Cornell University
PAE-T2-3: Student Training Opportunities

The Dean of Students Office at Cornell serves as the umbrella organization to provide all students with services and programs including those which support cultural competence, diversity, and issues related to inclusion. http://dos.cornell.edu/diversity/ During the month of August, the office of Residential Programs (which reports through the Dean of Students Office/Student and Academic Services) trains the 140 or so student staff members who serve as leaders in on-campus residential communities. Most of these students are undergraduate Resident Advisors (RAs) but student staff also reside within Cornell's graduate communities. In early August, new RAs are provided with "Ally training," which is a 2 1/2 hour workshop that teaches student staff how to be leaders in a diverse community. Additionally, returning RAs are provided at least one other departmental training session which goes more in depth about issues of diversity, inclusion, and cultural competence. All student staff are also trained on how to access and use the University's Bias Protocol process. Finally, follow up conversations on these topics occur withing individual community staff teams to be sure staff are prepared to address concerns related to their specific living community. Ongoing training occurs throughout the year during staff meetings, in January, and at inservice training sessions. The Dean of Students Office employs approximately 50 students who work in the community centers and student union. These staff are provided a two-hour training session in August that helps them understand their own identities in the context of being a member of a diverse community. Ongoing diversity awareness is incorporated at the end of each shift, as employees are asked to reflect and report on the program attendance by a variety of demographics. At the beginning of the second semester in January, a shorter program may be offered in this topic area. Ongoing training is provided as needed. The Office of Academic and Diversity Initiatives provides programming and services for all students at Cornell as well as providing services for specific groups. http://www.oadi.cornell.edu/about/index.cfm The Intercultural Center (626) is located on Cornell's North Campus. This location is strategic in that all first-year students pass by the center everyday as they travel to central and other parts of campus for classes and activities. The Intercultural Center provides trainings, activities, and resources related to issues of diversity and inclusion. During New Student Orientation in August, all first-year students (approximately 3,200) are required to attend "Tapestry of Possibilities" which is a live presentation by a student theater troupe. After several "vignettes" (all focused on issues of diversity and inclusion) are presented, first-year students are encouraged, in a facilitated discussion with peers, to discuss and comment on the various scenarios presented. Finally, given the importance of diversity initiatives at Cornell, information, trainings, and activities are provided in many areas of the University including Student and Academic Services, academic settings, and through clubs and activities. Cornell also offers an academic program in intergroup dialogue every semester where students work in depth on advanced coursework in this area of developing skills to work effectively across difference. www.idp.cornell.edu Cornell's association with the Posse Foundation provides an annual leadership retreat called the Posse Plus Retreat for 100 students every spring as well as specific leadership retreats for lgbt students, men of color, women of color, those with psychological disabilities, and a host of others.