Diversity certificate program graduates 74 faculty and staff

Woman with certificate flanked by 3 other women

The Diversity and Inclusion Certificate program graduated another 74 faculty and staff members during the 2018-19 school year, with 37 receiving their certificates at a ceremony on Sept. 10.

The program, which is run by Human Resources and the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, requires participants to complete two core courses on Fostering a Diverse and Inclusive Environment and Preventing Sexual Misconduct, along with four electives on topics such as Microaggressions, Religion Diversity, Workplace Bullying and Intercultural Competency.

PITT RECOGNIZED
FOR DIVERSITY WORK

The certificates are just one part of the University’s diversity initiative, which was recently recognized for the third year in a row with the Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. Pitt is among 93 schools that will be recognized in the November 2019 issue of the magazine.

The Diversity and Inclusion Certificate program is entering its fourth year at Pitt. A new round of workshops will begin Sept. 27. The workshops are open to all faculty and staff. Those interested can take classes over several semesters to get the certificate or can just sign up for individual workshops. The classes can be taken during work hours — at the discretion of supervisors for staff members — without using vacation or personal time.

More classes will be offered in the spring and certificates will be awarded toward the end of the school year.

Class times this semester for the two required classes, which have filled up quickly in the past, are:

  • Fostering a Diverse and Inclusive Environment: The Why and How — 9-11 a.m. Sept. 27, Oct. 23 or Dec. 12. 342 Craig Hall

  • Preventing Sexual Misconduct: Understanding Your Responsibility — 1-3 p.m. Oct. 10 or Dec. 18. 342 Craig Hall

Other courses being offered this semester include:

  • Baby Boomers to Millennials: Respect and Productivity in the Workplace

  • Different Like You: Recognizing Stereotypes and Removing Barriers

  • Gender Theory, Gender Diversity, and Trans-Inclusive Spaces

  • Intercultural Competency

  • Microaggression: Recognizing and Challenging a Subtle Form of Bias

  • Religion Diversity: Challenging Assumptions to Advance Inclusion

  • Workplace Bullying: Understanding a Barrier to Equal Opportunity

Find the full schedule and register for the workshops on the Office of Human Resources website.

— Susan Jones

 

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