Academic Year 2024-2025

College of EMS Graduate Engagement and Mentorship Network (University Park) [PY2]

“Our goal is to foster an inclusive environment for all graduate students within the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences through combatting feelings of fatigue and isolation, which are especially exacerbated for marginalized graduate students. Our program cultivates an inclusive space across departments through extracurricular engagement, namely: welcome events, resource workshops, and community building; all in collaboration with graduate student leaders and graduate student focused staff. Impacts of this project include: improved mental well-being and sense of belonging; increased knowledge of University resources for graduate students, especially marginalized graduate students; and a strengthened sense of inclusion, community, involvement and cross-disciplinary interactions.”

 
Expanding the field: A pilot program for recruiting historically excluded groups to graduate school in Geography (University Park) [PY3]

“With 2022-23 EOPC funds we developed the Geography Education Networking Initiative for Underrepresented Scholars (GENIUS), a mentorship program to support underrepresented undergraduates in applying to graduate programs in Geography in the US. Our program remedies the historical exclusion of racially marginalized people from Geography. We are bringing 10-15 racially underrepresented students from across the US to campus for a program guided by graduate students and faculty mentors from Penn State and other universities. Participants will be mentored about the “hidden curriculum” of graduate school applications and how to prepare. We seek to extend the program for a third year in preparation for an NSF and possibly foundation proposals to fund the program for the next 3-5 years.”

 
Graduate Student-Led Peer Mentoring Circles (University Park) [PY1]

“To help engineering students navigate the challenges of graduate school and thrive, we propose the creation of peer mentoring circles that will connect graduate students from different departments who share similar identities or life experiences (e.g., gender, race, international status, parents, etc.). These peer mentoring circles will: 1) provide participants with community outside of their lab groups and departments; 2) better connect students to information and resources; and 3) be a safe and supportive environment.”

 
Incorporating Best Academic Practices in an Equitable and Inclusive College (Berks) [PY1]

“Penn State Berks seeks funding to continue the work initiated through a learning community among Program Chairs and General Education coordinators which involved a Learning Community (LC) on Equitable and Inclusive Practices, resulting from a grant from The Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence in Fall 2023. Through this LC, faculty, guided by two experts, began reflection and examination of their discipline and their programs. Our purpose now is to analyze and assess our programs to introduce best practices concerning inclusive and equitable engaging pedagogy, equity-minded research and practices, curriculum and pedagogical redesigns, and High Impact Practices models (HIPs).”

 
Leadership Development: Racial Healing Facilitator Training, College of Arts & Architecture (University Park) [PY1]

“This proposal supports the foundational year of a training program for equity, inclusion and belonging leaders in our college supported by the college’s Office of Access & Equity (OAE). This training adds capacity within the independent units, councils, and committees for successful DEIBJ work, creating a more sustainable infrastructure extending OAE’s impact. The training provides specific facilitation skills to faculty, staff, and students, that can be used within individual units to lead effective initiatives that promote greater understanding of diverse views and the variety of identities that impact the experience of underrepresented groups in the college.”

 
Lehigh Valley First Generation Scholars Series (Lehigh Valley) [PY1]

“The Lehigh Valley First Generation Scholar Series is a retention initiative focused on supporting first-generation college students. This program aims to address the distinctive challenges faced by these students by fostering a sense of belonging, providing academic support, and nurturing leadership skills. Through engagement in various topics, the initiative seeks to enhance the overall academic journey and success of first-generation college students.”

 
Lions First Peer Mentorship Initiative (York) [PY1]

“Lions First Peer Mentorship Initiative is a multifaceted project, engaging first-generation and first-year students through peer mentoring, an involvement fair, coffee hours, and additional targeted strategies to increase companionship, comfort-ability with university resources, and a sense of belonging.”

 
Political Science Horizons Mentoring Program (University Park) [PY2]

“The Program will recruit 20 1st-year and 2nd year students from historically underrepresented and underserved groups among all first year PSU students with an interest in Political Science, and mentor them and the alumni of the 2021 (Fall)- 2024 (Spring) pilot through the 2024-2025 academic year. The program will organize a year-long series of panels and events to support and advance a diverse student body and improve retention and performance among these students. Participation in the program will teach students about the resources and opportunities available to Political Science students at PSU, about pursuing various careers with this major and provide a peer social support group.”

