Report on Expanding the Role of the Elon University Multicultural Center

Strategy 2: Develop a Comprehensive Multicultural Education Experience for All Students
In order to succeed in a complex and changing world, Elon students must encounter and learn from diversity in meaningful ways. In collaboration with major campus stakeholders, the Center will develop a comprehensive multicultural education program which will provide members of the university community with experiences that focus on the acceptance and celebration of individual identities, identifying and dismantling stereotypes, and fostering values of respect.

By leveraging a dynamic range of speakers, celebrations of diverse cultures, interactions among students of diverse populations, and new technology resources and simulation programs, the Center will develop a comprehensive multicultural education experience on campus. Listed below are initiatives recommended for developing the campus multicultural education experience during the next five years.

1. Multicultural Education as a Core Elon Experience
Multicultural education should become a prominent aspect of an Elon education, prominent enough to function as an Elon Experience, as well as being a graduation requirement similar to the Experiential Learning Requirement. The Multicultural Center should be charged with working with the General Studies Committee to formulate a process for students to engage in a Multicultural Education requirement, as based on completing a combination of options, such as those presented below. For example, students might complete the Diversity Certificate Program, ME designated courses (e.g. ANT 121 Cross Cultural Encounters, GST 200 level “Culture of” Egypt, China, Japan, etc.) or complete a substantial cultural immersion experience.

a. Create a multicultural education committee to develop co-curricular experiences that will be included in a students’ Elon Experiences Transcript. The committee would also suggest the General Studies Committee develop the specifications and structure of a Multicultural Education ELR, including campus definition, ME course designation process, etc.

b. Multicultural Education Certificate Program: Charge the Multicultural Education Committee with developing a Multicultural Education Certificate Program based on the previous work of the 2006 report of the Student Life Diversity Committee, which was originally designed as a small cohort program. This program will now serve as one method for completing the Multicultural Education Elon Experience.

i. The one year program focuses on the development of Students’ Personal Identities and Cultural Competencies.
ii. The three phases of the program include Exposure, Self Exploration, and Integration.
iii. See Appendix I for the complete 2006 Diversity Certificate Program.

c. Identify and create Cultural Immersion Experiences, which count for inclusion as a non-credit experience to be posted on the Elon Experience Transcript and/or satisfy the ELR:
 

i. Short-Term Cross-Cultural Immersions

1) Through intra-Campus Collaborations with Truitt Center, Kernodle Center, El Centro, Women’s and Gender Studies, Spectrum, African/African-American Studies, Asian Studies or other appropriate offices, plan and implement a series of short-term, cross-cultural experiences. Examples include: attending religious ceremonies, cultural festivals, LGBT awareness experiences, Occaneechi Tribal Council, MLK Day of Service, rural or farming community experiences and service work in areas with extensive diversity.
2) Consult with Multicultural Centers at area Universities to co-sponsor immersion experiences.

ii. Global Immersions
 

1) Develop global immersion experiences to infuse into current Study Abroad  courses, or develop new curricular or co-curricular experiences in which students interact deeply in a new culture. These experiences should include intensive and intentional one-on-one and small group engagement, with the primary focus of experiencing life from the point of view of that culture.
2) Consider how to develop these global immersion experiences in collaboration with existing Elon Centers in other parts of the US and internationally (e.g. collaborate with El Centro de Español to organize a cultural immersion experience in Costa Rica, pairing Elon students in home-stays with families which include local college students).

2. Transformative Multicultural Education Experiences

a. Implement “Difficult Dialogues” workshops and discussions to teach students how to approach, confront and discuss difficult or taboo topics related to diversity and difference. This annual series will help students work and talk with others different from themselves.

b. Develop a residential Multicultural Learning Community, in the style of a “real world” immersion house, which dovetails with the Multicultural Certificate Program. This Living-Learning Community would be for students of all backgrounds to enhance their multicultural competence and promote diversity education on campus.

c. Explore creating a first year summer experience designed to engage students in real life multicultural experiences.

d. Student Leadership Development

i. Develop the current DEEP program (Diversity Education Emerging Program) into a premier student-led program providing peer-to-peer education through trainings, workshops and programs.
ii. Provide diversity training for all student leaders through summer common leader training (for Resident Assistants, Orientation Leaders, Moseley Front Desk staff, etc.).
iii. Work with the Center for Leadership to develop a leadership and diversity training workshop for student leaders in all student organizations and student programs.
iv. Develop a plan for an ESTV student-led, diversity-themed talk show featuring diverse perspectives and a WSOE diversity-themed talk radio show.

e. Work with the Truitt Center for Religious and Spiritual Life to develop programming centered around examining the connections between spirituality, faith, culture, roots, and family.

f. Collaborate with the Isabella Canon Center for International Studies to develop an International Dialogue Lecture Series (e.g., Human Rights, Law, Global Economy, Civil Liberties).

g. Infuse multicultural education into New Student Orientation and Elon 101
 

i. Require all incoming first-year students to complete a mandatory online cultural awareness assessment and diversity training tool.
ii. Involve the Center with training for Orientation Head Staff and Orientation Leaders so they may function with a greater cultural awareness.
iii. Coordinate among the Center, New Student Orientation and Student Activities to provide a campus-wide Diversity Education Program, with a speaker/presentation during first week of class on a theme or topic related to diversity and multiculturalism.
iv. Consider collaboration between the Directors of the Multicultural Center and Elon 101 to ensure that multicultural education is included in the Elon 101 program; develop a diversity education tool for use in all Elon 101 sections.

3. Incorporate Multicultural Education for Faculty and Staff
 

a. Partner with Human Resources and the Center for Teaching and Learning to develop an online diversity education tool, and bring in external consultants for faculty and staff diversity training to promote critical pedagogy.

b. Offer a series of Lunch and Learn multicultural education workshops to:

i. Assist faculty/staff in handling “Difficult Dialogues” (difficult curricular and co-curricular discussions related to multicultural topics).
ii. Provide strategies for teaching, advising and working on a campus with diverse populations.
iii. Broaden faculty/staff awareness of issues relevant to the local community (immigration, racial profiling, high school dropout and retention, shifts in industry, etc.).

c. Collaborate with the Director of General Studies to utilize Monday Global Studies luncheons to offer Faculty/Staff training on issues of Diversity/Multiculturalism.

d. Provide intensive diversity education workshops in the summer for staff both in-person and as an online tool.

e. Investigate piloting a cultural immersion trip for faculty and staff, targeting those who have not had similar experiences. Locate an agency specializing in cultural immersion/service programs and send 12 faculty/staff from across a broad spectrum of the University.