Recently, an Inclusive Leadership Seminar was held. The full title of the seminar is “Promoting Inclusive Leadership in the Geosciences through the Empowerment and Formation of Student Advisory Boards.” The Student Advisory Board current has 22 members. The seminar addressed real issues within the Geosciences department.
“Despite recent efforts to increase DEI in the Geosciences, it remains the least diverse of all STEM fields. To address this issue, a Student Advisory Board (SAB) at Boise State University was created in the Fall 2021 and continues today, with over 20 active student members to date. The SAB seeks to increase inclusive leadership through student-led initiatives which help promote safety and belonging.
Student-led initiatives implemented by the SAB at Boise State University include the formation of a wellness room for prayer, meditation, and respite, formation of a mentorship program for undergraduates, undergraduate and graduate social events, implementation of inclusive and safe field protocols, and the design of visual aids highlighting the diversity and interconnectedness of scientific fields. These multifaceted projects indicate student-led initiatives effectively 1) identify key areas of needed action within departments, and 2) empower student leadership for positive change within departmental graduate and undergraduate communities.”
Key Slides:
United States Colleges and Universities
Diversity: Identities; the “who” & the “what”
Inclusion: Behaviors; the “how”
Bottom Up: Departmental Surveys & Feedback (Faculty Surveys, Undergrad Survey, Question Formulation Technique) Student Advisory Board (Working groups)
Collaborations are key: Work with Students to Identify the Low Hanging Fruit in your Department (Build from small
successes, Institutional Change Keep momentum going Beware of burnout)
2. Promote student culture and foster inclusivity within STEM fields: Ensuring a diverse representation of student voices are heard can improve department development; Facilitates learning through connection and community building
3. Participation should be incentivized and rewarded: Will look different for each department; Start small with low hanging fruit