Southern Oregon University
PA-7: Support for Underrepresented Groups

SOU added the following statement to the footer of all externally facing websites, "Southern Oregon University is committed to providing equal opportunity in its recruitment, admissions, educational programs, activities, and employment without discrimination on the basis of age, disability, national origin, race, color, marital status, religion, gender, or sexual orientation. For any equity-related concerns, including Title IX, please contact Angela Fleischer, Director of Equity Grievance/Title IX Coordinator at equitygrievance@sou.edu ."
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:

https://inside.sou.edu/assets/policies/Equal-Opportunity-Harassment-and-Sexual-Misconduct-Revised-9.21.pdf
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 according to the procedures below and any applicable collective bargaining agreement.

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-Revised-9.21.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 Review 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.

Protocol
Clicking on the Report Bias here link will take you to the SOU Cares Report where you have the ability to select the Hate/Bias Report type. This report will be submitted to the chair of the Bias Response Team who will then assemble the rest of the group to discuss the nature of the incident and reach out to the parties who are impacted. You can also meet with a member of the Bias Response Team to process the incident.

We recognize that incidents related to diversity and inclusion can be complicated and complex, so even if a member of the campus community (faculty, staff, student, or visitor) isn’t sure if what they experienced is bias, we encourage them to submit a report or talk to someone on the bias response team. In case of an emergency, we urge folks to contact Campus Public Safety.

The Diversity Advocate Program (a three-workshop series) is currently under revision for future implementation. The goal of this program is to train employees to advocate for diverse and inclusive practices. A plan will be developed to review placing postings descriptions in diverse publications.
The university also has formal partnerships and programs to recruit students from underrepresented groups, including the Pirates to Raiders and Medford to Raiders Pipeline Programs, Academia Latina, Latino Family Day, Konoway (Native Youth Program), and the position of Native Nations Liaison, who recruits students from native nations.

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 resources for individuals from underrepresented groups. These include the newly redesigned Social Justice & Equity Centers for Sustainability and Basic Needs Resources, Racial Justice, Gender & Sexuality Justice and Veterans and Military Family Members. In addition, SOU is also a host site to Success at Southern TRiO program, SOU Raider Mentor Program, LEAD Mentorship Program and identity-based clubs.

The SOU Social Justice and Equity Center is rooted in the framework of intersectionality and exists to provide advocacy, education, and community building that centers the needs of students of color, queer and trans students, women and femmes, and sustains a supportive community space for all students. The SJEC provides education, services, programs, and outreach to support student success and increased graduation rates of students at Southern Oregon University.

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 SOU Raider Mentor Program is committed to strengthening the experiences of first year, transfer, and current students through fostering of a meaningful connection with an academically successful and committed mentor. The mentor relationships increase participation in student life, exposure to student leadership, and academic success. The mentoring program pairs students with returning students to assist, connect, and increase retention rates for students. The SOU Raider Mentor Program will provide a greater sense of individual agency, as well as affiliation with the diverse and inclusive community at SOU.

Programs to support faculty and staff from underrepresented groups include Employees of Color Lunches and LGBTQ Lunches. SOU's Vice President of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion will host lunch 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/gsj/resources.html