Southern Oregon University
PA-6: Support for Underrepresented Groups

https://inside.sou.edu/assets/policies/Equal_Opportunity_Harassment_and_Sexual_Misconduct_121718.pdf Southern Oregon University has an extensive policy for Equal Opportunity, Harassment, and Sexual Misconduct. The full policy is available at the link provided, but the nondiscrimination clause of the policy reads as follows: A. SOU POLICIES ON HARASSMENT, SEXUAL MISCONDUCT AND OTHER FORMS OF DISCRIMINATION 1. Southern Oregon University Policy on Nondiscrimination SOU adheres to all federal and state civil rights laws banning discrimination in institutions of higher education. SOU will not discriminate against any employee, applicant for employment, student or applicant for admission on the basis of race, religion, hearing status, color, sex, pregnancy, political affiliation, religion, creed, ethnicity, national origin (including ancestry), citizenship status, physical or mental disability, body size, age, marital status, family relationship, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status (including special disabled veteran, Vietnam-era veteran, or recently separated veteran), predisposing genetic characteristics, domestic violence victim status or any other protected category under applicable local, state or federal law, including protections for those opposing discrimination or participating in any grievance process on campus or within the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or other human rights agencies. This policy covers nondiscrimination in employment and in access to educational opportunities. Therefore, any member of the campus community, guest or visitor who acts to deny, deprive or limit the educational, employment, residential or social access, benefits or opportunities of any member of the campus community on the basis of their actual or perceived membership in the protected classes listed above is in violation of the University policy on nondiscrimination. When brought to the attention of the University, any such discrimination will be appropriately remedied by the University.

SOU’s Equal Opportunity, Harassment, and Sexual Misconduct Policy outlines campus response to Gender violence, bias and discrimination concerns. Every affiliation on campus is beholden to the same policy and has access to the same process. The policy can be found here: https://inside.sou.edu/assets/policies/Equal_Opportunity_Harassment_and_Sexual_Misconduct_121718.pdf. Anyone who has experienced bias, discrimination, or sexual harassment can seek confidential information and support. They are entitled to information without commitment to a formalized process and can take time to decide if they want to pursue any form of action. Steps are taken to ensure supportive measures can be put in place regardless of whether a formal complaint process in enacted. There is a Bias Response Team comprised of constituents across campus who serve as a quality control group, reviewing types of complaints as well as quality of response. The process of monthly review allows campus to respond in real time to any trend or continued issues with mezzo level intervention that transcends individual interventions. SOU’s process is designed to encourage reporting and allow as much choice throughout the reporting process as possible.

The Diversity Advocate Program is a three workshop series to train employee to advocate for diverse and inclusive search processes. The session topics are the Value of Diversity, Implicit Bias in the Search, and Nuts and Bolts of being a Diversity Advocate. We have also worked on resources to place position descriptions in diverse publications. The university also has formal partnerships and programs to recruit students from underrepresented groups, including the Pirates to Raiders Pipeline Program; Bulldogs to Raiders, Academia Latina, Latino Family Day, Konoway ( Native Youth Program), and the position of Native Nations Liason, who recruits students from native nations.

Southern Oregon University has several programs and resource centers for individuals from underrepresented groups, including our Multicultural Resource Center, Queer Resource Center, Success at Southern TRiO program, identity-based clubs, the First Year Mentor Program, and LEAD Mentorship Program. Success at Southern, a TRiO Student Support Services Program, is committed to increasing the college retention and graduation rates of eligible participants. By providing a variety of services to meet students' needs, we assist eligible participants in clarifying their goals, succeeding academically in their chosen program of study, and graduating with a bachelor's degree in a timely manner. The First Year Mentor Program is committed to strengthening the first year experience through provision and fostering of a meaningful connection with an academically successful mentor and established student leader. The mentor relationships will increase first-year participation in student life, exposure to student leadership, and academic success. The mentoring program pairs first-year students with returning students to assist, connect, and increase retention rates for students from the first year to the second year. The First Year Mentor Program will provide a greater sense of individual agency, as well as affiliation with the diverse and inclusive community at SOU. The mission of the Queer Resource Center of Southern Oregon University is to provide visible and accessible advocacy for the needs of queer students while expanding awareness and knowledge of queer issues on campus and in our community. The QRC works to encourage relationship building and support systems in order to empower every person to have a positive university experience, to grow as a self-aware individual, and to be a responsible community member. The Southern Oregon University Multicultural Resource Center (MRC) endeavors to create an inclusive community that recognizes, celebrates, and supports the diverse life experiences of the SOU community. Toward this goal, we seek to support the African-American, Latino/Hispanic American, Native American, Pacific Islander, American Asian, and Queer communities of SOU by maintaining an open center where these students and staff may connect with a variety of constituencies including students, student organizations, administration and staff to explore the multifaceted issues of race, class, ethnicity, gender, and sexual orientation. Programs to support faculty and staff from underrepresented groups include Employees of Color Lunches and LGBTQ Lunches. SOU's Director of Diversity & Inclusion hosts lunches each term for underrepresented employees to come together. A special lunch is held for employees of color and one for LGBTQ employees. They tend to have about 15-20 employees of color attend and about 4-10 LGBTQ employees attend.

Southern Oregon University supports and prepares students from underrepresented groups for potential careers as faculty members through the McNair Scholars Program. The Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program was established in 1989, and is a Federal TRIO Program funded at select institutions across the United States and Puerto Rico by the U.S. Department of Education. The McNair Program is designed to prepare eligible undergraduate students for doctoral studies through involvement in research and other scholarly activities. In October 2003, Southern Oregon University received a grant from the U.S. Department of Education and became one of 151 McNair Programs in the United States. The SOU McNair Program is specifically designed to ensure that Scholars complete their undergraduate degrees, enroll in a graduate program, and have the knowledge, skills, and background preparation that are required to successfully complete a Ph.D. program.

https://inside.sou.edu/mrc/index.html https://inside.sou.edu/success/index.html https://inside.sou.edu/firstyear/index.html https://inside.sou.edu/qrc/index.html https://inside.sou.edu/mcnair/index.html https://inside.sou.edu/diversity/precollege.html