Just in time for the beginning of Black History Month activities, BSU faculty, staff and administrators now have the opportunity to obtain a diversity certificate. What is involved? Please read on…

A diversity certificate will be awarded to any BSU faculty, staff or administrator who completes 15 hours of diversity-related training or activities. Twelve of the 15 hours can be completed through observed activities, events, and workshops that require no participation. A minimum of three of the 15 hours must be diversity training in an activity like Courageous Conversations — activities, events, workshops and training that require participation or engagement of the participants. Interested employees are encouraged to talk with their supervisors and make the achievement of a certificate part of their professional development plan. There is no time limit on the achievement of a certificate. Hours can carry over from one academic year to the next.

It is the responsibility of each individual to track and record all meetings, hours of participation and dates of events in relation to University-sponsored activities and sessions. As evidence of your attendance, the event host/presenter/facilitator will provide hours of completion sheets with their signature. Individuals who have completed the 15 hours of professional development should submit documentation to the CDO, Deb Peterson, who will review the information for compliance with the requirements. Those who successfully complete the requirements will receive a certificate at the end of each academic year.

Any group or office that would like an event to be considered toward partial completion of the diversity certificate is asked to make a request to the CDO in advance of the event. Attached to this message is a sample form that an event host/presenter/facilitator can use to provide evidence of attendance for participants.

For those of you who are interested in getting a good start, there are a number of activities taking place this week and next:

• Black History Month:  Understand the Past, Respect the Future. Northwest Technical College, Conference Room B. Tuesday, February 13^th at noon. Dr. Brian Xiong is the featured speaker.
• Black Leaders Who Paved the Way for Racial Equity. BSU Hobson Memorial Union, Center for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Wednesday, February 14^th at 1:00. Dr. Jesse Grant and Dr. Brian Xiong are the featured speakers.
• From Prison to Ph.D. BSU Hobson Memorial Union Ballroom. Tuesday, February 20^th at 6:00 pm. Dr. Jason Sole is the featured speaker.
• Common Bonds for a Greater Minnesota. American Indian Resource Center Room 103 at 6:00 pm. Jaylani Hussein of CAIR-MN is the featured speaker.
• Chinese New Year/Lunar New Year Celebration. Friday, February 16^th from 5-7 pm at the American Indian Resource Center.  The event is sponsored by the International Student Organization.

We hope to see you at one or more of the scheduled events.

Debra Peterson, Ph.D.
Assistant to the President for Affirmative Action and Institutional Accreditation, Interim
Bemidji State University and Northwest Technical College
dpeterson@bemidjistate.edu
(218) 755-4121