Social justice initiatives will continue to push and challenge the campus community
to become more open-minded, progressive, and aware about communities inside and outside
of SUNY Plattsburgh.Claudia Theagene ’21
This scholarship provides support to programs for LGBTQ+ students and to assist the
university in providing co-curricular enrichment and campus-wide support for LGBTQ+
students. The goal of this scholarship is to help build and sustain a more diverse
and inclusive community.
Scholarship candidates must meet the following criteria:
A matriculated full-time student, in good academic standing with a minimum
GPA of 2.3.
Currently LGBTQ+ identifying.
Currently active in the university LGBTQ+ community.
Demonstrating initiative and dedication to improving student life (in terms of co-curricular
enrichment and social support) for members of the university's LGBTQ+ community.
Activities that demonstrate such initiative and dedication include but are not limited
to the following: maintaining and/or developing LGBTQ+ themed programs such as concerts,
films, speakers, readings, art and photography exhibits, library acquisitions, dances,
coffee houses, support groups, campus-wide informational outreach.
The Betty Ann Engstrom Scholarship application will accept submissions until Tuesday,
May 9, 2023
The effort to establish the Douglas Skopp Social Justice Endowed Scholarship was initiated
by Norman J. Radow ‘78 in honor of SUNY Plattsburgh’s late professor Dr. Douglas Richard
Skopp.
Dr. Douglas Richard Skopp joined the history department at the State University of
New York College at Plattsburgh in the fall of 1972. Thoroughly committed to SUNY’s
educational mission, he regarded teaching as a means to build a better and more humane
world.
Each spring semester the scholarship seeks to identify and recognize students that
demonstrate a deep passion for social justice and provide leadership within the campus
community, particularly through increasing awareness of bias, eradicating hate speech
and promoting civility, respect, justice and equity for all. Preference shall be given
to student leaders who have overcome personal challenges during the pursuit of their
college degree.
The Douglas Skopp Scholarship application will accept submissions until April 10,
2023.
The inS.I.D.E.R. Seed Grant stands for: Students/Subject-Matter Experts Focusing on Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Recognition
Each fall and spring semester the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion will offer
a $500 grant to a campus community member who proposes to host/create an event on
campus or proposes to improve existing events that fit into the grants’ goals. These
proposals should increase awareness, belonging and engagement.
This grant provides funds for campus community members who seek the opportunity to
engage in dialogue and build relationships with their peers and other community members.
Topics must work towards educating participants on issues pertaining to diversity,
equity, inclusion and social justice. Funding can be used for any expense need to
carryout the proposed project.
The inS.I.D.E.R seed grant was created to encourage a sense of belonging on campus
for students and to promote inclusive excellence. This will be an opportunity for
individual or group-sponsored on-campus/ virtually held (if necessary) events, including
speakers, lectures, approved fundraisers, performances related to the topic chosen
by the approved applicant. Events could consist of one single event or a week of smaller
events that support the proposed educational initiative.
The Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion aims to be student-centered and we encourage
students to use their subject matter expertise create a project that addresses the
needs of the community. This grant serves to validate experiences, while providing
necessary tools to support inclusion, diversity, equity and social justice.
This grant is funded by the Plattsburgh College Foundation.
The All S.E.T. campaign is designed to promote student-centered, equity-minded and
trauma-informed institutional practices. It is a focused approach to delivering curricular
and co-curricular activities, as well as policies, programs and practices.
Student-centered is placing the diversity, equity, and inclusion needs of our students as the center
and axis of what we do. Equity-mindedness requires a sophisticated understanding of inequity and the ways groups are marginalized
— excluded from accessing the opportunities that college offers. Being trauma-informed requires that we embed a comprehensive and supportive atmosphere that addresses the
needs of trauma survivors.
Use #PlattsburghAllS.E.T. on social media.
Community Listen In
The Community Listen In is an annual flagship event for faculty, staff and students
to engage in dialogue and receive guidance from subject-matter experts on equity-related
issues impacting the community.
In Fall 2020 we welcomed Dr. Kenneth Hardy to campus (via Zoom). As a campus, we spent
the day learning to identify, vocalize and metabolize racial trauma in our campus
community. Participants in the sessions with Dr. Hardy gained a transformed understanding
of the experiences of various community members and the importance of acknowledging
and validating these experiences so that healing can occur after hurt related to racial
trauma, and we can move forward with direct and targeted action plans to build a more
equitable and just community. Read: Breathing Room: A Space to Metabolize Racial Trauma with Dr. Kenneth Hardy
Critical Cultural Consciousness
Critical Cultural Consciousness is a series of learning opportunities that build skills
and knowledge around several content areas. Some include:
The President’s Inclusive Excellence Council (PIEC) works to further the SUNY Plattsburgh
Inclusive Excellence strategic plan, with particular emphasis on creating and maintaining
an inclusive and equitable curriculum, learning environment and workplace that affirms
the dignity of all people.
The Student Diversity Council works in equal partnership President’s Inclusive Excellence
Council and the student body to address issues relating to diversity, equity and inclusion.
The Student Diversity Council is student-led and comprised of students from all levels.
The council works as an advisory group along side PIEC, the Division of Diversity,
Equity and Inclusion and the campus community which contributes toward student success
and inclusive excellence.
Vision statement: The goal of this council is to relay current issues concerning diversity, equity,
inclusion and belonging to the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (ODEI) and
the president in order to bring awareness and incite change on campus. We serve as
equal partners with the President’s Inclusive Excellence Council to advocate, educate,
and dismantle systems of oppression.
