The Institute for Cultural Competence & Inclusive Excellence
Are you interested in developing cultural competencies, knowledge, and skills that you can apply professionally, as well as personally? Would you like to learn how to successfully interact with others in diverse working and learning environments? Do you want to gain the tools and skills necessary to demonstrate and influence inclusive practices?
The Office for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion is pleased to announce the Institute for Cultural Competence & Inclusive Excellence, a personal and professional development certificate program available to all WCU students, faculty, and staff. The certificate program, referred to as “the Institute” herein, reflects WCU’s commitment to create a learning culture that values diversity, equity and inclusion. The Institute consists of a combination of training and education workshops, self-study readings, books, on-demand video presentations, and a capstone project. Participants develop cultural competencies and are offered the tools necessary for linking diversity and inclusion to organizational and work performance. Programs and workshops are offered during the fall, spring, and summer semesters to provide a full range of required and elective workshops.
Institute applications for the next cohort are rolling and are now open - apply using this link.
Cost: The Institute is FREE for all current WCU students (undergraduate/graduate), faculty and staff members.
Campus Informational Sessions
The Office for Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (ODEI) cordially invites you to an informational session to learn more about the Institute for Cultural Competence & Inclusive Excellence, WCU’s professional development diversity and inclusion certificate, available to all WCU students, faculty, and staff. At the informational sessions listed below, ODEI staff will present an overview of the Institute and will be available to answer your questions regarding the program:
Dates TBA
Objectives & Learning Outcomes
- Provide opportunities for students, faculty and staff to develop skills and advance their understanding of the foundational concepts of cultural competence, diversity and inclusion.
- Support WCU’s mission statement to being a “community of educators”.
- Support WCU's diversity and inclusion strategic planning goals to develop institutionalized signature programs/initiatives.
- Develop practical skills that can be used beyond the Institute to ensure equity and inclusion across divisions, colleges, and departments to effect change at WCU.
- Explore how theories in academic affairs, student affairs, human resources, organizational development, and a range of academic disciplines intersect to produce applied methods to improve campus interactions and campus climate, as well as foster professional success.
- Identify how the complex relationship between communication and multiple intersecting social identities inform campus interactions and impact campus climate.
- Contribute to the WCU campus community by addressing emerging or unmet diversity and inclusion needs.
Benefits of Participation
Participants who complete the Institute program requirements will receive:
For Students:
- Purple or Gold Certificate of Achievement for successful completion of all components
- Resume builder
- Institute T-shirt and WCU swag
- University social media and website recognition
- Recognition reception
For Faculty/Staff:
- Purple or Gold Certificate of Achievement for successful completion of all components
- Resume or CV builder
- Incorporate participation within annual department or division performance goals and/or WCU’s Strategic Plan.
- Acknowledgement of Participation to participant’s supervisor or department head
- University social media and website recognition
- Recognition reception
Announcements
See what past participants are saying about the Institute
Stay tuned as space will be limited within future cohorts.