SIE Progress – Student Affairs

The Student Affairs Division is focusing on three main goals that encompass the overarching SIE framework. Each department within Student Affairs has been creating and implementing tangible strategies and initiatives in their areas as well as working in partnership on cross-divisional efforts. Each strategy is focused on one or more of the following goals:

Goal 1 - Promote inclusive language: Recognizing the importance of verbal, written and audio communication and the value of being inclusive in our word choice through all mediums. Examples include:

• The Career Development Center: supplies pronoun stickers for student and employee nametags as well as includes accommodation request language on their career fair posters.
• The Dean of Students Office: through the implementation of Workday Student, the office has created a more seamless process for students to change their names in WPI systems.

Goal 2 - Amplify Diverse Student Voices and Experiences: Providing a platforms and support for historically underrepresented students to share their experiences and make space for change. Examples include:

• The Office of Accessibility Services: collaboratively ran a Disability Disclosure in the Workplace workshop to highlight current disability law and the interactive process.
• the Housing & Residential Experience Center: expanded their Leaders Engaging in Advocacy and Diversity (L.E.A.D) workshops.
• The Student Activities Office: created a Transformational Leader program in collaboration with OMA.
• The Office of International Student Life: facilitated listening sessions and workshops on international students and their wellness at WPI.

Goal 3 - Staff Development through DEI Education: Encourage departments to internally grow and develop both department-specific and collaborative DEI initiatives that can be shared as tools within Student Affairs to learn from. Examples include:

• The Student Development and Counseling Center: engaged in professional development trainings to increase competency in equitable and inclusive therapeutic services.
• Student Health Services: increased cultural competency training for all student-facing staff.
• Physical Education, Recreation & Athletics: engaged in a series of departmental workshops to connect DEI topics, mental health wellness for students and colleagues, as well as furthering Title IX discussions.