Better Bison Initiatives
Better Bison Initiatives are items implemented within the Department of Residence Life focusing on diversity, equity and inclusion. The overarching focus is to set a foundation of genuine inclusion of minority student/staff populations and engrain the practice of inclusion, equity and diversity into our everyday culture.
Current Initiatives in Action:
- Diversity Initiative Leaders (DIL)
- Roommate Bill of Rights and Roommate Success Plan
- RA interviews have questions printed and available for students to read
- Cultural Competence Curriculum Committee
- Professional Staff Development
- Student staff Development
- Major Minorities in Residence Life (MMRL)
- Converting Bathrooms On-Campus to Gender Neutral Spaces
- Traditional, Spiritual and Cultural Ceremonies in Residence Halls and NDSU Apartments
- Smudging event at Welcome Week
- LGBTQ Roommate Matching
- Professional Staff Diversity Book Club
- RA Training sessions - planned through lens of diversity/inclusions
- Safe Zone Training
- Green Bandana Training
- On-going assessment of sense of belonging with students
- Positions descriptions include demonstration for inclusion efforts to diversity, social justice, and inclusion efforts. (hiring practice)
- Land acknowledgement for large scale meetings / trainings / conferences
Work in Progress:
- Intercultural Learning Community (ILC) - learning community
- Identity Development - Residence Life Experience
- Ongoing professional development dedicated to inclusion and social justice
- Dedicated time to normalize this practice
- Build in conversations - welcome conversations to discuss topics of inclusion
- Crisis book - plan of action in the event of a hate crime
- Continue to meet with University Police - how to interact and support all our students on campus
- Assessment include demographics to see how certain student populations are being impacted
- Critical Race theory or Identity theory to support our students
- Pro staff directory / network minority students to talk to
- Establish a committee of HDs and Directors Team that meet regularly to uphold the Values statement and continue to work to improve our on-campus community
Contact:
Carol Jergenson, Assistant Director of Residential Education
Carol.Jergenson@ndsu.edu | (701) 231-5603
Logan Staton, Seim Hall Director
Logan.Staton@ndsu.edu | (701) 231-3235