Indiana University Bloomington
PA-7: Support for Underrepresented Groups

Indiana University prohibits discrimination and harassment based on arbitrary considerations of such characteristics as age, color, disability, ethnicity, sex, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, or veteran status. The Office of Affirmative Action works to ensure compliance with federal, state and university equal employment opportunity and affirmative action policies and requirements. These procedures guide the Office of Affirmative Action when handling any incident of alleged discrimination related to any of the IU campuses.

Official Policy: Non-Discrimination/Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action
UA-01
https://policies.iu.edu/policies/ua-01-equal-opportunity-affirmative-action/index.html

Indiana University pledges itself to continue its commitment to the achievement of equal opportunity within the University and throughout American society as a whole. In this regard, Indiana University will recruit, hire, promote, educate, and provide services to persons based upon their individual qualifications.

As required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Indiana University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in its educational programs and activities, including employment and admission. Questions specific to Title IX may be referred to the Office for Civil Rights or the University Title IX Coordinator.

Indiana University shall take affirmative action, positive and extraordinary, to overcome the discriminatory effects of traditional policies and procedures with regard to the disabled, minorities, women, and veterans.

IU has an electronic Bias Report mechanism where faculty, students, and staff can submit incidents of bias via an online portal. https://reportincident.iu.edu/index.html

IU uses a four-step process to respond to bias incidents: https://reportincident.iu.edu/images/home/bias_process.jpg

A campus team of trained university officials privately reviews all submitted bias incident reports with responses typically 1-2 business days of reporting an incident. The university's response includes:
- Conversation(s) centered around the incident and impacted person(s)
- Refer reporter to appropriate campus offices that can effectively respond
- Refer impacted to support resources
- Incident assessment, response plan
- Ongoing support and check-ins

IU's Bias Response team provides support resources to impacted parties, promotes education and dialogue, and affirms the university’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. The role of the bias response team includes:
- Conversation(s) centered around the incident and impacted person(s)
- Refer to support services or offices who can appropriately respond
- Log all reported incidents and track for trends
- Notify campus leaders of ongoing bias incidents and trends
- Educate and consult the campus community about bias
- Inform the campus community about our work through informational meetings and annual reports

