ONE WKU Campaign
The ONE WKU CAMPAIGN was born out of the idea that WKU is truly committed to being a welcoming and inclusive university. WKU strives to ensure all faculty, staff, and students are treated with dignity, respect, and equity. The campaign launched in the summer of 2020 amid the chaos of a global pandemic, coupled with an escalation in racial injustices, antisemitism, xenophobia, and transphobia. The DEI Workgroup and Co-Chief Diversity Officers worked to create initiatives aimed at reducing biases and shifting the culture toward a more inclusive environment.
Mission: Western Kentucky University leverages the combined power of Academic Affairs, Enrollment and Student Experience as well as all other non-Academic support units on campus to dismantle systemic discrimination, barriers to inclusion, and unequal opportunities. We work to create One WKU – a safe and welcoming campus with top-ranked faculty and staff, inclusive infrastructures and services, ethical and transparent policies, and dedication to a thriving, diverse student body prepared for success as global citizens.
Vision: One WKU demonstrates the power of aligning inclusive leadership with collaborative action among faculty and staff in building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive college campus in the state of Kentucky, the region, and nation.
See below for ongoing initiatives. Dates for events will be listed as they are set.
The ONE Inclusive Teaching Academy (ITA)
The idea for the ONE WKU ITA came out of a pilot initiative called the ONE WKU Academy. The ONE WKU Academy started in fall 2020 with the goal of offering a series workshops/modules on microagression & biases, intercultural/interracial communication, and allyship to a group of faculty and staff with the end goal of microcredentialing. Diverting slightly from the original pilot, the ONE WKU ITA focuses on pedagogical practice to ensure inclusivity in the classroom. The Institute, directed by Marko Dumančić in the Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning and led by WKU’s DEI Communities of Practice Fellows, graduated its first cohort in spring 2022. Participants who successfully complete the academy are awarded TopperCred micro-credentials. Applications for each cohort will be available in the fall semester every year.
WKU Staff Cultural Competence Certificate (WKUC3)
The WKU Staff Cultural Competence Certificate (WKUC3), an initiative of the “One WKU” campaign, is a professional development opportunity for all staff. The certificate course for staff was created to fulfill four interrelated functions: To introduce and/or deepen participants' knowledge of diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education. To offer a collegial space for participants to reflect on their current thoughts and practices. To grow the community of practitioners focused on inclusivity. The course is designed to develop advocates rather than experts. The course’s facilitator(s) and its architect do not assume the role of authority on DEI issues and do not seek to train participants to become experts. Rather, the goal is to cultivate a mindset of continuous growth through praxis and reflection as a way to foster DEI advocacy at WKU. The program, organized in a hybrid format, will allow participants to study online content, complete assignments, and meet once a month to reflect and discuss concepts as well as how to implement key principles of cultural competence and diversity management to work effectively with students and colleagues. Staff who complete the program will be awarded the WKUC3 micro-credential badge. In addition to completing this application, you will need approval from your supervisor acknowledging that there is a required time commitment of the applicant. Note that there is a size limit to the cohort and therefore, there is a selection process. If you have any questions about this certificate program, please reach out to Dr. Monica Galloway Burke at monica.burke@wku.edu.
Lunch & Learn Series: Spring 2024
Our ONE WKU Lunch & Learn series is back! The first one is a bit longer than usual, but we have an outstanding speaker coming to campus – it’ll be worth it! This Lunch & Learn workshop will focus on healing from the organizational trauma caused by discord.
Sept 27, 12:00noon-2:00(ish)pm, HCIC Multipurpose room (the big room in the back right on the first floor)
**Students are encouraged to attend as well – please spread the word!**
You may come and go as your schedule allows -
Register HERE: https://www.wku.edu/citl/events/index.php?eventid=82670&view=event
Text on flyer: [WKU is delighted to welcome] Dr. Timothy K. Eatman, a distinguished educational sociologist and the inaugural dean of the Honors Living-Learning Community at Rutgers University Newark. Amid the current political and social unrest, which heightens the potential for campus conflicts, Dr. Eatman provides valuable insights on fostering intellectual and respectful dialogue.”
Register HERE: https://www.wku.edu/citl/events/index.php?eventid=82670&view=event
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October ONE WKU Lunch & Learn
"Supporting Neurodiverse Individuals: Changing Mindsets"
Wednesdsay, October 23, 2024, 11:30am -12:30pm
The Commons (HL) 3002/3008
Description:
Facilitators: April McCauley & Christian Carter
To encourage a positive work or professional experience with neurodiverse people, it is important to recognize the strengths and abilities that neurodiverse people can contribute, understand their unique experiences and challenges, shift views on accommodations, and battle stigmas and unproductive preconceptions. Join the Faculty/Staff Neurodiversity Alliance for a conversation exploring these vital topics.
Book & Media Groups
We all consume information differently, so each semester we offer several options including nonfiction, fiction, podcasts, documentaries, and TV sitcoms. The idea is to engage in conversations about institutionalized discrimination and how we, as a collaborative team, can create real change at WKU and in our communities. If you have general questions or would like to volunteer to lead a book or media group, please email Dr. Molly Kerby for clarification. We would also like to encourage groups, organizations, departments, and units to create their own groups!
Deliberative Dialogues
What IS Deliberative Dialogue?
“Deliberative dialogue is a form of discussion aimed at finding the best course of action. Deliberative questions take the form "What should we do?" The purpose is not so much to solve a problem or resolve an issue as to explore the most promising avenues for action.” (Scott London).
Deliberative workshops are facilitated group discussions that provide participants
with the opportunity to consider an issue in depth, challenge differing opinions,
and develop views/arguments to reach an actionable position. These workshops are like
focus groups, although there tends to be more focus on deliberation. Each session
lasts approximately two hours.
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