Office of Multicultural Affairs Newsletter
May 2022 | D-Term | Spring 2022
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The Office of Multicultural Affairs will be observing the following office hours this summer.
May 11th - May 22nd:
Monday - Friday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM EST
Saturday and Sunday: Closed
May 23rd - August 1st:
Monday - Friday: 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM EST
Saturday and Sunday: Closed
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Casting Call for Admission Video
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Asian American and Pacific Islander
Heritage Month
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Jewish American Heritage Month
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Upcoming Campus Program and Events
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Upcoming Holidays, Holy Days, and Commemorative Days
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- Cinco de Mayo (May 5)
- National Day of Prayer (May 5)
- Vesak (May 6)
- Mother's Day (May 8)
- International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (May 17)
- Haitian Flag Day (May 18)
- Agender Pride Day (May 19)
- Lag BaOmer (May 18-19)
- World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development (May 21)
- Armed Forces Day (May 21)
- Declaration of the Báb (May 23)
- Pansexual and Panromantic Awareness and Visibility Day (May 24)
- Africa Day (May 25)
- Ascension Day (May 26)
- Ascension of Baha'u'llah (May 29)
- Memorial Day (May 30)
- May 2022 is observed as:
- National Bike Month
- National Physical Fitness and Sports
- National Mental Health Awareness
- Lupus Awareness month
- Lyme Disease Awareness Month
- National Building Safety Month
- Asian American, Native Hawaiian, And Pacific Islander Heritage
- Jewish American Heritage Month
- National Foster Care Month
Happy Birthday to all of the May babies!
Wishing all summer babies the happiest of birthdays! |
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WPI News:
- Turnover, Burnout and Demoralization in Higher Ed | A researcher explores academe’s version of the “big quit”—what’s distinctive about it and why campus leaders need to take it seriously. (Inside Higher Ed)
- Student Mental Health Status Report: Struggles, Stressors and Supports | While the pandemic has taken a serious toll on students, few have stayed in a dark place the entire time, and the present time period is rated by the greatest percentage of students as the best one in terms of mental health. (Inside Higher Ed)
- Accommodating Mental Health | The national mental health crisis plaguing colleges is stretching disability support offices, where more students are registering psychological disorders to receive classroom accommodations. (Inside Higher Ed)
- Graduating In Person, at Last | For many graduates from the COVID classes of 2020 and 2021, commencement was virtual, students only or just no fun. This year they’re joining the Class of 2022 for the full-blown experience. (Inside Higher Ed)
- More Students Are Using Their Own Money to Pay for College | Forty-five percent said they paid for their education with their own savings and income. That’s an eight-percentage-point increase over 2019. (Inside Higher Ed)
- Rising Freshmen’s Concern With College Costs Has Limits | Students would give a lower rank to a college if it cut nonacademic amenities to save money, survey finds. (Inside Higher Ed)
- Defense research funding for HBCUs, minority institutions lags, report says (Higher Ed Dive)
- The Student Debt Cancellation Debates (Diverse Issues in Higher Education)
- Survey Shows Medical and Science Fields Need to Do More to Gain the Trust of Black Americans (The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education)
- New Census Report Documents Shifting Pattern of When Women Are Having Children (Women in Academia)
Local/State/National/International News:
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Mental Health, Wellness, Self-Care, and Mindfulness
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Current events may be hard to grapple with as multiple historically Black colleges and universities faced bomb threats, Minneapolis police fatally shot Amir Locke, and many states and districts continue to ban teaching inclusive books and talking about race. Amidst these aggressions, we want to remind Black educators to practice self-care—and all educators to elevate the importance of Black students’ experiences and their mental health. These resources can help. (Learning For Justice)
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Live Guided Meditation | hosted by Meditation Breaks
- Immerse yourself in the benefits of meditation and mindfulness. This live online meditation class hosted by Meditation Breaks provides a wide array of easy to learn mindfulness teachings and techniques aimed at transforming your life -- including stress relief, increasing happiness, living in the moment, and much more.
- Great for people looking to learn how meditation can help them in daily life and for those interested in maintaining a regular meditation practice.
- Note: times are Wednesdays at 8:30 PM EST.
