SJFC - Multicultural Affairs&Diversity

A. Cultural awareness programs

nIncrease participation and campus-wide commitment in multicultural events and student-sponsored events.
nDeliver more informative and aesthetically designed publications that promote the programs and initiatives provided by the Office that focus on issues of equity, social justice and multiculturism.
nConnect campus initiatives to those forwarded by the broader community.

B. Academic programs

nFoster institutional environments and academic offerings that enhance learning and a respect for racial and ethnic diversity.
nBetter prepare our students to be more competitive for future work and career possibilities in a global economy and to be better citizens in a multi-cultural global community.

C. Education

nOffer diversity awareness retooling for faculty/staff and students to promote the College’s vision to create an inclusive environment, particularly for in-coming first-year students.
nProvide retooling opportunities for faculty/staff to learn and to implement strategies that improve classroom dynamics, particularly those that impact intercultural communication.
nImprove and acquire more exposure to and education about diversity- related focal areas, particularly the connections between diversity, learning and social environment.

D. Recruitment and retention

nAssist admissions and other offices’/programs’ efforts in recruitment and persistence goals aimed to create a more diverse environment.

nCreate a multi-level mentoring program for students of color, designed to increase academic success and social/personal development. The multiple levels include faculty/staff, SJFC ALANA and other students, and high school students from historically underrepresented groups.

E. Student leadership

nCreate a mentoring program to develop leadership skills among students of color to constructively channel their concerns/issues for the betterment of the campus social climate.
nIncrease the support base (e.g., financially, participation) for mentoring programs through grant writing efforts.
nSupport the Alumni of Color’s (AOC) and Alumni Association’s goal to provide opportunities for all students (regardless of race, ethnicity, or class) to feel connected to the campus and to its active alumni body.

Sample Programs, Initiatives, Collaborations, Partnerships [pdf]

Vision Pledge

“Partners in Diversity Pledge”

(Developed and used by permission of the Mayor’s Commission on Race and Ethnicity,

In order to create a culturally inclusive community where all people are respected:

Vision (Declaration of Tolerance)

Declaration of Tolerance
Tolerance is a personal decision that comes from a belief that every person is a treasure. I believe that America's diversity is its strength. I also recognize that ignorance, insensitivity and bigotry can turn that diversity into a source of prejudice and discrimination.

To help keep diversity a wellspring of strength and make America a better place for all, I pledge to have respect for people whose abilities, beliefs, culture, race, sexual identity or other characteristics are different from my own.

Declaration taken from Southern Poverty Law Center’s Teaching Tolerance Initiative at Tolerance.org


