Student Leaders Call on USU to Strengthen DEI Training for Faculty and Staff

By Max Roberts | First published: January 12, 2022 | Last updated: January 13, 2022

Through a pair of resolutions unanimously passed this week, student body officers of the Utah State University Student Association (USUSA) petitioned the university administration to bolster and streamline the institution’s diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) resources for faculty and staff. Academic Senate Resolution 2022-01 and Executive Council Resolution 2022-02 are the first official recommendations presented to the USU administration regarding DEI.

“The passing of this legislation is an important and essential step in the right direction to becoming a more equitable and inviting institution,” S.J. and Jessie E. Quinney College of Natural Resources Senator Meridian Wappett — who co-sponsored the Academic Senate resolution — said on Monday. “I am so excited to see where USU goes from here and the strides we can make to minimize discrimination at our school.”

The identical resolutions advise university leadership to first establish an action plan to create a “DEI toolkit” of trainings and resources, which would be incentivized for use by faculty and staff in employee evaluations, onboarding, orientation trainings and other similar areas. Student leaders additionally suggested that this initiative be led by the university vice president for DEI, a new executive position created by USU in July 2021 and is expected to be hired in April.

“This legislation is important because students deserve to feel safe and seen on this campus,” Organizations and Campus Diversity Vice President and resolution sponsor Emilee Harmon said. “It’s our job as elected officials to take the necessary steps toward USU becoming a more inclusive place. My experience at USU has been entrenched in racism and microaggressions, and I don’t want any other student to experience that.”

According to the 2019 USU Diversity Campus Climate Survey: “Students with any minoritized identity status experienced USU’s campus climate as less satisfying and reported less of a sense of belonging on campus. Students with a disability, LGBTQIA+ students, students of color and international students reported feeling significantly less safe in the classroom and found USU to be less welcoming.” The survey also found that 47% of respondents had experienced or witnessed discrimination, bias, harassment and other negative interpersonal experiences at USU.

In response to these concerns about the treatment of marginalized individuals on campus, the majority of students and nearly three-quarters of faculty and staff support mandatory diversity training for all members of the university community. USU does not currently mandate DEI training for the general student and employee population, though several trainings are offered by various institutional organizations. To help make these resources more accessible, USUSA officers have also recommended that the university consolidate and centralize a comprehensive DEI toolkit to be housed in the office of the DEI vice president.

Harmon — who sponsored the Executive Council resolution and serves on the search committee for the DEI vice president — was also a co-sponsor of ECB 2022-01 in September, which established a standing USUSA inclusion statement and a requirement for officers to adhere to the principles of DEI. The legislative actions taken this week build upon the inclusion statement by calling for the student government to bolster and streamline its own DEI resources in conjunction with the university’s efforts.

ASR 2022-01 co-sponsor Celeste Rodriguez — who serves as the senator for the College of Humanities and Social Sciences — said this legislation has been in progress for several years and that it is thanks to former senators Olivia Hoge and Maria Catalano that these resolutions passed this year.

“I am excited we are taking real steps within USU to combat some of the issues facing minority students,” Rodriguez said. “There is always work to be doing to improve our university, but this is a step in a great direction.”

The USUSA Academic Senate passed its second reading of its resolution on Monday followed by the Executive Council on Tuesday. The resolutions will be formally presented to the university president’s executive committee at a Stater’s Council meeting on Jan. 25.

The full text of ASR 2022-01 and ECR 2022-02 can be read at usu.edu/legislation.

About USUSA

The Utah State University Student Association (USUSA) is the hub for student involvement and leadership at Utah State University. As the student government elected by the USU student body, the association works to improve the quality of campus life and enhance student wellbeing. USUSA is an organization made by the students, for the students, and because of students – every student at USU is a member of the association and can actively participate in all activities, committees, clubs, events and initiatives.