 
School of Music IDEA-Fest Residency (University Park) [PY1]

“The Penn State Voice Area is committed to building a community of thoughtful and inclusive artistry. Our annual IDEA-Fest is an opportunity for students to seek out and present repertoire that speaks to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and to further the ongoing dialogue of belonging. A week-long residency with a significant underrepresented composer of vocal music will elevate the IDEA-Fest and provide the voice students, collaborative pianists, faculty, and community audience with a deeper, more enriching experience and understanding, as it addresses our diversity goals.”

 
Summer College Opportunity Program in Education (University Park) [PY2]

“The Summer College Opportunity in Education (S.C.O.P.E.) is a four-week academically intensive enrichment and orientation pre-program dedicated to providing historically underrepresented students interested in education-related careers the opportunity to access Higher Education and experience college life during the summer session at Pen State University Park campus.”

Shenango Diversity Weeks (Shenango) [PY1]

“Hosted by the Shenango DEIB Committee, Shenango Diversity Weeks is an engagement program that provides education, historical context, and cultural immersion opportunities to develop cultural competencies in those that participate relative to those that identify as under-represented. Using week-long programming events throughout the academic year, students, staff, and faculty will participate in activities to learn about race, gender identity, gender equality, religion, etc. Featuring events such as Hispanic Heritage Week, LGBTQ Pride Week, Black History, Women’s History, Arab American History, and others, the Shenango campus will become exposed to new ideas and cultures leading to increased campus awareness and inclusivity.”

 
Student Pathways to Undergraduate Research (SPUR):  Facilitating undergraduate research experiences for traditionally excluded students (Altoona) [PY3]

“Undergraduate research is a high-impact practice providing benefits for undergraduates (Carter et al., 2016), thereby increasing marketability for employment or graduate programs. These benefits are disproportionately realized by research students from traditionally underrepresented and marginalized groups (Stanford et al. 2017). At Altoona College, our data indicate that Black and Indigenous people of color (BIPOC), first-generation college students, or at the intersection of the two are disproportionately not represented in undergraduate research. Our program will broaden student representation by removing exclusionary practices restricting access to research opportunities, while enculturing students early into research to gain the most benefits from the experience.”

 
The JoyFull (University Park) [PY1]

“The Center for the Performing Arts (CPA) requests support from EOPC for a new program, The JoyFull, prioritizing the social well-being of racially minoritized and other marginalized students. The program will create a once-a-month celebration and community-building event for exchange and reciprocity between students and artists to engender a sense of belonging within a predominantly white institution. The program is designed for students to engage with artists from indigenous, Latin*, Black, intergenerational, AIPIDA, and east Asian communities. The program is open to all students and will be built through collaboration with leaders from these campus communities.”

 
The Rising Scholars at Penn State (previously called Pathways to Penn State (P2PSU) Formerly Incarcerated College Awareness Pilot Program (University Park) [PY3]

“The Rising Scholars program addresses the underrepresentation of formerly incarcerated individuals in higher education. In its third year, the program aims to reinforce the belief that college, particularly at Penn State, is a viable option for this demographic. By providing essential skills and tools, the program contributes to the recruitment and retention of formerly incarcerated students across Penn State campuses, promoting equity and supporting historically marginalized groups.”

 
Trailblazer Talent Pathway Program (T2P2) (Hershey) [PY1]

“The goal of the Trailblazer Talent Pathway Program (T2P2) is to launch and sustain a pathway program to address workforce shortages, increase workforce diversity, and improve retention at the College of Medicine (COM). COM has a 16% turnover rate, 150+ open positions, and less than 20% racial-ethnic diversity among staff, thus the need for this program is apparent. T2P2 aims to cultivate strategic partnerships and avenues for recruitment. Additionally, it will serve as a resource hub for multiple entities at COM to increase staff diversity, satisfaction and retention. Participants will receive individualized career support and opportunities to pursue continued education at PSU.”