ABOUT US \| RECRUIT/RETAIN \| CULTURAL AUDIT PROJECT (CAP) \| CAMPUS DIVERSITY ADVISORY BOARD (CDAB)
View the 2006 Schedule [PDF] or [HTML]	Office of Multicultural Affairs & Diversity Programs St. John Fisher College Rochester, NY CELEBRATION, INFORMATION, EDUCATION, COLLABORATION, AFFIRMATION, TRANSFORMATION ARLETTE MILLER SMITH is Associate Provost/Dean of the Office of Multicultural Affairs and Diversity Programs. Miller Smith also co-directs the African American Studies minor (AFAM). Arlette is proud to have received from St. John Fisher’s student body, the prestigious Father Dorsey Award given to a faculty member who contributes time and resources to the development of student programming initiatives and projects. Miller Smith began her work at Fisher in the summer of 1998 with a dual appointment as an assistant professor of English and associate dean for diversity initiatives. In June, 2002, she was appointed the Dean who oversees diversity initiatives at the College. In August of 2002, diversity programs became the Office of Multicultural Affairs and Diversity Programs. Dean Miller Smith is the recipient of a number of community awards, including the Genesee Valley Girl Scouts of America’s 2005 Woman of Influence in the Arts Award; the Rochester Urban League’s Educator of the Year Award; the Links' Outstanding Community Educator Award, and the Negro Business and Professional Club's prestigious Sojourner Truth Award. Arlette has served on several local boards and community initiatives including the Mayor’s Bi-Racial Community Partners Program, the Commission on Race and Ethnicity, the Greater Rochester Diversity Council, and the New York-Penn Regional Red Cross Blood Services Board. Miller Smith also is the founder/executive director of AKOMA, Rochester’s African American Women’s Gospel Choir, which is comprised of more than fifty women from twenty churches throughout the Rochester area. Dr. Miller Smith also is a BlackLiteraryHerstorian, poet, vocalist, motivational speaker and dramatist who uses her passion for words, rhythm and rhyme; her training as a college professor of African American Literature, Creative & Developmental Writing/Composition; her desire to be a sultry singer of songs; and her upbringing in Vicksburg, Mississippi during the searing sixties to chronicle the lush literary history and culture of her African, yet American people. GOLDIE D. ROSS serves as Administrative Assistant to the Offices of Multicultural Affairs and Diversity Programs. Goldie joined the St. John Fisher Family in the fall of 2001. KIMBERLY SANDERS is a student participant in the CONNECT Mentoring Program for students from racialized and other underrepresented groups at St. John Fisher College. She is a sophomore who is majoring in English. Kim is active in Fisher’s Black Student Union. MARIA FREITAS Mission At St. John Fisher College our mission is to promote the multiple dimensions of diversity, particularly race, age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, socioeconomic level, religion, and physical ability through education, celebration, evaluation and affirmation. We are committed to building an enriched academic community that embraces and acts upon the values forwarded in our Fisher Creed: respect, open-mindedness, integrity, diversity, responsibility, education, leadership, and growth. Vision We envision a teaching/living/learning community that incorporates and centers diversity within our academic core values and one that forwards those values as a explicit example of our Basilian motto: to teach “goodness, discipline and knowledge.” Goals For multiculturalism and diversity to become an integral and shared commitment at St. John Fisher College (SJFC), we will: · Provide a rich variety of initiatives and programs highlighting cultural awareness on campus and in the broader community · Broaden academic programming to promote our student body's preparation for full participation in the global community · Provide, for the campus community, education on multiculturalism and diversity issues include diversity training, assessment, classroom management, cross-cultural communication and conflict resolution · Support and forward the recruitment and retention of students, faculty and staff from racialized ethnicities and other underrepresented populations. · Deliver a system of support, which includes mentoring, orientation and leadership development, for students from racialized ethnicities and other underrepresented populations mentorship, orientation and leadership development Objectives A. Cultural awareness programs nIncrease participation and campus-wide commitment in multicultural events and student-sponsored events. nDeliver more informative and aesthetically designed publications that promote the programs and initiatives provided by the Office that focus on issues of equity, social justice and multiculturism. nConnect campus initiatives to those forwarded by the broader community. B. Academic programs nFoster institutional environments and academic offerings that enhance learning and a respect for racial and ethnic diversity. nBetter prepare our students to be more competitive for future work and career possibilities in a global economy and to be better citizens in a multi-cultural global community. C. Education nOffer diversity awareness retooling for faculty/staff and students to promote the College’s vision to create an inclusive environment, particularly for in-coming first-year students. nProvide retooling opportunities for faculty/staff to learn and to implement strategies that improve classroom dynamics, particularly those that impact intercultural communication. nImprove and acquire more exposure to and education about diversity- related focal areas, particularly the connections between diversity, learning and social environment. D. Recruitment and retention nAssist admissions and other offices’/programs’ efforts in recruitment and persistence goals aimed to create a more diverse environment. nCreate a multi-level mentoring program for students of color, designed to increase academic success and social/personal development. The multiple levels include faculty/staff, SJFC ALANA and other students, and high school students from historically underrepresented groups. E. Student leadership nCreate a mentoring program to develop leadership skills among students of color to constructively channel their concerns/issues for the betterment of the campus social climate. nIncrease the support base (e.g., financially, participation) for mentoring programs through grant writing efforts. nSupport the Alumni of Color’s (AOC) and Alumni Association’s goal to provide opportunities for all students (regardless of race, ethnicity, or class) to feel connected to the campus and to its active alumni body. Sample Programs, Initiatives, Collaborations, Partnerships [pdf] Vision Pledge “Partners in Diversity Pledge” (Developed and used by permission of the Mayor’s Commission on Race and Ethnicity, City of Rochester, 2000) In order to create a culturally inclusive community where all people are respected: I pledge to honor the human spirit that expresses itself through all races and ethnic groups. I pledge to look inward to examine my own actions and reactions around race and ethnicity. I pledge to demonstrate empathy when listening to the stories of others around race and ethnicity. I pledge to see both the diversity and the unity in our common humanity. I pledge to teach my children to value people from cultural backgrounds different from ours. I pledge to challenge racial and ethnic stereotyping when I hear others speaking in derogatory generalizations. I pledge to accept responsibility to address social issues that affect human beings because of their race or ethnicity. I pledge to increase my understanding of cultural diversity by exploring another culture through reading a book or magazine, viewing a movie or video, going to an ethnic restaurant, festival or place of worship. I pledge to foster intercultural dialogues and relationships by making a new friend from a culture different from mine. Vision (Declaration of Tolerance) Declaration of Tolerance Tolerance is a personal decision that comes from a belief that every person is a treasure. I believe that America's diversity is its strength. I also recognize that ignorance, insensitivity and bigotry can turn that diversity into a source of prejudice and discrimination. To help keep diversity a wellspring of strength and make America a better place for all, I pledge to have respect for people whose abilities, beliefs, culture, race, sexual identity or other characteristics are different from my own. Declaration taken from Southern Poverty Law Center’s Teaching Tolerance Initiative at Tolerance.org

