for students of diverse populations.
a. Develop academic peer educators to provide regular academic success workshops each semester on time management, study skills and academic expectations across cultural boundaries.
b. Expand the current Early Warning system to include specific procedures and support for students of diverse populations, so that faculty, Academic Advising and Center staff are working proactively and collaboratively to connect and support students of diverse populations.
c. Form a retention committee to meet at the end of each semester to review withdrawals by students of diverse populations.
5. Assessment: Develop systematic assessment of campus life and student perception of the Center.
a. Conduct focus groups and surveys with students who do and do not use the Center (see example in Appendix V).
b. Administer, analyze, and report on the results of a campus climate survey (see Appendix VI for types of available instruments).
c. Institutionalize the use of campus climate surveys or other appropriate means to continue to monitor the accomplishment of campus climate goals and track students’ attitudes toward and experiences with diversity at Elon.
d. Develop an annual climate report to be shared broadly and openly, and to be discussed with the entire campus community including the President and the Board of Trustees.
6. Policies
a. Review/streamline processes for handling discrimination and integrate them with existing practices.
b. Develop policies/strategies that foster and promote best practices and a campus environment supportive of students from diverse backgrounds.