Members:
Brenetta Isaacs, ’22, co-chair
Willie Corley, ’22, co-chair
Ohemaa Owusu-Poku, ’24, co-chair
Katiana Ciceron, ’24
Carly Collins, ’25
Jade Estremera
Melissa Forte, ’23
Justice Hall, ’23
Chelsie Knight
Mac-Olivier Lalanne, ’22
Cristal Perez
Biani Neris, ’25
Tryphena Quaicoe, ’22
Sophia Sabatini, ’25
If you’re interested in joining the Student Diversity Council, please email our office
by clicking the link below.
Colleges and universities must create academic initiatives that engage students intellectually
and foster an understanding of group-based inequalities and other dynamics that affect
intergroup relationships.Association of American Colleges & Universities
Dialogue is a collaborative communication process that engages the community in self-other
exchanges that highlight similarities and differences in experiences. Intergroup dialogues
encourage direct encounter and exchange about contentious issues, especially those
associated with issues of social identity and social categories (i.e., wealth, income,
race, education, ethnicity, gender, occupation, social status, etc.)
Students, faculty and staff will engage in dialogue through a number of models.
Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation™ (TRHT) Rx Racial Healing® Circles
In October 2021, SUNY Plattsburgh joined select campuses around the country as a TRHT
Campus Center. TRHT Campus Centers are implementing visionary action plans with the
aim of moving the needle on the transformative goal of erasing structural barriers
to equal treatment and opportunity on campuses, in our communities, and for our nation
around the pillars of the TRHT Framework. The TRHT framework includes four themes,
or pillars: narrative change, racial healing and relationship building, separation,
law, and economy (Association of American Colleges and Universities).
TRHT Tuesdays and Thursdays are held in the H.U.B. from 12:30 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. until
December 17, 2021. Circles will resume in the spring.
B.R.A.V.E: Free Speech and Responsibility Conversations
B.R.A.V.E. Spaces to speak, listen and learn about a variety of topics to create a
learning environment where students, staff and faculty can thrive, be successful,
and move forward together.
Identity-based affinity groups, sometimes called caucuses, are often used in social
justice work as part of broader solidarity projects and commitments.
Be About it! Act NOW! is a series of identity-based affinity spaces for the SUNY Plattsburgh
community. These spaces explore and engage in dialogue on individual/interpersonal
racism.
In the fall of 2020 students, staff and faculty had the opportunity to participate
in a reading and reflecting project. Participants read “Killing Rage: Ending Racism”
by bell hooks and “White Fragility” by Robin Diangelo. Using the Circle Way method,
participants engaged in deep conversation to explore teaching methods, equity and
power on campus.
Leading for Change is a group of campus constituents who have been working to ensure racial equity across
all divisions and departments of the campus. Beyond our campus, Leading for Change
is part of a 30-college consortium across the northeast who meet to share ideas and
strategies to create more socially just institutions to serve the students of today.
The Racial Equity and Justice (REJ) Fellow program is an initiative that is facilitated
by our campus Leading for Change team. A part of being a REJ fellow includes:
Participating in some initial education discussions, which will set the groundwork
to understand inequity.
Creating a compilation of your successful practices that support student success,
which we can share as a model for other faculty to use.
Participating in teaching circles with faculty peers to assist them to practice equity
with BIPOC students.
An REJ fellow will also be provided two books for fall reading, From Equity Talk to Equity Walk by Tia Brown McNair and Estella Bensimon and Completing College: Rethinking Institutional Action by Vincent Tinto.
Speak Series
The Speak Series are listening sessions where students communicate with administrators
to share their experiences with diversity, equity and inclusion and to call for systemic
change. The series has three parts: a Speak Out where students speak and administrators listen; a Speak Back, where administrators reflect on what they heard at the Speak Out and share with students
the changes that can be made and when the changes can occur; and the Speak Together which enables the community to be in dialogue to examine what is working, what needs
to be kept and the things that need to be changed.
The Speak Series is a continued partnership between students and administrators to
bring about model communication, accountability and systemic change.
Speak Back 2022 date to be announced in the spring semester
Actions taken as of Fall 2020 to address calls to action
Diversifying Faculty
On the call to diversify faculty, we have embraced the SUNY Promoting Recruitment,
Opportunity, Diversity, Inclusion and Growth (PRODiG) initiative supporting the growth
of faculty diversity and a more robust pipeline for graduate students interested in
academic careers.
In Fall 2020, we welcomed Dr. Samantha White, visiting scholar and PRODiG Fellow.
Members of the Executive Council and Human Resource Services have also made significant
updates in the recruitment to hire process.
Speak Together 2022 will be announced in the spring of 2022
In Spring 2021, students and the community will be invited in for the third installment
of the Speak Series in which students, administrators, department chairs and deans
will gather to review the action items that have taken place from May 7, 2020.
In Fall 2020 we welcomed Dr. Kenneth Hardy to campus (via Zoom). As a campus, we spent
the day learning to identify, vocalize and metabolize racial trauma in our campus
community. Participants in the sessions with Dr. Hardy gained a transformed understanding
of the experiences of various community members and the importance of acknowledging
and validating these experiences so that healing can occur after hurt related to racial
trauma, and we can move forward with direct and targeted action plans to build a more
equitable and just community. Read: Breathing Room: A Space to Metabolize Racial Trauma with Dr. Kenneth Hardy