Diversity Initiatives

MISSION STATEMENT
Promotes Each Student's Learning Experience
VISION STATEMENT
The Division of Student Affairs will be a leader in advancing the Texas Tech college experience. The Division seeks to enrich the personal development of all students through creating exemplary activities, developing state-of-the-art facilities, implementing dynamic programs, and supporting quality services.

TTU Division of Student Affairs is committed to the values of :

• mutual respect and high ethical standards;
• cooperation and communication;
• creativity and innovation;
• community service and leadership;
• academic and intellectual freedom;
• pursuit of excellence;
• public accountability; and
• diversity.

Career Center:
www.careercenter.ttu.edu

• Makes direct contact with first generation students during their first semester at Texas Tech University, encouraging their participation in the Center's programs and activities, particularly career assessments, StrengthsQuest, and internship information.
• Partners with MentorTech to present 2 programs for their student participants.
• Presents career related programs to several diverse student groups including:  Hispanic Student Society, National Society of Black Engineers, Pegasus, Society for Hispanic Engineers, Society of Women Engineers.
• Invites students with disabilities to a reception in the Career Center.
• Offers Strong Interest Inventory, Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and StrengthsQuest to all students.
• Offers 5 Career/Job Fairs throughout the year.
• Extensive on-campus interview program for all students.
• Over 1000 job listings continually listed on Career Center website, available to students 24/7.
• Provides individual career counseling appointments with nearly 4000 students.
• Resume critiques and mock interviews available for all students.
• Career Center presentations made to over 50 sections of IS 1100.
• Several publications targeting diverse student populations available in the Career Center, including Black Engineer, Hispanic Times.
• Job Choices- diversity edition, published by our professional association, National Association of Colleges and Employers, available in Career Center and shared with students when presentations are made.

Center for Campus Life:
www.campuslife.ttu.edu

Put some LIFE into your college experience! The Center for Campus Life offers programs and services that positively enriches your Red Raider experience by focusing on student transitions, connecting you the University and campus traditions, establishing positive relationships with students and families, and maintaining collaborative partnerships. Services related to the following areas are offered: First Year Raider Experience, Transition & Retention Programs, Community Engagement, Leadership Development, Spirit & Traditions, Greek Life, Multicultural and Leadership Programs, Student Emergency and Crisis, Off Campus Student Services, General Student Services.

Diversity is an important component to the academic pursuits of each student at Texas Tech.  Celebrating diversity fosters a campus of inclusion and support of individuals from all groups that make up the Texas Tech student body.  Diversity goes beyond race, ethnicity, and national origin, but also encompasses gender, age, socioeconomic background, religion, sexual orientation, physical and mental abilities, marital status, education level, family unit, and life experience’s.  In its broadest context, diversity is defined as "recognizing, appreciating, valuing, and utilizing the unique talents and contributions of all individuals. 

Center for Campus Life celebrates diversity through various programs and activities designed to enhance student’s cultural and social awareness.  Diversity enhances student’s intellectual and cultural experiences and prepares students to live and work in an increasingly diverse and global society.   Through programs, workshops, lectures, films, student organization activities, and more, the Center for Campus Life provides unique opportunities for faculty, staff, and students to learn from each other. 

The Center for Campus Life organizes and supports the following activities:

• Hispanic Awareness Month, African American History Month, Native American Indian History Month, Asian Pacific Heritage Month, Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Awareness Month, and Disability Awareness Month. 
• Dia De Los Muertos organized by Unidos Por Un Mismo Idioma
• Poverty Week organized by the South Asian Student Association
• Latin Film Festival   
• Diversity and Leadership Workshops
• Independent, Documentary, and Foreign Film Series
• Hispanic Culture Awareness Week
• Women’s Leadership Program

Housing & Residence Life:
http://www.housing.ttu.edu

• Sponsors Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Awareness Month with the Student Counseling Center and the Center for Campus Life.
• Provides on-going training for professional and student staff on diversity education
• Provides on-going programming by student staff for residents regarding diversity issues
• Supports the Housing & Residence Life Awareness Committee:

Mission:
This Committee promotes awareness, growth, education, and development to the Texas Tech students, Residence Life Staff, University Community and Lubbock residents in the areas of social justice, multicultural competence, and diversity awareness and education.  We challenge perceptions and attitudes in a safe and supporting environment.  We provide on-going training and development opportunities that assist in the recruitment and retention of residence life staff and the residents living in our campus community. 

Awareness Committee Initiatives:

• GLBTQA Awareness/National Coming Out Day --- October 11

National Coming Out Week
Residence Life supports GLBTQA awareness month by presenting programs specifically in support of Pride Month.  Active programs often include coming out panel of discussions and GLBTQA education.  Passive programs may include bulletin boards and bathroom papers with informational myths and facts about the LGBTIQQA (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer, Questioning, and Ally) community.

• Hispanic Awareness --- End of April
• MLK/Black History Month --- January/February
• Tunnel of Oppression --- February

The Tunnel of Oppression is a diversity program where participants are taken through several areas dealing with specific awareness topics.  This past year the experience included topics such as discrimination and stereotypes, slavery and lynching in America, eating disorders, Muslims in America, homeless in America, and the wall of freedom where participates could engage in stereotypes we face everyday.  Each experience is designed to be relentlessly thought provoking and reveal the depth and severity of how oppression impacts those being oppressed.  This experience is designed to be thought provoking and assist those viewing it to reflect upon their own privilege and/or times when they have been the oppressor or oppressed.  After completing the tour of the areas, participants are lead through a discussion with counselors/administrators who process the experience with them. The end result of this initiative is to bring about diversity awareness and exposure, as well as impact individual participants with tangible scenes of oppression—not just the vague concept of diversity.  The ultimate goal of this experience is to start a dialogue about oppression and the difference each person can make on our global community.

