By Kodi Romero, Blue Sky Graduate Assistant and Masters of Health Science Candidate
Earlier this month, Boise State invested in efforts to foster a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive university by holding three full-day forums focused on diversity and inclusion for staff, faculty and the academic leadership council. The forums are the first events held by “Boise State Uniting for Inclusion and Leadership in Diversity”, better known as the BUILD Campus Forum Initiative. The initiative is funded by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and challenges participants to re-evaluate their own thinking and perspectives on diversity and inclusion and propel forward movement toward Boise State’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.
The three-day forums were facilitated by Dr. Sharon J. Washington who has nearly three decades of professional experience in non-profit and higher education leadership and is a national expert in supporting educational institutions to build community capacity to address issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Awareness, understanding and intentionality were common themes of the forums, with Boise State leadership, faculty and staff participants immersed in a learning experience centered around how privilege is unconsciously folded into learning environments, university policies and practices. Participants were given quotes and testimonials from diverse Boise State students providing them with a deep look into experiences of feeling the lack of a sense of belonging and of experiencing inequity. This impactful opportunity led to discussions about eurocentric values in the academic system, the concept and explanation of ‘whiteness culture’, why it is difficult to talk about race, Boise’s culture of ‘nice’, and what Boise State can do to help combat some of the biases students face every day.
Francisco Salinas, Director of Student Diversity and Inclusion, said the forum allowed participants to practice engaging in difficult conversations that people normally shy away from because topics are sensitive and generally characterized by conflict and risk. With the training provided by the BUILD Forum Initiative, Salinas is hopeful that participants will take their learnings and practice them in new scenarios, creating new space to talk about important experience of inclusion to influence the campus culture and ultimately seek to have an effect on the community at large.
Dylan Mikesell, Assistant Professor in the Department of Geosciences explained that he was “unaware of the extent to what students were dealing with on campus”. He explains that the forum helped him build more self-awareness and understanding the difference between intention and perception. He is now more cognizant that people may perceive things differently than what was intended due to differences in backgrounds.
Katherine Wright, Assistant Professor in the Department of Literacy, Language, and Culture appreciated the dialog allowing faculty and staff to question “how they, as faculty can not only change the culture and sense of belonging on campus but also in the broader Treasure Valley community.”
Lori Watsen, Assistant Professor in the School of Social Work, said she would like to see others who are not already involved in the conversation become involved. Watsen says there is “always more we can be doing to support inclusion and create a sense of belonging to our students.”
Colleges and universities are arguably one of the most important institutions in which to work toward inclusion, as they serve as a training ground for future professionals, managers, and leaders in most industries. These forums served as a kick-off to the BUILD initiative, which will continue to facilitate difficult conversations surrounding diversity and inclusion, provide professional development to Boise State faculty and staff and seek to support an evolution in the culture of Boise State and the Boise community over the next two years.
To learn more about the development of the BUILD Initiative and the BUILD Program, please visit https://www.boisestate.