Iowa State University
PA-7: Support for Underrepresented Groups

In accordance with federal and state law, Iowa State University (“ISU” or the “university”) does not discriminate on the basis of age, color, creed, disability, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, and protected U.S. veteran status (collectively referred to as “Protected Status”) in its programs, activities, or employment.

This policy prohibits all forms of unlawful discrimination and harassment based on Protected Status. In addition, this policy prohibits purposefully assisting in an act that violates this policy (i.e., complicity) and prohibits retaliation against any individual who in good faith participates in protected activity pursuant to this policy. This policy also provides for the prompt and equitable resolution of reports of discrimination, harassment, complicity, and retaliation. The university’s Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO) is responsible for administering this policy on behalf of the university.

https://www.policy.iastate.edu/policy/discrimination/

Campus Climate Response Team (CCRT)
https://www.campusclimate.iastate.edu/

The CCRT reports to the Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion is jointly coordinated through the Office of Equal Opportunity and the Dean of Student’s Office. It serves as a university-wide strategy resource team that will develop and facilitate the implementation of appropriate responses to campus climate incidents impacting the ISU community. The CCRT Leadership Team includes representatives from the Dean of Students Office, Multicultural Student Affairs, Provosts Office, ISU Police Department, Diversity & Inclusion Office, and Office of Equal Opportunity.

Iowa State University is committed to addressing incidents that impact our campus climate, especially those that are bias-related. Through the work of the CCRT, potential gaps in ISU policies and procedures that may impede the university’s ability to minimize campus climate incidents may be addressed, increasing the likelihood of creating a more welcoming and inclusive environment.

Campus Climate Reporting System
https://www.campusclimate.iastate.edu/system

Community members can report incidents that negatively impact our campus climate through this online system. Incidents reported are brought to the attention of and responded to by the Campus Climate Response Team (CCRT).

CCRT Process and Flowchart
https://www.campusclimate.iastate.edu/system/process

Iowa State University is committed to addressing incidents that impact our campus climate. When an individual files a report in person or via online form, the report is sent to the coordinator of the Campus Climate Response Team. From here, the coordinator will inform the staff members who comprise the CCRT. Offices represented on this team include the following: Office of Equal Opportunity, Dean of Students, Office of the Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion, Iowa State University Police Department, Office of the Senior Vice President and Provost, and the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs.

The team then makes an initial assessment of the behavior or incident. As part of this assessment, the team will examine (1) any risk of harm to the broader community, (2) the affected individual's desired course of action for addressing the incident, (3) any investigatory measures that must be made in order to understand the situation more fully, and (4) any resources or protective measures that can be put in place to protect the health and safety of those involved (e.g. medical care, counseling, no-contact orders, assistance with academics). A staff member on this team will contact the person who made the report to gather this information for the assessment and begin connecting them to resources.

At the time an individual files a report, the individual does not have to decide on a desired course of action; this can come at a later time. The University will make every effort to respect the decision of the affected individual, but the University must move forward with cases in which there appears to be a direct threat to any individual or the University as a whole. There are resources available to support affected individuals regardless of the course of action they choose.

Students -
The Latino/a Family Visit Day is an event hosted by The Iowa State Chapter of Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity Inc. in collaboration with the Office of Admissions. This day is designed to give students and their families a chance to learn about the opportunities and services available to Latino/a students. Throughout the visit day, participants will be able to learn about different student organizations and resources on campus, explore the campus, meet with staff, and hear from current students about their experiences as a Latino/a student on campus. This visit day will be completely in Spanish.
https://apps.admissions.iastate.edu/visit/special_visits_intro.php?type_id=1003

The ISU 4U Promise partnership between King Elementary School, Moulton Elementary School, and Iowa State University promotes college-going in students from these schools. Students who complete fifth grade at King or Moulton will be eligible for tuition awards at Iowa State University.
https://hs.iastate.edu/more/isu-4u/

Multicultural Student Experience Day is designed to give prospective students a chance to learn about the opportunities and services available to multicultural students at Iowa State. The day includes information about scholarships, student organizations, internships, and the admission process. https://apps.admissions.iastate.edu/visit/special_visits_intro.php?type_id=1004

Science Bound is Iowa State University’s premier pre-college program to empower Iowa students of color to pursue degrees and careers in STEM (science technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields. Middle and high school students from Des Moines, Denison, and Marshalltown, Iowa, are engaged. Students participate in the nine-year program when they enter eighth grade and graduate from Science Bound once they graduate from college.
https://www.sciencebound.iastate.edu

Faculty -
Iowa State is part of a national network of universities committed to enhancing the recruitment, hiring and retention of diverse faculty at their institutions. The National Alliance for Inclusive and Diverse STEM Faculty, Aspire, is a three-year program aimed at helping STEM faculty use inclusive teaching practices and participating universities increase the diversity of their STEM faculty. Aspire is co-led by the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) and the Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and funded by the National Science Foundation as part of its INCLUDES initiative. https://www.aspirealliance.org/

Staff -
The Diversity Recruitment and Retention Toolkit is designed to help search committees in each campus unit achieve Iowa State University’s Affirmative Action Plan (“AAP”) goals, as well as to provide a more inclusive, welcoming and productive workplace. The proper use of this recruitment and retention toolkit is to increase the cognitive and identity diversities of teams by ensuring departments receive diverse pools of applicants, and then select applicants from those pools objectively to find the most qualified individual. The process is designed to support the AAP by addressing bias in each stage of the hiring process, promoting awareness to retain employees hired, ensuring employees are integrated into the campus community through mentorship and community resources, and remediating system concerns through effective exit interviews. There are specific resources and websites available for recruitment teams looking to attract individuals from specific identity groups. https://www.eoc.iastate.edu/diversity-recruitment-and-retention-toolkit/resources-and-websites

