LENS Diversity Certificate ProgramInformational Meetings:•Tuesday, April 19th, 2011•Wednesday, April 20th, 2011

A quick quiz…

• Who…– has taken a class on non-Western cultures?– has taken a class on American minority cultures?– has attended a cultural program on campus?

• You’d get credit towards a LENS Diversity Certificate!

• How did you find out about the LENS program?– Class announcement– Lunch on Us– Email– Facebook

LENS Diversity Certificate Program

• Two semester commitment culminating in a certificate

• Multi-dimensional framework that encourages students to view & explore diversity, social justice, & intercultural relations

• Develop skills for functioning in a diverse & global society

Why get the LENS Certificate?

• Gain the skills to function in a diverse & multicultural society & world

• Gain practical skills that can translate to the workplace

• Gain experience & growth in diversity & leadership

• Show that you have a serious commitment to learning more about diversity-related issues

• Develop lasting relationships that challenge & enrich your experiences

Eligibility• Any college, any major

• Any year, as long as you have 2 or more semesters at UIUC

• Students are expected to complete the program in a year (two semesters, not counting summer sessions)

• Students go through the program as a cohort (meaning that people starting at the same time leave at the same time). This creates unique synergies and team-building.

The Three Major Lenses

The LENS Diversity Certificate Program operates on a framework that encourages students to view and explore diversity, social justice, and intercultural relations through three perspective lenses: micro, meso, and macro. – The micro-lens focuses on the individual’s

personal culture and the intersection of identities

– The meso-lens focuses on the interpersonal relationships and cross-cultural communication

– The macro-lens focuses on the institutional, societal, and cultural influences in social justice

Why LENS?

Learn: Increase knowledge

Envision: Enhance awarenessNavigate: Obtain experienceSynthesize: Optimize tools

LEARN: Increase Knowledge

– 1 Theory Course:• Increase your personal knowledge of

identities, cultures, and communities through an academic course

– 1 Application Course:• Incorporate class material in an interactive

academic class to enhance your awareness of intercultural communication

– Students can get credit for one class taken before entering the program, but at least one of the two classes (theory or application) must be taken during their LENS year.

Theory Courses (incomplete list)

– AAS 100 - Intro to Asian American Studies– AFRO 100 - Intro to African American Studies– AIS 101 - Intro to American Indian Studies– ANTH 103 - Anthropology in a Changing World– ARTD 209 - Tea Ceremony and Zen– ARTH 115 - Art in a Global Context– CMN 232 - Intro to Intercultural Communication– CWL/ENGL 112 - Literature of Global Culture– EPS/LLS 310 - Race and Cultural Diversity– EPSY/SHS 222 - Lang & Culture Deaf Communities– FAA 130 - The Arts & Identity in an International Context– GWS 215 - US Citizenship Comparatively– MUS 133 - Introduction to World Music– PHIL/RLST 110 - World Religions– SOC 160 - Global Inequality and Social Change– SPAN 242 - US Latina & Latino Culture

Application Courses (complete list)

– CMN 396 - Diversity in Organizations – CMN 496 - Race, Class, Gender, & Work – EPSY 202 - Exploring Cultural Diversity– EPSY 203 - Social Issues Group Dialogues– PSYC 340/341, SJE - Social Justice Educators – PSYC 340/341, IDP - Supervision in Intergroup

Dialogues – PSYC 496, IDP - Facilitating Intergroup Dialogue– THEA/GWS 218 - Intro to Social Issues Theatre– THEA 400, M - Performance Ensemble– THEA/GWS 417 - Leading Post-Performance Dialogue– THEA/GWS 418 - Devising Social Issues Theatre

ENVISION: Enhance Awareness

– 3 Extensive Workshops:• Participate in experiential workshops to

explore diversity topics on individual, interpersonal, and institutional levels

• One micro-, one meso-, and one macro-

– 1 Intensive Training:• Examine social justice through one of the

three lenses more thoroughly to equip yourself with a new skill set

WorkshopsAttend 3 Extensive Workshops– Exploring Identity Micro– Stereotype Awareness Meso– iConnect Micro OR Macro– Cross-Cultural Communication Meso– Religious Diversity Micro OR Meso – Segregation Today Meso OR Macro– iConnect Micro OR Macro– Inclusive Leadership Macro– Privilege Micro OR Macro– Socialization Macro – Ally 101 Micro OR Meso

Attend 1 Intensive Workshop – TBA

NAVIGATE: Obtain Experience

– 10 Immersion Hours:• Explore diversity–enriched campus

programs and events to gain opportunities to network and grow with others

– Team Service Project:• Working with a team of your peers,

orchestrate a diversity-related project for the greater campus and community

10 Immersion Hours• Explore diversity–enriched campus programs & events to gain

opportunities to network & grow with others

• Students are expected to immerse themselves in programs that involve, but are not limited to, diversity, social justice, or intercultural relations. Students must attend 10 hours of programming. LENS classes, workshops, and trainings will not be counted towards this requirement.

• Programs can include speakers, panels, workshops, trainings, special events, presentations, meetings, retreats, and volunteer experiences. Students must get verification that they attended the program.

• Examples include: Lunch on Us, IUB Cultural Events, Ally trainings, etc.

Team Service Project• Working with a team of your peers, orchestrate a diversity-

related project for the greater campus and community

• Prepare and execute a program related to, but not limited to, diversity, social justice, or intercultural relations. Programs can range from presentations to guest speakers to community service projects. Students may collaborate with Registered Student Organizations, Residential Life Multicultural Advocates, OIIR staff members, or community organizations.

• Teams must submit a one-page proposal to the DEAP Coordinator at least one month before implementing.

SYNTHESIZE: Optimize Tools

– Cohort Mentoring Group:• Meet with your peers to discuss your

progress and frame your learning in a larger context

– Processing Workbook: • Document your unique journey in the

program and utilize it as a tool to further your development in social justice

Cohort Mentoring Group• Meet with your peers to discuss your progress and frame your

learning in a larger context

• A key component of this process is self-reflection. Students will attend OIIR-staff-led meetings twice a semester with their peers to share their perspectives and relate learning to a larger context. They will also fill out a LENSfocus, which is the student’s action plan to achieve their personal goals and certificate requirements in an efficient manner.

• Meetings will include: establishing community, networking opportunities, facilitated discussions, and learning from each others’ experiences and perspectives

Processing Workbook• Document your unique journey in the program and utilize it as a

tool to further your development in social justice

• Students will be provided with a processing workbook to record their experiences within the program and to serve as a tangible symbol of their incredible journey. Students will be able to identify what skills they gained and cultivated, what experiences have influenced them the most, what challenges they faced, and what strategies they used to overcome them.

• These workbooks are personal to the student and not required to be shared with others.

Thanks for coming!

Questions?

For more information, go to:go.illinois.edu/LENS

Or email:DiversityEd@illinois.edu