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Mental Health Training Webinars
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Student Mental Health Matters
Join Learning for Justice for a webinar about student mental health—and why it matters. Cohosted by Dr. Charles Barrett, Chair for the National Association of School Psychologists Multicultural Affairs Committee, this webinar will focus on challenges students face regarding mental health, including how those challenges can vary depending on their intersecting identities. We will also share examples of what schools and districts are doing to address these challenges. Finally, you will learn about tools and strategies for your own classroom and school community. (Learning For Justice) |
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Meeting the Mental Health Needs of Minority College Students
In this episode we replay the December 7th Diverse Talk Live! webcast, "Meeting the Mental Health Needs of Minority College Students." In case you missed it, listen in as a panel of experts evaluate and advise on how higher ed institutions can best address the mental health needs of minority students — particularly as they grapple with a myriad of challenges including the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and a nationwide flashpoint on systemic racism, punctuated by the recent guilty verdicts of the individuals charged with the murder of Ahmaud Arbery. (Diverse Issues In Higher Education)
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Part II Meeting the Mental Health Needs of Minority College Students
In this episode, we replay part two of the Diverse Talk Live! webcast, "Meeting the Mental Health Needs of Minority College Students." In case you missed it, tune in as the panel of experts return to look at campus climate policies after the surge of Omicron and how they relate to the mental health and health-seeking behaviors in minoritized students. Listen in as they propose supplemental resources for faculty who are on the front line and discuss what we can do at the campus and institutional level to better support student mental health and connect students to services who are disproportionately under-utilizing formal treatment avenues. (Diverse Issues In Higher Education)
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LGBTQIAP+ Resources and Support
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Read, Watch, Listen, and Learn
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Master - Official Trailer | Prime Video
Three women strive to find their place at an elite Northeastern university as old as the country. When anonymous racist attacks target a Black freshman — who insists she is being haunted by ghosts of the school’s past — each woman must determine where the real menace lies. Streaming on Prime Video and in select theaters on March 18.
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- Residence Life Cinema (SWANK Motion Pictures, Inc.)
- Alcohol Awareness
- Asian Pacific Islander History and Culture
- Black History and Culture
- Constitution Day
- Disabilities
- Diversity and Inclusion
- Earth Day
- Hispanic History and Culture
- International
- LGBTQ+ Pride
- Social Relevance
- National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week
- National Native American Heritage Month
- Women's History Month
- Women's Studies
- World AIDS Day
- Anyone on WPI Wi-Fi can access free streaming services at cinema.wpi.edu.
Podcasts:
Books:
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Voter Education and Registration
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Massachusetts Primary Election
September 6, 2022
Election Day 2022
Tuesday, November 8th
Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) and the Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA) are non-partisan entities and do not support or oppose any political candidate or party.
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Where the fight for the Black vote really started | History Refocused
Black political power was at its height during Reconstruction. What happened? In this first episode of “History Refocused,” we learn how a former slave’s story shows both the immense power of the vote and the community-shattering effects when it’s taken away by violence. Abby Phillip talks with CNN’s Brandon Tensley to discuss why federal intervention was key both in the Reconstruction years and still today.
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Student Jobs and Internships
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Peer Well-being Ambassador
Position Description and Application
Plans are underway for the opening of WPI’s Center for Well-Being (CWB) in Fall 2022. The underlying philosophy of the Center is a holistic approach that empowers individuals to create their own well-being by fostering a sense of vitality (managing one’s cognitive, physical, emotional, and spiritual energy), purpose, enjoyment, connection, and community.
The CWB is currently hiring Well-Being Ambassadors to work in the Center for Well-Being Starting in A-term 2022
Well-being Ambassadors are students who are passionate about well-being and promoting a campus culture that supports the well-being of each member of the WPI community. Working with the CWB staff, students will gain direct experience with the CWB and develop skills in group facilitation, community outreach, communication, and knowledge of topics related to wellness.
The CWB will be staffed by Well-being Ambassadors who will welcome students to the CWB, be knowledgeable of resources and programs available at WPI that support well-being, help peers in accessing resources and answering questions, facilitate programming, and provide office support to the CWB. Well-being Ambassadors will be able to use their own creativity, talents, and knowledge of their communities to advance well-being in the ways best suited to their skills and talents. Well-being Ambassadors will be expected to commit at least 8 hours per week to the Center. Federal Work-Study is optional.
Interested in becoming a Part of the CWB?
To apply, please send your resume and a brief response to the following questions to Paula Fitzpatrick, Director of the Center for Well-Being, pfitzpatrick@wpi.edu. Questions? Please email pfitzpatrickp@wpi.edu or call 508-831-5528.
- Why do you think the Center for Wellbeing is important on WPI’s campus?
- What makes you want to become a WPI Wellbeing Ambassador?
- What are some of the obstacles that get in the way of student’s well-being at WPI?
- What specific skills, strengths, or experience would you bring to this position?
- In what ways do you prioritize your own well-being?
- How do you think we can build connection, community, and well-being on campus more broadly?