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Office of Multicultural Affairs & Diversity Programs

St. John Fisher College

Rochester, NY

Mission

Vision

We envision a teaching/living/learning community that incorporates and centers diversity within our academic core values and one that forwards those values as a explicit example of our Basilian motto: to teach “goodness, discipline and knowledge.”

Goals

For multiculturalism and diversity to become an integral and shared commitment at St. John Fisher College (SJFC), we will:

· Provide a rich variety of initiatives and programs highlighting cultural awareness on campus and in the broader community

· Broaden academic programming to promote our student body's preparation for full participation in the global community

· Provide, for the campus community, education on multiculturalism and diversity issues include diversity training, assessment, classroom management, cross-cultural communication and conflict resolution

· Support and forward the recruitment and retention of students, faculty and staff from racialized ethnicities and other underrepresented populations.

· Deliver a system of support, which includes mentoring, orientation and leadership development, for students from racialized ethnicities and other underrepresented populations mentorship, orientation and leadership development

Sample Programs, Initiatives, Collaborations, Partnerships [pdf]

Vision Pledge

“Partners in Diversity Pledge”

In order to create a culturally inclusive community where all people are respected:

I pledge to honor the human spirit that expresses itself through all races and ethnic groups.

I pledge to look inward to examine my own actions and reactions around race and ethnicity.

I pledge to demonstrate empathy when listening to the stories of others around race and ethnicity.

I pledge to see both the diversity and the unity in our common humanity.

I pledge to teach my children to value people from cultural backgrounds different from ours.

I pledge to challenge racial and ethnic stereotyping when I hear others speaking in derogatory generalizations.

I pledge to accept responsibility to address social issues that affect human beings because of their race or ethnicity.

I pledge to increase my understanding of cultural diversity by exploring another culture through reading a book or magazine, viewing a movie or video, going to an ethnic restaurant, festival or place of worship.

I pledge to foster intercultural dialogues and relationships by making a new friend from a culture different from mine.

Vision (Declaration of Tolerance)