[Faculty] Fw: [inclusivex] Voices of Discovery Intergroup Dialogue opportunity

Mon Aug 13 17:49:29 MST 2018

CALS Faculty colleagues,

A couple of weeks ago you may recall receiving a notice from the UA Office for Diversity & Inclusive Excellence (inserted below) regarding a program they are sponsoring for UA students for Fall 2018, Voices of Discovery.  I'm resending the notice along with a request that you seriously consider referring your students to this program.  Programs like this one have been shown to improve student awareness and sensitivity, and can significantly improving the quality and effectiveness of dialogue around highly charged topics such as Race in America and Gender Identity, to name just two.  The program consists of focus groups of students over a 5-week period running roughly mid-September to mid-October.

Heather Roberts-Wrenn has endorsed this program for its potential to elevate the academic experience of our students through first-hand interaction with different perspectives.  The Provost office is reaching out directly to faculty because the program is strictly voluntary for students and participation will likely rise if faculty endorse the experience.  As you will see in the notice, the Provost Office is also suggesting that faculty reward participating students through some sort of grade incentive, but this is strictly up to faculty and is not required.

Please give this program careful consideration.  I believe it can be a rewarding experience for students who participate, perhaps one of their most memorable in their time on campus.

Thank you.

Mike

Michael Staten | College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Bart Cardon Associate Dean for Career and Academic Services
The University of Arizona
Forbes Hall, Room 211
The University of Arizona
PO Box 210036
Tucson, AZ 85721-0036
PHONE: 520.621.1932
statenm at email.arizona.edu<mailto:statenm at email.arizona.edu>

 <https://mail.catnet.arizona.edu/owa/redir.aspx?C=IhgSDS1aM0-pCxLd45SX6QGVXkA_Y9AICxoYjhJJjkGPbEiiVeur7Ss2XRc_SwTxACxOMDV7S6Y.&URL=https%3a%2f%2fwww.facebook.com%2fCreditWiseCats>   <https://mail.catnet.arizona.edu/owa/redir.aspx?C=IhgSDS1aM0-pCxLd45SX6QGVXkA_Y9AICxoYjhJJjkGPbEiiVeur7Ss2XRc_SwTxACxOMDV7S6Y.&URL=https%3a%2f%2ftwitter.com%2fCreditWiseCats>

________________________________

From: inclusivex-request at list.arizona.edu<mailto:inclusivex-request at list.arizona.edu> [mailto:inclusivex-request at list.arizona.edu] On Behalf Of Tamara Y Carter
Sent: Thursday, August 2, 2018 4:54 PM
Subject: [inclusivex] Voices of Discovery Intergroup Dialogue opportunity

Dear UA Faculty:

In the Fall 2018 semester, the UA Office for Diversity and Inclusive Excellence will once again sponsor the Voices of Discovery: Intergroup Dialogue Program(VOD).

VOD is designed to promote interactions between diverse groups of undergraduate students with goals of engendering greater learning and understanding, maximizing diverse perspectives, and promoting civil discourses on intergroup/diversity issues. The program engages undergraduate students from racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds in dialogues pertaining to topical subjects covered by specific focus groups. Groups are as follows: Race in America, Gender Identity, Sexuality, Nationality, Disability, and Religion. Groups meet for two hours per week for a duration of five weeks.

Student participation in the VoD program depends heavily on the support of UA faculty. For this reason, if you previously have not currently involved your students, I would like to cordially invite you and your students to be part of this very important initiative.

Although VOD is not a course requirement, faculty who elect to support the program are asked to award an incentive, course points (e.g., 10 or 15 points), to students who participate in the five-week program.  Attendance is taken at each meeting in order to help keep track of student participation for grading purposes. At the conclusion of the program, a student attendance report is sent to respective faculty members. Please note, if you will have a TA assisting with student grading for VoD, please inform your TA and students of how this process will work. Some faculty members may also request that students write an essay or undertake a class presentation regarding their experience in the program (this is optional). I would like to encourage faculty to have an alternative means for students to gain these credits should that opt out of participation in VoD. Please know, I am more than willing to speak to your students about VoD on your first day of your class. If this is something you would like for me to do, please contact me to let me know.

Groups will begin meeting approximately 4 weeks after the beginning of the Fall semester. Tentatively, VoD will start the week of September 15th and end the week of October 15th.

For your convenience, the following is an example of how you might insert information about the program into your syllabus:

“The Voices of Discovery is an intergroup dialogue program designed to create greater understanding between diverse groups of students through dialogues. This is not a class, therefore, group facilitators have no input or influence on your grade for the course. Examples of topical dialogue groups include Race in America, Gender Identity, Sexuality, Nationality, Disability, and Religion. Each group will meet on campus (locations of groups will be indicated in your notification of group assignment) for two hours per week for the duration of five consecutive weeks. Groups are led by trained facilitators comprised of faculty, staff, graduate students. Pizza will be served at each meeting. Students participating in VoD are required to adhere to policies and procedures as outlined by UA's Student Code of Conduct (You can find UA's Student Code of Conduct here:   https://deanofstudents.arizona.edu/student-code-conduct-student-faqs).

To participate, please fill out and submit the online program application using this link:

 https://uarizona.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_b95ZkCa8kKe37ut.

Once your application has been received and processed, you will receive an email informing you of the group in which you will participate.” Please note, although you the application allows you to rank groups according to your preference (e.g., First choice, second choice...etc.), you may be placed in a group that may not be your first or even second choice. Students completing the five-week program will receive a certificate.

Faculty, please note that the link provided to students is currently inactive. It will be made active during the registration period. I hope you will consider supporting the VOD program. To do so, please contact me, Tamara Carter, at tycarter at email.arizona.edu<mailto:tycarter at email.arizona.edu>. I can answer questions or provide you with any additional information that may assist with your participation.

Thank you for your consideration and support.

Kindest regards,

Tamara

--

Tamara Y. Carter

Ph.D.

Candidate

Rhetoric, Composition, & the Teaching of English

Graduate Assistant/Coordinator of

Voices of Discovery

Office for Diversity & Inclusive Excellence – Office of the Provost
The University of Arizona

University Services Building, Room 412

888 N. Euclid Ave.Tucson, AZ  85721

(520) 621-3037

tycarter at email.arizona.edu<mailto:tycarter at email.arizona.edu>
https://www.facebook.com/UAODIEX/

My pronouns are: She/her/hers
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