• Women’s Awareness --- March
• B.E.A.D. (Becoming Educated About Diversity) Campaign --all year

The BEAD (Being Educated About Diversity) campaign is a way of incorporating diversity into our everyday lives.  BEAD pins are created for each month symbolizing an awareness topic for the month; such topics include Womens Herstory month, LGBTQ, Human Rights, Black History Month, Hispanic History Month, Asian Pacific American Month, Aids Prevention, Breast Cancer Awareness, Rosh Hashanah, and other specifically designated awareness celebrations.

• Sleep Out for the Homeless – spring semester

Student Counseling Center:
http://www.depts.ttu.edu/scc

Statement on Diversity: 
At the Student Counseling Center, we celebrate and affirm the differences among people from all walks of life. We embrace a definition of diversity that includes ethnic/racial identity, sexual orientation, age, sex, religious beliefs, socioeconomic status, gender identity, nationality, body shape/size and differences in physical ability. Our commitment to serve students and the campus community is built on the framework of our values as a multicultural agency that affirms the uniqueness and potential of individuals and that strives towards promoting social justice for all persons.


Current departmental initiatives related to promoting diversity awareness and to increasing access to services for diverse students include:

• Staff members serve as liaisons to the International Cultural Center, providing consultation to staff and ready access to international students in need.
• The SCC annually co-sponsors events to promote Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender awareness on campus.
• The SCC provides training sessions for students, faculty and staff who wish to serve as Allies to the LGBT campus community.
• The SCC provides support groups for identified cultural populations (i.e., LGBT Student Support Group).
• SCC staff members serve as consultants to campus faculty/staff as needed in areas related to diversity.
• The SCC provides walk-in counseling intake services (i.e., no appointment necessary) for ethnic minority students and LGBT students.
• The SCC provides required training sessions for departmental psychology trainees related to multiculturalism/diversity.
• Partners with Mentor Tech to provide two mentors last year

Student Disability Services:
http://www.depts.ttu.edu/studentaffairs/sds/
Provides service, support and education to all students with disabilities including full access to and participation in the academic environment as well as reasonable accommodations in the classroom.

Student Diversity Relations:
Provides assistance to our traditionally underrepresented student population including, but not limited to, black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, Native American, gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender, disabled, non-traditional, and first generation. The Student Diversity Relations office assists to foster a collaborative, positive, and inclusive environment within the University setting.

 Student Health Services
http://www.ttuhsc.edu/studenthealth/

• Patient care for all TTU students -- approximately 40,000 visits annually
• Collaboration with Student Disability Services to provide appropriate medical referrals for students with disabilities
• Health education presentations and health awareness events for all students -- approximately 100 annually

Student Media
http://www.dailytoreador.com

• Participate in University Day events.
• Participate in New Student Orientation sessions.
• Offer internship programs with The Daily Toreador, La Ventana and photography department to incoming Texas Tech freshmen.
• Offer internships through The Daily Toreador advertising office.
• Offer resume critiques and mock interviews to interested student staff members.
• Write letters of recommendation for student staff members seeking jobs, internships and/or scholarships.
• Conduct fall and spring student staff training sessions that included the topics of diversity awareness and sensitivity training.
• Offer StrengthsQuest assessment to all student staff members.
• Actively pursue public service announcements from all student organizations for cost-free broadcast on KTXT-FM.
• Through KTXT-FM, organize and conduct a film festival that draws entries from local students, as well as individuals from throughout the state.
• Entered student-produced articles and won national recognition for Daily Toreador series that focused on the plights facing Lubbock’s disadvantaged population.
• Through the advertising office, publish public service announcements on topics pertinent to college-aged students.
• Create and publish a ‘Drink Responsibly’ house ad campaign that won state and national recognition.
• Through the advertising office, partner with Parent Relations for publication of the Road Raiders listing three times during the year in The Daily Toreador.
• Profile international faculty members in La Ventana.

Student Union & Activities:
http://www.depts.ttu.edu/sub/
The Department of Student Union & Activities promotes each student's learning experience. It acts as the community center of the university, serving students, faculty, staff, alumni, and guests. It is the ‘living room' of the campus providing an environment for relaxation and social interaction, opportunities for education and exchange of thought, and services for Texas Tech students, staff, faculty and Tech community. The Student Union & Activities Department is an organization, which offers a variety of programs, activities, services, and facilities that, when taken together, represents a well-considered plan for the community life of the university.

Tech Activities Board:
Students dedicated to providing educational & social activities, as well as, diverse events & programs to enhance the overall Tech experience.

Upward Bound Programs
www.upwardbound.ttu.edu
Upward Bound, an academic enrichment program is designed to recruit and assist high school students showing academic potential who come from families with limited financial resources and whose parents do not have a bachelor’s degree. The Upward Bound Programs are designed to assist in increasing the recruitment and retention of students whose chances for success in postsecondary education may have been adversely affected by their socioeconomic background and/or limited family educational experiences.

 

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