University Housing - Diversity Initiatives - Diversity Programs and Initiatives Staff

D-Squad

MISSION

University Housing is committed to creating an environment that helps all students feel welcome and included. This means that we are dedicated to fostering an inclusive environment for students of all racial/ethnic, cultural, sexual orientation, gender identity and religious backgrounds. Diversity Programs and Initiatives is central to achieving Housing's commitment to diversity.

LEARN

D-SQUAD provides social, cultural, multicultural and fun educational programs. We create opportunities for Housing students, like you, to interact and learn from each other in a way that embraces and respects our differences. In fact, we see our differences in experiences, cultural background and sexual orientation are what make our Housing community strong. An enriching college experience allows for members of the community to grow by fostering relationships across differences and increase our understanding of the world by learning many perspectives that we would not know by sticking with the familiar.

SUPPORT

Specifically, we feel that its important to provide support and connections for international and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBTQ) students, and students of color (African American, Asian American, Latino/a, American Indian, Middle Eastern) who may feel isolated as numerically small populations on campus. As we are committed to creating relationships across differences we want to build a support system for students of color, LGBTQ and international students that is inclusive and free of harassment and stereotypes.

ACHIEVE

What makes students successful leaders? A strong academic anchor and a deeper understanding of our responsibility as citizens of the communities from which we belong. We have tutoring hours, class connections, and study nights coordinated by our staff. Many of these services are at our community space, the Satellite. We offer facilitated programs that allow for dialogue and meaningful discussion around increasing awareness about diversity issues and experiences faced by students of color, LGBTQ and international students.