In collaboration with the U of A's IDEALS Institute, the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences will be hosting an upcoming workshop series focused on diversity and inclusion for Fulbright College faculty and staff.

"We are so excited to offer these amazing learning opportunities," said Todd Shields, dean of Fulbright College. "Our Dean's Office leadership team participated in 'Facing Bias and Microaggressions' earlier this month and it was a fantastic, strategic, fun and eye-opening experience. I highly encourage all of our faculty and staff members to check out these workshops."

Upcoming workshop opportunities include:

Facing Bias: Exposing Blind Spots/Engaging in Action

Facing Bias is a highly interactive training designed to foster awareness, clarity, reflection and discussion about the concepts of diversity, inclusion, equity, access, unconscious/implicit bias and blind spots, through participant engagement in large and small group discussions.

Participants will be invited to collaborate in learning by sharing experiences, questions and perspectives related to these concepts in a thoughtfully facilitated environment. Participants will leave with insights and personal strategies to help guide further reflection, conversation and action to counter unconscious/implicit bias and to promote diversity, equity and inclusion.

Sign up now for one of the following workshops:

• Tuesday, March 17, 2020 from 1p.m. to 4 p.m.
• Wednesday, June 24, 2020 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
• Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2020 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Microaggressions: Matching Your Values to Your Actions

Microaggressions is a highly interactive training designed to foster deep awareness, reflection and discussion on how to recognize and mitigate microaggressions in everyday interactions and at work, through participant engagement in large and small group discussions.

Participants will be invited to collaborate in learning by sharing experiences, questions and perspectives related to microaggressions in a thoughtfully facilitated environment. Participants will leave with insights and personal strategies to help guide further reflection, conversation and action to counter microaggressions and to better assure their practices match their values regarding diversity and inclusion.

Sign up now for one of the following workshops:

• Thursday, April 2, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
• Wednesday, Nov. 4, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Additionally, Fulbright College faculty and staff are encouraged to complete an Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) assessment in March. 

The IDI is the only theory-based assessment of intercultural competence. The cost of the assessment is $18 per U of A participant; however, the Fulbright College Dean's Office will pay for the first 100 participants in the college who sign up. 

The assessment is optional; however, by completing it participants will get the opportunity to attend various workshops throughout the year, as well as the intercultural competence seminar and to complete a post assessment at the end of the year to see if and how they have developed. 

Sign up online before March 31 for the IDI assesment.

"Building cultural competence is important for our organization," said Romona West, director of diversity and inclusion for Fulbright College. "We know our organization is better if we can effectively navigate cultural differences and respect one another for who we truly are. Our goal is for each staff member, faculty member and student to bring their best self to work and to the classroom and create an environment of inclusive excellence."