Provost Endorsement - Building Inclusive Campus Environments: Leadership for Bias Response

Through a combination of online foundational learning, in-person workshops, and an applied hands-on project, participants will gain essential knowledge and practical tools to effectively address bias, facilitate meaningful dialogue, and contribute to positive change within their units. Completion of all program components equips individuals to actively support and enhance inclusivity across the campus community.

Expression of Interest

Who it’s for: 

This endorsement is open to all faculty, staff, and administrators interested in deepening their understanding and skills related to bias response, compassionate communication, and proactive campus environment support.

How to earn the endorsement: 

Complete all three milestones in order. 

Milestone 1: BUILD Foundations (Online in the LRN) 

• Details: 
  • Complete all three BUILD tracks in Penn State’s Learning Resource Network (LRN). 
    • Track 1: Recognizing the Importance of Inclusion in the Workplace
    • Track 2: Adopting an Inclusion Mindset at Work
    • Track 3: Skills for Building a Culture of Inclusion
• What You’ll Learn:  
  • Shared language, foundational concepts, and context for bias response and inclusive leadership. 
• How to Access:  
  • Log in to LRN with Penn State credentials (e.g., abc1234@psu.edu). 

Milestone 2: Responding to Bias with Confidence and Care
(In-Person Workshops) 

• Details: 
  • Attend a half-day, in-person training that includes two interactive workshops: 
    • Introduction to Bias Response
    • Tools for Compassionate Communication 
• What You’ll Learn: 
  • Workshop 1: Introduction to Bias Response 
    An overview of Penn State’s coordinated approach to addressing reported bias incidents that impact students—what to do when bias occurs, how to offer support, and how to connect others to resources. 
  • Workshop 2: Tools for Compassionate Communication 
    Practical tools for listening, speaking, and responding with intention, clarity, and compassion. 
• How to Access: 
  • Registration available through the LRN. 

Milestone 3: Applied Practice (Asynchronous Project) 

• Details: 
  • Complete a unit-based application project aligned with your role.
• What You’ll Gain:  
  • An opportunity to apply what you’ve learned and produce something useful for your context. 
• How to Access: 
  • Upon completion of the first two milestones, you’ll be added to a Canvas course to work through the final milestone.