Office of Multicultural Affairs Newsletter
Fall 2021 | November 2021 | B-Term
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The Office of Multicultural Affairs team wishes you and your loved ones a happy, healthy, safe, and relaxing holiday break! Please use this break to rest, reset, and enjoy the time off!
Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) will be closed Wednesday, November 24th (beginning at 12:00 PM EST), Thursday, November 25th, and Friday, November 26th in observation of the Thanksgiving Break.
The Office of Multicultural Affairs, OASIS Multicultural Center (OASIS House), and Collegiate Religious Center (CRC) will reopen on Monday, November 29th at 8:00 AM EST.
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Community Mental Health Survey
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The Mental Health & Well-Being Taskforce is actively seeking input and perspectives from all members of our community as we work to respond to the current mental health and wellbeing issues on campus. Please take a moment to share your feedback (by Sunday, November 28th):
https://wpi.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3NO9dKj5ihiry5M
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Community Acknowledgement
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The Office of Multicultural Affairs offers our deepest condolences to those impacted by recent events in our WPI community. We continue to offer our support to those needing to talk or process anything they might be going through personally, socially, academically, or professionally. We encourage you to reach out to the OMA staff and our WPI Chaplains for support to meet via Zoom or in-person (as you are comfortable). Please note our staff is accessible outside of the Office Hours (OMA team) and Student Hours (Campus Chaplains) detailed below.
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Indigenous Peoples Heritage Month
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Upcoming Campus Programs and Events
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- Wednesday, December 1st at 1:00 PM EST
- Wednesday, December 1st at 5:00 PM EST
- LSAMP Scholar Meeting (B-Term)
- Thursday, December 2nd at 5:00 PM EST
- Mosaic: Men of Color Support Group | RSVP Here
- Friday, December 3rd at 12:00 PM EST
- Wednesday, December 8th at 1:00 PM EST
- Thursday, December 9th at 5:00 PM EST
- Mosaic: Men of Color Support Group | RSVP Here
- Friday, December 10th at 12:00 PM EST
- OMA Sponsored Programs and Events
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Upcoming Holidays, Holy Days, and Commemorative Days
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- Thanksgiving Day (November 25)
- Advent (November 28 - November 24)
- Hanukkah (November 28 - December 6)
- November 2021 is observed as:
- Indigenous Peoples' Heritage Month
- National Diabetes Month
- Lung Cancer Awareness Month
- National Adoption Month
- National College Application Month
- National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness
- National Veterans and Military Families
- National Entrepreneurship Month
- National Family Caregivers Month
- Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience
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WPI News:
Higher Education News:
Local/State/National/International News:
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Mental Health, Wellness, Self-Care, and Mindfulness
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- Mindfulness Wednesdays and Thursdays will be conducted virtually through Zoom for the foreseeable future and will not be held in person.
- The Wednesday session begins at 12:15 PM EST and the Thursday session begins at 2:15 PM EST.
- Sessions include a 10 – 15 meditation with time for questions or comments.
- Please email Robin Benoit for more information.
Mosaic: Men of Color Support Group
- A collaborative partnership between the Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA) and Student Development & Counseling Center (SDCC) the Mosaic: Men of Color Support Group offers social, personal, professional, and cultural support to WPI students who are male/men and Black, Indigenous, or Person of Color (BIPOC).
- Mosaic meets weekly during B-Term on Thursdays from 5:00 PM – 6:15 PM EST in the OASIS Multicultural Center (OASIS House) and on Zoom.
- Please email Arnold Lane for more information.
- Simple and accessible breathing exercises, stretches, and guided meditation for all bodies, minds, and spirits. No experience necessary.
- Saturdays at 3:00 PM EST
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LGBTQIAP+ Resources and Support
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Read, Watch, Listen, and Learn
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Articles:
Films and Television:
- Residence Life Cinema (SWANK Motion Pictures, Inc.)
- Black History and Culture
- Diversity and Inclusion
- Mental Health
- American History
- Women’s Empowerment
- Anyone on WPI Wi-Fi can access free streaming services at cinema.wpi.edu.