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Residential Program Assistant (RPA)
The Office of Pre-Collegiate Outreach Programs is looking to hire a team of undergraduates to assist in the daily implementation of the Launch, and Frontier. Summer Staff will be responsible for building connections with high school participants, serve as a resource to connect participants to the staff/offices to ensure their academic success. Additionally, you will be responsible for building and a sense of connection and belonging for our program participants. All summer staff will act as ambassadors from the WPI community, sharing WPI’s culture and traditions, while also serving as STEM role models and by sharing their personal experiences. A successful mentor will also exhibit a positive attitude, a sense of humor, and an interest to work with high school students and staff from diverse backgrounds.
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and will close once positions are filled. If you have any questions, please contact Gregory Lane, Associate Director of Pre-Collegiate Outreach Programs at glane@wpi.edu.
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Professional Development Opportunities
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Bystander Intervention to stop anti-Asian/American and xenophobic harassment
February - June 2022
Various Days of the Week
To combat the current rise in harassment and discrimination and to also proactively prepare for the future increase of hate incidents, Advancing Justice | Chicago is partnering with New York-based nonprofit Hollaback! and CAIR-Chicago to plan and implement an aggressive scaling up of locally-led bystander hate incident intervention trainings for community members.
Disclaimer: website contains an anti-Asian visual.
Register Here
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Scholarship Opportunities
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Title: Write an Essay on the Future of the Internet To Win $1,000!
Enter a writing contest organized by IPXO, the world’s first fully automated IPv4 lease platform, to win a $1,000 scholarship!
The rules are simple:
- Write a 1200-2500 word essay in English discussing the following topic: 5 ways that the Internet of Things could change our future
- The contest begins on April 27 and ends on June 6
- Submit your essay via email at essay-submissions@ipxo.com
The author of the most creative essay will win the IPXO Scholarship: A cash prize of $1,000! The winner will be announced on June 20.
Find more details about the contest and the scholarship here: IPXO Scholarship Contest.
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2022 ExxonMobil LOFT Fellowship ProgramExxonMobil LOFT Fellowship
ExxonMobil Corporation, the largest publicly traded international energy company, has partnered with the Hispanic Heritage Foundation (HHF) to create fellowship opportunities in the STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) for Hispanic college students. Through HHF’s Latinos On Fast Track (LOFT) program, ExxonMobil seeks to nurture motivated college students across the country, with a passion for Engineering and Science.
Selected students will be exposed to a top-quality company by participating in this signature mentoring program. Each student will be paired up with an ExxonMobil professional to learn how their knowledge and skills are applied in a corporate setting.
Fellowship Components
The Fellowship consists of five 1-hour meetings with a mentor (virtual or in person), participation in the Harvard-certified ExxonMobil mentee program (on-line), an exclusive curriculum to introduce Fellows to ExxonMobil and career opportunities, and a $1,000 educational grant. In addition, there exists the possibility to interview for ExxonMobil positions (internships/full-time) upon successful completion of the Fellowship.
Fellowship Requirements
This opportunity is highly competitive and open to rising sophomores, juniors, Seniors, and Graduate Students attending a 4-year college or university.
Fellowship applicants with the following majors will be given priority:
- Civil Engineering
- Chemical Engineering
- Computer Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
- Geoscience
- Material Science and Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
Applicants with these majors will be considered also: Chemistry, Computer Science Environmental Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Mathematics, Petroleum Engineering, and Physics.
Other Requirements:
· Must plan to pursue a career in the fields/majors listed above
· Have a GPA of 3.5 or higher
· Be a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident of the United States with a valid Social Security Number at the time of application. All legal permanent residents must submit a copy of their valid permanent resident card or passport stamped I-551 (not expired).
Please Click Here For Fellowship Application
If you have questions, please contact Julian@hispanicheritage.org. Please use "ExxonMobil LOFT Fellowship" in the subject line.
The 2022 ExxonMobil LOFT Fellowship Application will close Sunday, May 15, 2022, @11:59 p.m EDT.
This opportunity available through the LOFT program are for Hispanic students. Others interested should contact the company's website directly.
Best,
Hispanic Heritage Foundation & Exxon Mobil Fellowship Team
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OMA Staff Virtual Office Hours
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Academic Support Services
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WPI Multicultural, Intercultural, International, and Religious Community
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Campus Advocacy Resources
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- Dean of Students | Student resources for advocacy, citizenship, empowerment, inclusion, respect, and support
- Office of International Student Life (ISL) | Student resources for international support, education, community, and advocacy
- Office of Accessibility Services (OAS) | Student resources for accommodation services, advocacy, support, and assistance
- Title IX | Student resources for anti-discrimination policy and equal opportunity education
- Student Development and Counseling Center (SDCC) | Student resources for counseling, therapy, and mental health/wellness
- Graduate Student Government (GSG) | Student resources for addressing the social and academic needs of graduate students
- Student Government Association (SGA) | Student resources for addressing the social and academic needs of undergraduate students
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Additional Support and Resources
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(OMA newsletter is distributed on Wednesdays weekly)
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