* The IU Office of the Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Multicultural Affairs (DEMA) connects approximately 2,500 minority pre-college students and families with IU each year, including half-day, full-day, overnight, and summer programs: https://diversity.iu.edu/community-engagement/index.html
DEMA's overnight Spring Shadow program is a three-day academic and residential program for tenth and eleventh graders. Participants have the opportunity to attend classes with their mentors to learn about campus resources and financial aid and stay overnight on campus. There is no cost to students or families to participate in Spring Shadow, and meals and housing are provided.
https://collegeready.indiana.edu/programs/spring-shadow.html
* The IU Kelley School of Business hosts two "MEET Kelley" immersive camp experiences for students considering a Kelley School degree from under-represented groups. The program is for high school students and all expenses are paid: https://kelley.iu.edu/programs/undergrad/pre-college/meet-kelley/index.html
* IU Kelley School of Business hosts an "Up-Next Business Academy" is a program for Indiana High school students from under-represented groups monthly, and provides transportation for some students: https://kelley.iu.edu/programs/undergrad/pre-college/up-next.html
* The IU Kelley School of Business hosts an immersive camp called “Young Women’s Institute” for female high-school students from all populations. https://kelley.iu.edu/programs/undergrad/pre-college/ywi.html
* The IU President’s Diversity Initiatives seek to broaden the participation of underrepresented minority (URM) students pursuing M.F.A. and Ph.D. degrees at Indiana University. The URM designation applies to racial, ethnic, gender, and disability classifications. http://graduate.indiana.edu/doc/shared/presidents-diversity-initiatives-brochure.pdf
* The IU 21st Century Scholars Program was created in 1990 to provide academic and social support for low-income students who receive the Indiana 21st Century Scholarship Promise funded by the Indiana Commission for Higher Education (CHE). The early commitment college promise program funds up to 4-years of tuition and mandatory fees at IUB. IUB students who receive the Indiana 21st Century Scholarship may qualify to receive the Covenant funded by the IU Office of Scholarships. http://21centuryscholars.indiana.edu
* The IU Groups Scholars Program was created in 1968 as a way to increase college attendance among first-generation, underrepresented students at Indiana University. The IU Groups Scholars Program provides academic, financial, and social support to help students attain a bachelor's degree at Indiana University. The program offers an extensive student support system, including academic advising, tutoring, enrollment in specialized courses, and activities designed to foster academic success and degree completion. http://groupsscholars.indiana.edu
* The IU Hudson & Holland Scholars Program (HHSP) is a scholarship and support program for high-achieving underrepresented minorities. The program provides a variety of support services to address the holistic needs of student participants in the program. HHSP students are some of the best and brightest students at IU whose presence and contributions enrich the learning environment by living the HHSP motto: Leadership, Engagement, Academics, and Diversity. https://hudsonandholland.indiana.edu/
* The IU Community & School Partnerships (CSP) helps high school students from minority and underrepresented populations take advantage of all the opportunities that postsecondary education has to offer at IUB. Part of this commitment includes connecting pre-college students and their families to various programs on-campus that help make the college transition to IU as smooth as possible. http://collegeready.indiana.edu
* The IU Office of the Vice Provost for Diversity and Inclusion (OVPDI) develops, encourages, and facilitates programming related to diversity issues at IU, and encourages recruitment of underrepresented students, faculty and staff. http://provost.indiana.edu/ovpdi/index.html
* The IU African American Arts Institute (AAAI) is a performing arts program that focuses on the rich and varied traditions of African American heritage. The institute consists of three ensembles: 1) African American Choral Ensemble, 2) African American Dance Company, and 3) Soul Revue. The institute also host summer camps for underrepresented high school students. https://aaai.indiana.edu/index.html
* The IU Getting You into IU (GU2IU) is a multi-day recruitment program that brings underrepresented and minority prospective Ph.D. and M.F.A. applicants to Indiana University Bloomington to learn about the programs they are interested in applying and to get a first-hand view of the campus and community. IU pays all the costs of the visit, including lodging, transportation, meals, and travel to and from the airport. The program is open to underrepresented and minority undergraduate seniors and master’s students interested in applying to specific Ph.D. and M.F.A programs. https://graduate.indiana.edu/about/diversity/visit-iu.html
For information on these and other programs, please visit: https://ovpdi.indiana.edu/index.html
Faculty
Faculty search committees must themselves be diverse; women and minority members should be included according to IU's Academic Recruitment and Search Guide, titled "Achieving a Diverse Faculty."
Position announcements must "stress Indiana University's commitment to diversity and add wording indicating the person in the position will need to interact with a diverse student and faculty community."
All Position Announcements include inclusive language.

The IU Bloomington Campus Diversity plan has several stated objectives for improving diversity among faculty. These include:
- Increase diversity within major administrative support areas of the campus.
- Recruit and retain minority faculty members, as is done through the Office of Strategic Hiring and Support (SHS), the Office of Academic Support and Diversity (OSAD), the Office of Affirmative Action.
- Sharpen the campus’ diversity vision by streamlining, coordinating, and organizing the way departments hire, support, and retain faculty members.
Staff
The IU Office of the Provost & Executive Vice President has established the IU Office of the Vice Provost for Diversity and Inclusion (OVPDI) in 2017 to recruit diverse faculty and staff from underrepresented groups.
As a result of a recent third-party audit of IU's diversity measures, IU is in the process of examining existing staff recruitment measures and increasing those measures. https://diversity.iu.edu/about/diversity-assessment.html
Existing measures includes policies for Fair Treatment in the Workplace (including a bias-free environment), and Affirmative Action Recruitment. Additionally, all supervisors must attend Equal Opportunity Employment training. (https://expand.iu.edu/browse/e-training/hr/courses/hr-iub-eeo)
Human resources policies can be viewed here: http://policies.iu.edu/policies/categories/human-resources/index.shtml
Further, the IU Bloomington Professional Council (BPC), which represents staff and advocates for hiring processes, includes a representative from the IU Office of the Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Multicultural Affairs (OVPDEMA). The IU OVPDEMA strives to foster an inclusive environment that promotes and nurtures diversity, broadly defined, on all campuses of Indiana University. To fulfill its mission, the office strategically focuses on the recruitment and retention of faculty, staff and students; the promotion of a welcoming and positive campus climate; and engagement in outreach and advocacy locally and nationally. The IU OVPDEMA Annual Reports can be downloaded at: https://diversity.iu.edu/about/data-reports-plans.html#annual-report

