The Diversity & Inclusion Development Certificate offers a series of trainings to students, staff, and faculty to expand their awareness, knowledge, and skills related to diversity and inclusion to promote personal and professional growth.  The workshops offered are organized in to two levels and are open to all MSU students, staff, and faculty.  You may complete any individual workshop offerings of interest on their own or you may choose to work towards a certificate. The requirements are outlined below for those who want to earn their certificate.

Diversity & Inclusion Development Certificate Offerings


DID Certificate Workshops being offered fall of 2024

Level Workshop Title Date Time
Level 2 Disability and Inclusivity Tuesday, April 2 1:30 - 4:30 pm
Level 2 Diversity - Body Size Tuesday, April 16 12 -  3 pm
Level 1 Exploring Cultural Identity Tuesday, September 24 12 - 3 pm
Level 1 Intersectionality & Privilege Monday, October 21 12 - 3 pm
Level 1 Implicit Bias & Microaggressions Tuesday, November 12 12 - 3 pm
Level 2 Safe Zone Module 1: Awareness & Education Wednesday, August 7 1 - 3 pm
Level 2 Safe Zone Module 2: LGBTQ Ally Development Wednesday, August 14 1 - 3 pm
Level 2 Safe Zone Module 1: Awareness & Education Wednesday, September 25 3 - 5 pm
Level 2 Safe Zone Module 2: LGBTQ Ally Development Wednesday, October 9 3 - 5 pm
Level 2 Safe Zone Module 3: Mitigating Heterosexism & Transnegativity Wednesday, October 16 3 - 5 pm
Level 2 Safe Zone Module 1: Awareness & Education Wednesday, October 23 1 - 3 pm
Level 2 Safe Zone Module 2: LGBTQ Ally Development Wednesday, November 6 1 - 3 pm
Level 2 Safe Zone Module 3: Mitigating Heterosexism & Transnegativity Wednesday, November 13 1 - 3 pm

 

You can register for DIV series workshops, visit MSU Registration and search for the course title.

Register for Safe Zone workshops by clicking on the course title above.

For questions related to the Diversity & Inclusion Development program or upcoming workshops, contact Mariah Hill at hill@montana.edu or 994-4531.

**NOTE FOR FACULTY** To receive credit for participation in Diversity Development workshops, faculty should download and complete Request Center Credit Form and submit to the Center for Faculty Excellence at cfe@montana.edu. Forms should be submitted immediately after attendance rather than all at one time.


Level 1: Diversity & Inclusion Development - Foundations of Diversity & Inclusion

The Level 1 Foundations of Diversity & Inclusion course offerings include three workshops that introduce participants to some fundamental concepts related to diversity and inclusion.  The workshops include didactic lecture, self-reflection, small and large group discussion, and experiential activities.  These workshops would be useful for people wanting to gain an introductory knowledge base on the topics identified in the title workshops; engage in deeper self-reflection to further self-understanding related to one’s cultural identity, experience of privilege, and personal biases; connect, engage, and learn more about other MSU community members related to cultural identity; and practice cultural humility skills. To earn a Level 1 certificate, attend DIV 100, DIV 110, and DIV 120. 

Level 1 - Workshop Descriptions

In this workshop, participants will learn about the ADDRESSING and Big 10+ models of cultural identity.  Participants will have an opportunity to reflect and apply these models to understand more about themselves as well as others.  The concept of cultural humility will also be introduced and explored.

In this course, participants will learn about the concepts of intersectionality and privilege, reflect on personal barriers that may impede self-awareness of privilege, and complete a privilege self-assessment.  Participants will also engage in critical self-reflection while exploring the intersectionality of their identity and how this impacts experiences of privilege within larger social systems using Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Model.  

In this course, participants will gain an understanding of the cycle of oppression, implicit bias, and microaggressions.  Attendees will also identify areas of personal bias using a self-assessment tool and reflect on how these may get enacted through microaggressions.  Finally, individuals will briefly be introduced to skills for responding if they become aware of enacting microaggressions.

