Appalachian State University
PA-6: Support for Underrepresented Groups

The Office of Multicultural Student Development (MCSD) at ASU is comprised of the Multicultural Center, The LGBT Center, and the Women’s center. Through educational training programs, individual consultation, group advising, national awareness campaigns, and awareness events directed toward the student body; the Office of MCSD and associated centers operate, create, and enhance programs that promote cultural education, awareness, and tolerance in the local and larger community.

Some of these programs include:

The LEAD program: this program offers mentoring for new students during their first semester at Appalachian.

Although MSD does not offer direct counseling services we do partner with the ASU Counseling Center on the following program. Race Talk is a group therapy group facilitated by a Counseling Center Psychologist that is just for students of color. We piloted this program in the spring of 2015.

The Multicultural Roundtable: The Multicultural Roundtable is composed of student leaders that represent each multicultural organization at Appalachian. This group meets once each month to discuss current issues, build stronger leadership skills, learn about resources at Appalachian and the community that will contribute to the success of their organizations, approve expenditures for student travel and for supporting campus events, and assist with other projects on behalf of the Office of Multicultural Student Development.

The Annual Diversity Celebration: This event seeks to provide participants with a safe environment for learning about others, while encouraging deeper exploration of differences.

Four policies protect campus members from harassment and discrimination and can be found at http://edc.appstate.edu/harassment-discrimination/reporting-concern. Two campus offices are responsible for investigating claims of harassment and discrimination, including sexual harassment and interpersonal violence – the Office of Equity, Diversity and Compliance (EDC) and the Office of Student Conduct (OSC). Both offices also provide information to affected parties about on-campus and community-based support options such as counseling.

EDC discrimination response: Upon receipt of an oral or written complaint, the EDC director/Title IX officer conducts a preliminary investigation, including interviews with the complainant and the accused individual ("respondent") and any relevant witnesses. If it is appears that immediate action is necessary to protect any/all involved parties from harm, university administrators and immediate supervisors are notified and actions deemed appropriate are taken. If the investigator concludes that the preliminary evidence indicates that university policy or law may have been violated, a full investigation is conducted in consultation with the appropriate supervisors. Witnesses who may have information relevant to the complaint are interviewed. The investigator presents a summary report of the investigation to the appropriate administrator/supervisor. The investigator may make recommendations to the administrator/supervisor, but the administrator/supervisor has the ultimate responsibility to make the decision if disciplinary sanctions are warranted based on the totality of the situation.

OSC response: All cases of student-on-student harassment are heard and resolved by the OSC through informal or formal means. During an informal resolution, the Conduct Review Officer will, in their professional judgment on the basis of the information provided or in consultation with appropriate University officials (e.g., Title IX Coordinator; University Housing; the Dean of Students), propose findings regarding any alleged violation(s) and may specify any sanction(s) described in this Code. Unless an informal resolution is accepted, the Conduct Review Officer refers the case to a hearing for formal The Director may also refer any case directly to a hearing without the option of an informal resolution.

Other Websites related to discrimination reporting or responses:

http://edc.appstate.edu/harassment-discrimination/reporting-concern
http://studentconduct.appstate.edu/pagesmith/8