Podcasts:
Books:
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Teach the Truth This Thanksgiving
As you discuss Thanksgiving with students, we hope you’ll reflect and use these resources to guide them to a more comprehensive understanding. It’s critical to address the truth and violence surrounding the day while also ensuring your students feel safe and prepared. It’s also critical to uplift the voices of Indigenous people, many of whom mourn the day and the pain that accompanies it.
November Is Native American Heritage Month
Teach students an accurate and more complete history of Native and Indigenous peoples in celebration of Native American Heritage Month—and all year long! Including information from experts at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian, these LFJ resources can help.
Whose Native Land Are You On?
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Disclaimer: WPI and the OMA does not endorse nor sponsor any of the above-mentioned groups, organizations, or entities.
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Student Jobs, Internships, and Scholarships
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The Career Development Center (CDC) is looking to hire mid-year CDC Peer Advisors. Peer Advisors advise students on career-related topics; facilitate presentations to students on Career Development Center topics, programs, and services; and support the Co-op initiative. This position is approximately 8 hours/week, starting in C term, 2022.
Responsibilities:
- Advise and provide feedback to students in one-on-one drop-ins and appointments.
- Facilitate presentations on Career Development Topics, such as: Handshake, CDC Resources & Services, Career Fair Prep, Resumes, Job Searching, and more.
- Assist events by table sitting, serving on panels, checking students in, answering student questions, and with special career fair responsibilities.
- Maintain awareness, familiarity, and usage of CDC resources, programs, and events
- Assist with other programming activities & projects in the Career Development Center.
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Professional Development Opportunities
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Looking for Grad & Undergrad Mentors to inspire high school women in STEM!
Women’s Research and Mentorship Program (WRAMP) – Mentor Applications Open
The Women’s Research and Mentorship Program (WRAMP) empowers and supports women in STEM through a multi-tiered mentor program and hands-on WPI graduate research. Within this program, teams of four are created, including one graduate student, one undergraduate student, and two high school students. Throughout the semester the team will work on the graduate student's research project together. A stipend will be paid.
Program dates are January 18 – April 9, 2022
*This program is specifically for people who identify as women and/or non-binary.
For more information and to apply:
- Graduate mentors apply here, due 12/5
- Undergraduate mentors apply here due 12/16
- Indigenous Peoples' History | Cohosted by experts from the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian, this webinar will delve into the ways American history instruction often fails to acknowledge—and contributes to—the erasure of Indigenous stories and perspectives. Join us and you’ll learn about critical historical events, as well as cultural and societal contributions of Indigenous peoples past and present. You will also examine common misconceptions and stereotypes and gain resources for teaching a more complete history.
- The Mental-Health Crisis on Campus | College students are in the midst of a mental-health crisis, with suicide the second-leading cause among American college students. How can colleges prioritize suicide prevention, de-escalation, and postvention strategies?
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- We have developed a new program for this year, the Graduate Researcher Education and Training (GREAT) Series, for graduate student researchers, Masters Thesis and PhD students, that will provide training on a range of skills researchers need to be successful.
- Sessions take place the last Tuesday of each month from 12:00 – 1:00 PM EST in Gateway I (60 Prescott Street) Room 1002 with free boxed lunch provided following the session.
- Registration required for each session. The first three GREAT sessions are as follows:
Grad Student Training and Readiness Sessions (STARS)
- The Graduate Student and Training Readiness Sessions - STARS - is an annual series of workshops organized by the Office of Graduate Studies that provides overviews on important career and professional development topics.
- STARS workshops in 2021-2022 will be on campus in Gateway I Room 1002 (60 Prescott Street) and will be held from 12:00 - 1:00 PM EST. Registration links will be provided below for each session.
- Friday, January 21, 2022 - Networking
- Friday, February 4, 2022 - Employer Panel
- Friday, February 18, 2022 - Job Searches/Interviews
- Friday, March 18, 2022 - Negotiation and Conflict Management
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OMA Staff Virtual Office Hours
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CRC Chaplain Student 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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