Level 2: Diversity & Inclusion Development - Dimensions of Cultural Identity

The Level 2 Dimensions of Cultural Identity series offers workshops that focus more specifically on different social group identities.  Workshops may include didactic lecture, self-reflection, small and large group discussion, experiential activities, and/or panel presenters.  These workshops would be useful for people wanting to explore and learn more deeply about different intersectional dimensions of cultural identity; engage in self-reflection to further self-understanding related to the socialization process along these dimensions of identity as it relates to one’s cultural lens; explore biases and microaggressions more specific to different social identity groups; and connect, engage, and learn more about other MSU community members related to these aspects of cultural identity. 

The specific courses offered for Level 2 may vary from year to year.  Those wishing to earn their certificate for Level 2 will need to complete workshops from FOUR different identity dimensions offered.


Level 2: Workshop Descriptions

In this workshop, participants will learn some basics about signs, symptoms, and prevalence of mental health disorders, as well as some prevailing cultural beliefs that contribute to stigma or barriers to help-seeking. Through discussion, self-reflective, and group activities, participants will explore these factors as well as learn skills for how to support and refer someone to campus or community resources.

In this workshop, the concepts of race, ethnicity, racism, racial and ethnic identity and anti-racism will be explored.  Participants will engage in self-reflection to expand their understanding of their racial identity development as well as personal experience of racial socialization.  Participants will also explore racial microaggressions as these relate to their experience at MSU.  The workshop will conclude with review of developing a racialized lens and practice applying this skill in one’s role at MSU.

In this workshop, participants will explore the concept of generational identity; review the 5 current generations in the United States; and identify some of the associated historical events, figures, and presumed characteristics of each generation.  Individuals will also explore their generational identity and personal biases that may be held with regard to other generations.  The workshop will conclude with skill development focused on engaging across the generations to apply in their role at MSU.

During this workshop participants will learn about veteran trends in the post 9/11 era, and how these trends are affecting the veteran student body here in Montana. Instruction will address the stereotypes and biases that exist about veterans and the reality of the challenges that face veterans transitioning to civilian life.  Finally, participants will engage in critical self-reflection to heighten awareness related to personal perceptions of veterans, explore biases, and learn how to support the intellectual and personal growth of our student veterans.

During this workshop, an interfaith panel discussion will explore questions relating to what is held sacred; religious and spiritual practices, beliefs, and biases; and the skills that support interfaith connections.  Participants will also have the opportunity to engage in critical self-reflection and exploration related to religion and spirituality, areas of bias related to this aspect of cultural identity, and how awareness of this aspect of cultural identity in others is beneficial at MSU.

During this workshop, participants will learn about systemic body size discrimination. There will be a particular focus on ways this impacts individuals within education systems. Participants will have the opportunity to engage in critical self-reflection and exploration regarding weight, body size, and related areas of bias. Additionally, this workshop will provide opportunity to increase acceptance and consider ways to enact change within MSU and the broader community.

In this workshop, participants will consider the concept of disability and its classifications, reflect on their socialization of ability and disability, and explore ableist bias and microaggressions.  More affirmative and inclusive practices as it relates to ability status will be reviewed and participants will have an opportunity to consider ways to implement these in their work at MSU.

This online course offering provides training to expand people’s understanding of the diverse American Indian people of Montana.  It includes background information on Indian Education for All, introduces Montana tribal nations, explores tribal nation educational resource material, and addresses frequently asked questions about Montana’s American Indian people. http://www.montana.edu/iefa/ 

**Note**  Completion of this course is tracked separately for university reporting as all MSU staff and faculty are asked to complete the IEFA online training.  As such, those seeking credit towards their Level 2 DID certificate with the IEFA course should email Terry at: terry.bishop@montana.edu after completing it and he will confirm it in the tracking system.

For more information on the Safe Zone program, upcoming workshop dates, and workshop descriptions, visit this link:  Safe Zone Program.

**NOTE** Only one Safe Zone workshop may be used toward earning your Level 2 certificate. Due to documentation and tracking constraints, Safe Zone workshops will only count towards the Level 2 certificate if they were completed after January 1, 2020.