Progress Report: Student Experience and Programs: Student Life

Executive Leadership: Vice President for Student Life

Published November 18, 2024

Recommendation	Timeline	Status
Identify academic support programs successfully retaining and graduating BIPOC students.		Moved to Curriculum and Pedagogy
Commit Investments to support at scale programs across the campus.	Ongoing	See details below
Increase resources and funding to offices and initiatives that promote student diversity programs and services representative of a SUNY flagship and comparable to other AAU institutions.	Ongoing	collaborate with Undergraduate Education to implement new initiatives with additional $40,000 funding. Efforts include: $10,000 to obtain a higher profile speaker for the Diversity Keynote at Welcome Weekend that is attended by all first-year students and for student leaders to have an opportunity to connect and learn from the keynote separately $15,000 to collaborate with the Office of Inclusive Excellence to create a campaign to represents the entire UB DEI-focused infrastructure, services, and support system for students and share it with students during Welcome Weekend. $15,000 to explore, design, and pilot a DEI module as part of the UB Community Module for new and transfer students as part of their orientation process. Maintain previous increased commitments (operations and staffing) to Intercultural and Diversity Center Creation of LGBTQ Center and staff position which will allow increased capacity in Intercultural and Diversity Center to address PACOR Recommendation Secured $25,000 in additional funding through University Innovation Alliance dedicated towards the Black Student Success Initiative
Institutionalize annual celebrations of our diverse community in an ongoing manner such as awards, events, festivals, heritage months, etc.	Ongoing	Intercultural and Diversity Center History Monthly Student Celebrations: Latinx, Black, Indigenous, AAPI; Annual Celebrations: Lavender Ceremony [17 years]; ALANA Celebration of Achievement [27 years]. ONGOING: Intercultural and Diversity Center to engage in discussions with recently appointed Vice Provost for Inclusive Excellence and decanal units about opportunities to create institution-wide opportunities in this space.
Organize and involve a broad spectrum of students in identifying needs and envisioning future diversity and social justice initiatives.	Ongoing	Use SL paraprofessionals (Diversity Advocates, RAs, Engagement Ambassadors, OLs, etc. as feedback resources; meet once a semester with relevant SA Cultural Club Eboard members; consult with Dean of Students’ Advisory Committee; maintain ongoing communication with UB Student Association President
Better coordinate, promote and increase programs designed to create a more welcoming and supportive environment for current UB students in order to improve retention and graduation rates.	Ongoing	Multicultural Leadership Institute [Jan 2022, Jan 2023, Jan 2024] (IDC, Career Design Center, Campus Living, Student Support Services) Summer 2022 Wellness Programming (IDC, Counseling Services) Fall FOCUS event [August 2022, August 2023, August 2024] (IDC and Residential Life); “Bulls Like Me” Identity Group Discussions [Fall 2021, Fall 2022, Fall 2023, Fall 2024] (IDC, OTPP); IDC Welcome Back BBQ [Aug 2022] (848 attendees) [Aug 2023] (1,203 attendees); [Aug 2024) (681 Attendees) 2023-2024 IDC Collaborations: Tough Topics: The Culture of Halloween on College Campuses (Health Promotions)”BIPOC Drop In Support Group [Every other Wednesday in IDC] (Counseling Services); C-STEP Shadow Day (C-STEP); BIPOC Graduate Student Needs Based Programming (Graduate Professional Development & Graduate Students of Color Club); “Elevate and Celebrate: Championing Diversity” (UB Athletics); continuously solicit feedback from UB students about types of programs and services necessary for success; 2023/2024: designated Marketing and Communications ‘beat’ staff member assigned to Intercultural and Diversity Center to promote IDC events, activities, services, and resources

