October 2024 NatSci DEI Newsletter

October NatSci DEI Newsletter

Calendar for the month of October, several wooden props are alongside it.

In this issue

Upcoming Events and Sponsorships
Cultural Competency Workshops
Student Organization Information
Important Dates
Lifelong learning
Health and well-being
Action List
Recognitions
Contact us

Upcoming Events and Sponsorships

"Vamos a bailar", Hispanic Heritage Month celebration flyer from OCAT

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month @MSU!

Join us for a vibrant evening of culture, community, and celebration at our Hispanic Heritage Month Reception on October 11, 2024, at 7:30 PM in the Demonstration Hall Ballroom.

This special event honors the rich traditions, contributions, and diverse experiences of the Hispanic and Latino communities. Immerse yourself in an evening filled with inspiring stories, delightful cuisine, and lively entertainment that showcases the beauty of our heritage.

Whether you’re of Hispanic descent or simply wish to learn and celebrate with us, everyone is welcome. Come connect with friends and make new ones while embracing the spirit of unity and pride.

Let’s celebrate together the rich tapestry of our cultures and the incredible impact they have on our society. We look forward to seeing you there!

Date: October 11, 2024

Time: 7:30 PM

Location: Demonstration Hall Ballroom

Registration is required!

MSU Affiliated RSVP Link

https://msu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_b42HjLPzmURKjxY

Non-MSU RSVP Link

https://msu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9n8aBF4GYWNv4Ls

If you have any questions, contact Juan Flores by email: floresj2@msu.edu

A Cultural Competency Workshop being taught at Michigan State University.

Cultural Competency Workshops

Registration is now open for the Fall 2024 semester NatSci Cultural Competency Workshops for MSU NatSci employees and graduate students!

To learn more about the workshops, click here.

Student Organization Information

Are you a NatSci RSO with an upcoming event you'd like to spread the word about? Message us on the NatSci DEI Instagram page (natsci.dei) with a flyer and information and we will share it for you, or reach out to us at natsci.dei@msu.edu.

The Graduate Women in Sciences STEM mentoring program flyer

Science Theater is a student organization which provides science shows (think: Bill Nye) to schools across Michigan. We visit schools which do not have the resources to have interesting, hands-on science demonstrations, and show kids that they can be scientists too. If you're interested in helping out, visit us at our next general meeting on October 9^th at the Abrams Planetarium or reach out to us at pa.sciencetheatre@msu.edu.

Important Dates

September 15th to October 15th is Hispanic Heritage Month

October 3rd-4th is Rosh Hashanah.

October 10th is World Inclusion Day.

October 10th is World Mental Health Day.

LGBT History Month

National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM)

ADHD Awareness Month

A flyer for MSU Disability Pride Month. There is a rainbow stripe running diagonally on the left side.

October is Disability Pride Month at Michigan State University! While Disability Pride Month is nationally celebrated in July to honor the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), we choose to recognize it in October to ensure that all students, faculty, and staff can engage with our programming.

Many exciting events and activities are held this month by MSU offices and organizations, see them on IDI’s webpage: https://inclusion.msu.edu/campus-resources/disability-pride.html

Join us in celebrating and honoring the contributions of individuals with disabilities.

A shot of a mountainous area in the fall.

Lifelong Learning

Exile and Pride: Disability, Queerness, and Liberation

Disability Pride: Dispatches from a Post-ADA World

Disability Visibility: First-Person Stories from the Twenty-First Century

Empowering Students with Hidden Disabilities: A Path to Pride and Success

Academic Ableism Disability and Higher Education

Mental health and well-being

Please take care of your health and well-being. Please use the resources below for support.

Action List

Academic Accessibility

Upcoming classroom accessibility training

Removing Barriers to Learning: Improve D2L Course Usability and Accessibility with Ally – Tuesday, October 15, 11:00 – 12:00

Empowering Inclusivity: Crafting Accessible PowerPoint Presentations – Tuesday, October 22, 1:00 – 2:00

Schedule a consultation

Need assistance or advice about accessibility in your classroom? Request an accessibility consultation with the Instructional Technology and Development group.