Students -
The Office of Multicultural Student Affairs (MSA) supports and empowers Iowa State University's students who self-identify as African American, Asian, Pacific Islander, Desi American, Latinx, Native American/Alaskan Native or Multiracial, and advocates for their holistic development across the University.
https://www.multicultural.dso.iastate.edu/

The Center for LGBTQIA+ Student Success develops academic and personal success, community, and leadership for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, intersex, asexual, and allied students. https://center.dso.iastate.edu/

Student Accessibility Services offers assistance related to accommodations to eliminate disability-related barriers so that you have an equal opportunity for success.
https://sas.dso.iastate.edu

Faculty -
ISU ADVANCE acts as a prominent vehicle to recruit, retain, and advance all faculty. Our program transforms structures to enrich Iowa State University faculty careers. Our team works with university administrators, faculty, and staff to cultivate policies, practices, and cultures to achieve a diverse and vibrant faculty across the university community. https://www.advance.iastate.edu

Iowa State has numerous programs to recruit and retain diverse faculty at the department, college and institutional levels. Examples include:
Equity advisers in the colleges who work with deans, diversity committees, department chairs and faculty to implement best practices for faculty searches and support faculty success through the advancement pipeline.
Diverse faculty/staff associations that help underrepresented faculty acclimate to the university and community.
Multicultural liaison officers in each college who serve as a bridge between students, faculty and administrators.
Programming on inclusive classrooms and inclusive teaching resources through the Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching.

Staff -
Faculty and Staff Associations (FSAs) are designed to cultivate and connect Iowa State’s diverse faculty and staff populations to each other and with the greater university community. These groups support recruitment and retention by addressing social and professional components essential to an enhanced quality of life for faculty and staff from underrepresented communities. FSAs align with the university’s strategic goals by positively impacting the ongoing effort to create and support a more inclusive campus community. All FSAs are supported by the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. There are FSAs targeted toward Asian American and Pacific Islanders, Black, Chinese, Hispanic and Latino, and LGBTQIA+ faculty members.
https://www.diversity.iastate.edu/faculty-staff-associations

All -
The mission of the Veterans Center is to strengthen the lives of Veterans, military personnel, their families, and our community - a place for military/veteran-related questions and to connect with others in forming a greater sense of camaraderie around a shared common experience related to the unique challenges associated with transitioning into a university setting.
https://masc.dso.iastate.edu

Staff Recruitment - Iowa State University has promoted the hiring of Veterans by partnering and recruiting with Home Base Iowa (HBI) representatives to increase the number of Veterans applying and being hired, initiated the development of a Regional Higher Education Recruitment Consortium (HERC) to support attracting diversity and dual career candidates, as well as provided applicant resources, and applicant materials for hearing impaired and disability accommodation requests.

Faculty and Staff Associations are designed to connect Iowa State’s diverse faculty and staff populations to each other and with the greater university community. These groups support recruitment and retention by addressing social and professional components essential to an enhanced quality of life for faculty and staff from underrepresented communities.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Advancing One Community Awards - Each January the Iowa State University community observes the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with a campus-wide celebration and the recognition of individuals and groups who have followed the principles of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The Advancing One Community Awards, coordinated by the Office of the Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion, recognize recipients' efforts to create an inclusive university community that embraces justice and equity. Awards are presented annually in January as part of the university's Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration. Up to three awards may be awarded in the categories of faculty/staff, student and/or group.

Campus Conversations - These events bring together the campus community inclusive of students, faculty and staff. Events relate to current events and campus climate.

University Award for Inclusive Excellence - Established in 2017 and awarded annually, Iowa State University's first-ever university-level inclusion award recognizes faculty professional/scientific staff who have advanced the university’s mission of diversity, equity, and inclusion outside of their compensated responsibilities.

Professional & Scientific Council - The Professional and Scientific Council continually strives towards service, advocacy, and representation of the Professional and Scientific Employees of ISU.

Office of Multicultural Student Affairs Office - The Office of Multicultural Student Affairs (MSA) supports and empowers Iowa State University's students who self-identify as African American, Asian, Pacific Islander, Desi American, Latinx, Native American/Alaskan Native or Multiracial, and advocates for their holistic development across the University.

McNair Program - The Iowa State University McNair Program prepares qualified undergraduates for entry to graduate school and completion of a doctoral degree. The primary goal of McNair is to increase the attainment of PhD degrees by first-generation and underrepresented college students. McNair Scholars are afforded many opportunities during their two years of active participation including working with a professor on a research project and navigating the graduate application and admission process.

Preparing Future Faculty Program - The Preparing Future Faculty (PFF) program supplements departmental graduate preparation by offering additional teaching, mentoring, and learning possibilities. These enriching experiences help prepare postdoctoral fellows, Ph.D. students, and master’s students for an academic career and provide further credentialing to be competitive on the academic job market. The overarching goal of PFF is to better prepare graduate students and post-docs for faculty careers at a variety of institutions through a combination of seminars, mentoring, and practical classroom and departmental service experiences.

Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching Symposium - The CELT Teaching Symposium is a half-day program encompassing best teaching practices and student support resources available at Iowa State. New faculty, staff with a teaching role. and graduate teaching assistants will learn from Iowa State’s educators about how to prepare for a successful first semester of teaching, and explore CELT’s services, resources, and professional development opportunities.