Previous Updates

Recommendation	Timeline	Status
Identify academic support programs successfully retaining and graduating BIPOC students.		Moved to Curriculum and Pedagogy
Commit Investments to support at scale programs across the campus.	Ongoing	Starting Fall 2021: $40,000 allocated for mandatory annual Fall diversity speaker and annual Spring Semester Multicultural Leadership Institute (MLI) Investment detail provided in following section
Increase resources and funding to offices and initiatives that promote student diversity programs and services representative of a SUNY flagship and comparable to other AAU institutions.	Ongoing	Increased Intercultural and Diversity Center resources by 35% for 2022-2023 academic year IDC Funding/Resources: 2019-2022 OTPS: Average: $64,723; Total Salaries: $332,173-$358,022 IDC Funding/Resources: 2022-2023 OTPS: $110,420 (+$10, 000 donor gift); Total Salaries: $461,039 2022-2023: added additional full-time staff member (Assistant Director) and upgraded a Coordinator position to the Assistant Director level to enhance and increase programs and services in Intercultural and Diversity Center. IDC Funding/Resources: 2023-2024 OTPS: $139,520 (26% increase from previous year) 115% total increase to OTPS over last two years Partnered with Academic Affairs to secure University Innovation Alliance Black Student Success Initiative Grant of $25,000 for Creating Undergraduate Learning Through Unity, Resources and Equity (CULTURE) Program (peer mentoring, affinity groups, workshops, living and learning communities); program provides direct resources for UB campus initiatives as well as creates collaborative opportunities with other institutions; Solicited donor for creation of ‘Social Justice Fund’ (2022-2023 and 2023-2024) – donor generously provided $10,000 for funds dedicated to the cause of improving social justice (administered by IDC) 2 BIPOC Specialists on Counseling Services Staff Counseling Services collaboration with Intercultural and Diversity Center for for a weekly Drop In BIPOC Support Group
Institutionalize annual celebrations of our diverse community in an ongoing manner such as awards, events, festivals, heritage months, etc.	Ongoing	Intercultural and Diversity Center History Monthly Student Celebrations: Latinx, Black, Indigenous, AAPI; Annual Celebrations: Lavender Ceremony [16 years]; ALANA Celebration of Achievement [26 years] ONGOING: Intercultural and Diversity Center to engage in discussions with recently appointed Vice Provost for Inclusive Excellence and decanal units about opportunities to create institution-wide opportunities in this space
Organize and involve a broad spectrum of students in identifying needs and envisioning future diversity and social justice initiatives.	Ongoing	Use SL paraprofessionals (Diversity Advocates, RAs, Engagement Ambassadors, OLs, etc. as feedback resources; meet once a semester with relevant SA Cultural Club Eboard members; consult with Dean of Students’ Advisory Committee; maintain ongoing communication with UB Council Student Representative (Currently Alika Turton)
Better coordinate, promote and increase programs designed to create a more welcoming and supportive environment for current UB students in order to improve retention and graduation rates.	Ongoing	Multicultural Leadership Institute [Jan 2022, Jan 2023, Jan 2024] (IDC, Career Design Center, Campus Living, Student Support Services) Summer 2022 Wellness Programming (IDC, Counseling Services) Fall FOCUS event [August 2022, August 2023] (IDC and Residential Life); “Bulls Like Me” Identity Group Discussions [Fall 2021, Fall 2022, Fall 2023] (IDC, OTPP); IDC Welcome Back BBQ [Aug 2022] (848 attendees) [Aug 2023] (1,203 attendees) Fall 2022 IDC Collaborations: “Tough Topic: Surviving and Thriving: Prioritizing Mental Health” (Counseling Services); “Friends With Out Borders” (Counseling Services); Spoken Word/Open Mic Event (CSTEP); Hispanic Heritage Month Speaker, Javier Avila (Inclusive Excellence); continuously solicit feedback from UB students about types of programs and services necessary for success; Collaborate further with Student Life Marketing and Communications for promotion of events, activities, services, and resources; 2023/2024: designated Marketing and Communications ‘beat’ staff member assigned to Intercultural and Diversity Center to promote IDC events, activities, services, and resources

Recommendation	Timeline	Status
Commit Investments to support at scale programs across the campus.	Ongoing	Increased Intercultural and Diversity Center programming budget by over 70% for 2022-2023 academic year Starting Fall 2021: $40,000 allocated for mandatory Fall diversity speaker and Spring Semester Multicultural Leadership Institute (MLI) [January 2022)
Increase resources and funding to offices and initiatives that promote student diversity programs and services representative of a SUNY flagship and comparable to other AAU institutions.	Ongoing	increased Intercultural and Diversity Center resources by 35% for 2022-2023 academic year IDC Funding/Resources: 2019-2022 OTPS: Average: $64,723; Total Salaries: $332,173-$358,022 IDC Funding/Resources: 2022-2023 OTPS: $110,420 (+$10, 000 donor gift); Total Salaries: $461,039 2022-2023: added additional full-time staff member (Assistant Director) to enhance and increase programs and services in Intercultural and Diversity Center.
Institutionalize annual celebrations of our diverse community in an ongoing manner such as awards, events, festivals, heritage months, etc.	Ongoing	Intercultural and Diversity Center Monthly Student Celebrations: Latinx, Black, Indigenous, AAPI, History Months; Annual Celebrations: Lavender Ceremony [16 years]; ALANA Celebration of Achievement [26 years]; continuously monitor UB culture to identify additional opportunities to celebrate diversity
Organize and involve a broad spectrum of students in identifying needs and envisioning future diversity and social justice initiatives.	Ongoing	Use SL paraprofessionals (Diversity Advocates, RAs, Engagement Ambassadors, OLs, etc.) as feedback resources; meet once a semester with relevant SA Cultural Club Eboard members; consult with Dean of Students’ Advisory Committee; maintain ongoing communication with UB Council Student Representative (Currently A.J. Franklin)
Better coordinate, promote and increase programs designed to create a more welcoming and supportive environment for current UB students in order to improve retention and graduation rates.	Ongoing	Multicultural Leadership Institute [Jan 2022, Jan 2023] (IDC, Career Design Center, Campus Living, Student Support Services) Summer 2022 Wellness Programming (IDC, Counseling Services) Fall FOCUS event [August 2022] (IDC and Residential Life); “Bulls Like Me” Identity Group Discussions [Fall 2021, Fall 2022] (IDC, OTPP); IDC Welcome Back BBQ [Aug 2022] (848 attendees); Upcoming Fall 2022 IDC Collaborations: “Tough Topic: Surviving and Thriving: Prioritizing Mental Health” (Counseling Services); “Friends With Out Borders” (Counseling Services); Spoken Word/Open Mic Event (CSTEP); Hispanic Heritage Month Speaker, Javier Avila (Inclusive Excellence); Solicit feedback from UB students about types of programs and services necessary for success; Collaborate further with Student Life Marketing and Communications for promotion of events, activities, services, and resources.