Indiana University Bloomington has many affinity groups and support programs to support underrepresented groups on campus.

Such groups include:
* Academic Support Centers: offer a wide range of free services, including tutoring, advising, workshops, review sessions and other academic support.
* African American Arts Institute: Performing arts program that focuses on the rich and varied traditions of African American heritage. The institute funded by IU OVPDEMA consists of three ensembles: 1) African American Choral Ensemble, 2) African American Dance Company, and 3) Soul Revue. https://aaai.indiana.edu/index.html
* Archives of African American Music and Culture: A group devoted to establishing a unique collection of primary and secondary source materials on African-American music and culture where such materials are scarce or nonexistent. https://aaamc.indiana.edu/
* Asian Culture Center: Provides a home for all students interested in Asian cultures. https://asianresource.indiana.edu/index.html
* Black Film Center/Archive: The Black Film Center/Archive was established in 1981 as a repository of films and related materials by and about African Americans. https://bfca.indiana.edu/index.html
*Center for Excellence for Women In Technology (CEWiT) has a mentor/mentee program (student mentees may be partnered with a faculty OR staff mentor), an annual symposium, professional development opportunities for faculty, staff, and students, job boards, annual free head-shots for faculty, staff, and students, and other resources aimed to support women in the traditionally male-dominated tech sector. https://womenandtech.indiana.edu/index.html
* First Nations Educational & Cultural Center: Provides educational programs, recruitment and support for Native American students. https://firstnations.indiana.edu/index.html
*The Faculty and Staff for Student Excellence Mentoring Program (FASE): provides faculty, staff, and peer mentors, and a variety of cultural and social activities. https://mentoringservices.indiana.edu/mentoring/fase/index.html
*Groups Scholars Program: supports, retains, and increases the graduation rates of first-generation, low-income, and disabled students by helping them adjust to university life. https://groupsscholars.indiana.edu/index.html
* Helene G. Simon Hillel Center: Dedicated to assuring that Jewish college students have opportunities to recognize and develop their leadership potential and to express their Jewishness in many traditional and creative ways. https://iuhillel.org/
*The Hudson & Holland Scholars Program: provides financial and educational support to academically talented undergraduate students from traditionally underrepresented minority populations at IU Bloomington. HHSP focuses specifically on students pursuing degrees in biology, chemistry, computer science, mathematics, or physics. https://hudsonandholland.indiana.edu/
* International Center, Leo R. Dowling: Acts as a link between international students, international student organizations and the Indiana University Bloomington community. https://abroad.iu.edu/about/ic-history.html
* Islamic Center of Bloomington: Provides a mosque for Islamic students.
* La Casa Latino Cultural Center: Purpose is to achieve through educational and social programs, a greater historical, political and cultural awareness regarding Latina/os. https://lacasa.indiana.edu/index.html
* Mentoring Services and Leadership Development, Office of: makes available a variety of mentoring services and initiatives to support student success, with special emphasis in working on behalf of students from under-represented and/or under-served populations. https://mentoringservices.indiana.edu/index.html
* Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center: Focused on supporting the teaching, research, and service missions of the university, while also providing a positive and hospitable social environment for African American and African students, faculty, and staff. https://blackculture.indiana.edu/index.html
* IU 21st Century Scholars Program: Provides academic and social support for all students who receive the Indiana 21st Century Scholarship at IUB funded by the Indiana Commission for Higher Education (CHE). The scholarship funds low-income Indiana students with up to 4 years of tuition at IUB. http://21centuryscholars.indiana.edu
* IU Office of the Vice Provost for Diversity and Inclusion (OVPDI): Develops, encourages, and facilitates programming related to diversity issues, and support services for students, faculty and staff of diverse ethnicities. https://ovpdi.indiana.edu/index.html
* IU OVPDEMA Overseas Studies and Scholarship Program: Provides overseas scholarships to underrepresented students within OVPDEMA (21st Century Scholars, Groups Scholars, Hudson & Holland Scholars). Study abroad programs include both faculty-led study abroad programs and custom-designed programs created by OVPDEMA. http://ovpdemaoverseas.indiana.edu
* IU Thomas I. Atkins Living Learning Center: Provides underrepresented groups a supportive living environment where students serve others, study African American culture and history and succeed academically at IUB. https://atkins.indiana.edu/
* Groups Scholars Alumni Association: Provides alumni from the IU Groups Scholars Program to remain in touch with other Groups Scholars alumni through professional and social events. https://alumni.iu.edu/chapters-groups/groups/index.html

