On Friday, November 1, 2019, the Office of Diversity & Inclusion will host its 4th Annual Diversity & Inclusion Symposium at the School of Education. This symposium will be a day-long event focused on advancing the conversation on diversity & inclusion within higher education. The day will feature a keynote address by Dr. Claude Steele, round-table discussions, and panels covering the most pressing diversity and inclusion issues facing universities. Registration closes on October 11th. To register for the workshop sessions, please visit http://forms.wm.edu/43877

Schedule:

8:00am - 8:45am - Continental Breakfast and Registration (Foyer)

9:00am - 9:15am - Opening Remarks (Matoaka Woods)

9:15am - 10:30am - Keynote Speaker, Dr. Claude Steele (Matoaka Woods)

10:30am - 11:00am - Book Signing

11:00am - 12:15 pm - Workshop Session One

Drum Circle - Speaker, Patrick Hudgins (Counseling Center)                                                                              

Drum Circles are fun, relaxing, and restorative. Drumming gives us an experience where we can be free to connect with others and ourselves, in order to reduce tension and anxiety of both body and mind. It is a universal language where all people can be a part, free from words and concepts so we can experience life with an open heart. No prior experience is required.

Creating a Sense of Belonging - Speaker, Charm Bullard (Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities)

This workshop will consider student, faculty, and staff engagement on several levels.  Participants will learn about five elements of belonging and identify strategies to cultivate a sense of belonging in their day to day work.  They will leave with practical examples and tools to be able to connect with people from all backgrounds.

Religion on Campus: Diversity or Equity – Speaker, Max Blalock (Wesley Foundation)

What does it look like to be moving from a goal of religious diversity to religious equity. What are the challenges? What are the hopes for such a goal? Join a panel of students, moderated by Rev. Max Blalock, to engage in a lively discussion of creating equitable space for all religious persons on campus.

12:30pm - 1:30pm - Lunch

1:30pm - 2:45pm - Workshop Session Two

Confronting History on University Campuses – Speaker, Jerry Watkins (History Department)  

We cannot go back and change the past, but we can change how we respond to history. College campuses are haunted by spectres of slavery, the Confederacy, and long-ago academics who promoted Lost Cause mythology, and we owe it to our students to reckon with this past. We must teach them about this history to better understand their place in the future. Yale University, the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, William & Mary and others have all been forced to address their pasts and this presentation will discuss the methods used and how we might learn from them.

The Impact of Immigration Laws on Higher Education’s Ability to be an Inclusive Community (What Can We Do) - Speakers, Emily Bailey and Eva Wong (Reves Center for International Studies)                           

W&M is home to over 1200 international students, scholars, faculty, staff, alumni and their families. This session will discuss current trends in immigration policies and how those polices are affecting our institution and members of our international community. We will also offer best practices for creating a more inclusive environment for our international community.

Implicit Bias and Its Impact on Decision-Making - Speaker, Sharron Gatling (Office of Diversity & Inclusion)

Implicit bias, often referred to as unconscious bias, is an invisible influence that impacts every aspect of our lives. Despite the research, we still have difficulty controlling our unconscious awareness of bias; ultimately affecting our decision-making processes. Join me as we explore:

• What is implicit bias?
• What are the key sources of bias?
• What are the overarching areas in which implicit bias impacts an organization?
• How can we control our biases?

2:50pm - Closing