October accessibility tip

When recording a class session in Zoom, choose the “record to the cloud” option. This will save your video directly to MediaSpace, and as long as the captioning option is turned on in your settings, a transcript will also be machine generated. Use a good microphone and transcripts will likely be highly reliable.

Want to learn more?

MSU employees can request access to Deque University online self-paced trainings at no cost. Deque's comprehensive web and digital accessibility curriculum covers the full range of topics, with classes designed for a variety of professionals.
Self-enroll in this D2L course developed by the Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities (RCPD). The course focuses on disability education, RCPD accommodations, and accessible classroom best practices.

Inclusive Pedagogy

Participate in an NSF educational research project!

Do you teach a blended / hybrid undergraduate course at MSU?
Are you interested in transitioning your course to a blended format?
Would like to be part of the study and professional development community related to blended courses?

MSU’s Enhanced Digital Learning Initiative (EDLI) is seeking instructors interested in or already implementing blended undergraduate courses in all disciplines to participate in an NSF-funded study for one or more semesters between Spring 2024 – Fall 2025.

Instructors receive an overload stipend and professional development opportunities.

View complete recruitment information here.

Upcoming classroom accessibility training

Removing Barriers to Learning: Improve D2L Course Usability and Accessibility with Ally – Tuesday, October 15, 11:00 – 12:00

Empowering Inclusivity: Crafting Accessible PowerPoint Presentations – Tuesday, October 22, 1:00 – 2:00

Get accessibility training!

Deque University offers online, self-paced training. Deque's comprehensive web and digital accessibility curriculum covers the full range of topics, with classes designed for a variety of professionals.

MSU IT Educational Technology Training website

Educational technology workshops covering topics to help faculty use MSU-supported software in their classrooms. Workshops occur throughout the semester.

Schedule a consultation

Need assistance or advice about accessibility in your classroom? Request an accessibility consultation with the Instructional Technology and Development group.

President Guskiewicz recently highlighted several initiatives, including the Native American Tuition Advantage program, the Green and White Council, and the MSU Ethics Institute, to help progress the university in the upcoming weeks and months.

Read the full article here.

MSU is providing politics, elections, and policy resources for students and staff before the upcoming Presidential election.

Read the full article here.

President Guskiewicz recently gave an update on the spaces in Berkey Hall and the MSU Union involved during February 13th 2023. Classes will also not be held on February 13th 2025, except for some graduate and professional classes.

Read the full announcement here.

A new program has been launched within NatSci! The NatSci Future Faculty Postdoctoral program will help with moving forward the NatSci Strategic Plan with improving inclusion and diversity of the staff and faculty.

More information about this program here.

Please review the Religious Observance Policy for 2024-25 exam and presentation scheduling. You can find a listing of the 2024-25 list of religious holidays here.

The University has updated its policies surrounding pregnancy, childbirth, and pregnancy-related conditions for students and employees.

You can read these updated policies here.

In 2023, the University Committee on Faculty Affairs issued a statement on professional integrity and proposed updates to the Faculty Rights and Responsibilities policy to promote respectful, safe, and equitable learning and working environments. These were approved by the MSU Board of Trustees in June 2024. You may read these revisions here.

If you suspect misconduct has happened or have a concern about it, you can contact the MSU Misconduct Hotline at 1-800-763-0764, or reach out to them at misconduct.msu.edu.

The office of ASMSU Student Rights Advocates provides assistance to students in University-related affairs involving the MSU conduct system, residence hall life, and more. The SRA office is not funded by any university department, and operates as a

confidential and independent resource for students. Student Rights Advocates cannot dispense legal advice, For legal advice,

contact Student Legal Services at (517) 353-37163

Recognitions

Fall color trees with a country road cutting through it.

NatSci's Erica Wehrwein, a chair in the Department of Physiology, has been named a fellow in the American Physiological Society! She is only the second person in the Department of Physiology to ever be named a fellow in the APS.

Read the full article here.