Faculty and Staff:
* The Employee Assistance Program provides professional, confidential counseling to faculty and staff free of charge. https://hr.iu.edu/benefits/eap.html
* The Office of International Services provides counseling to faculty, staff, and students, in addition to financial resources, where legally permissible, to faculty, staff, and students who experience difficulty in language barriers, immigration-related legal concerns, and transition difficulties. https://ois.iu.edu/index.html
* The LGBTQ+ Culture Center offers support to faculty, staff, and students, including counseling, safe space, and mental health assistance. https://lgbtq.indiana.edu/index.html

IU Bloomington’s Future Faculty Teaching Fellows (FFTF) program gives doctoral students an opportunity to spend one or two semesters as a half-time faculty member at another IU campus or university. The fellows experience what it’s like to teach and be a faculty member there, preparing them for successful academic careers at similar campuses. https://facet.iu.edu/services/future-faculty/index.html

IU has a number of programs aimed at preparing future faculty. Every year, IU hosts a free, day-long Preparing Future Faculty Conference (https://sociology.indiana.edu/graduate/preparing-future-faculty.html)
Both of these preparing future faculty programs are open to all graduate students to participate (PFFC) or to apply (FFTF). In terms of helping to increase the diversity of higher education faculty, there are additional programs specifically for underrepresented graduate students.

The President’s Diversity Initiatives seek to broaden the participation of underrepresented minority (URM) students pursuing M.F.A. and Ph.D. degrees at Indiana University. The URM designation applies to racial, ethnic, gender, and disability classifications. These initiatives include awards and fellowships, recruitment support, and mentoring and community-building programming. Examples include the President's Diversity Recruitment Fellowship, the President's Diversity Dissertation Year Fellowship, and the Diversity Doctoral Scholar Program. The annual Innovators and Trailblazers Seminar Series hosts a speaker whose research highlights different factors that enable or inhibit the success of URM graduate students, and the Compact for Diversity runs an annual Institute on Teaching and Mentoring that brings together undergraduates, graduates, and postdocs for workshops and networking with other URM scholars. For information on these and other programs, please visit:
http://graduate.indiana.edu/doc/shared/presidents-diversity-initiatives-brochure.pdf

The Faculty Mentoring Initiatives was implemented in January 2016, and more than 100 faculty members are already serving as mentors to nearly 150 students. Part of IU Bloomington’s Mentoring Services and Leadership Development Program, a unit within the Office of the Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Multicultural Affairs (OVPDEMA), the program aims to enhance undergraduate student retention and timely degree completion through faculty mentoring students one-on-one or in small groups via email, phone, in person and at large group events with campus partners. Mentors and protégés will determine when, where, how often, and for how long they will meet during the semester, while faculty will receive support from the Faculty Mentoring Initiatives staff. https://mentoringservices.indiana.edu/mentoring/FMI/index.html