HEDS Talk and Summit Registration
Tivoli Student Union COFor the first time, the Higher Education Diversity Summit has included HEDS Talks which are short presentations that focus on connecting narratives by select speakers to larger societal topics around diversity, equity and inclusion. We have an engaging line up for our attendees!
HEDS Talk 1 – Kathryn Young
Tivoli 250 (Turnhalle)Join in the conversation! This talk uses a conversational approach to engage the audience. Dr. Young is interviewed on the topic of colorblindness. We learn from her how she developed an interest for diversity and social justice work and what it means to be colorblind. She delves into the dangers of colorblind ideology and how
HEDS Talk 2 – Tamara White
Tivoli 250 (Turnhalle)This talk centers the conversation around the often presumed incompetence of women of color in higher education. Tamara White uses her narrative to show the negotiations that take place within the academic environment to not only prove that women of color are competent, but to provide a glimpse as to how they also navigate their
HEDS Talk 3 – Melissa Cermak
Tivoli 250 (Turnhalle)Melissa Cermak gives us a glimpse into “how she got here.” She is currently the Assistant Director of the Access Center-Disability Support Services at the Auraria Campus.
HEDS Talk 4 – Katherine Martinez
Tivoli 250 (Turnhalle)Katherine Martinez presents on gender and sexuality. She explores queer utopias and how we can utilize the past to reimagine a queer future.
HEDS Talk 5 – Marsha Aizumi
Tivoli 250 (Turnhalle)Marsha shares with us her journey as the mother of a transgender son and how she took steps to become an advocate for safe schools, and bringing greater visibility and support to the Asian Pacific Islander LGBT community, with emphasis on the transgender community.
Opening Reception
Tivoli 250 (Turnhalle)Join fellow attendees and presenters for appetizers and desserts following the filming of the HEDS Talks.
HEDS Registration
Tivoli 250 (Turnhalle)Check in will take a place throughout the Tivoli Student Union. We will have a On-site Registration located next to the Turnhalle next to the Accessibility Services, where alternative formats and information on Universal Design for Learning information will be available.
Morning Keynote with Dr. William Cross, Jr.
Tivoli 250 (Turnhalle)Dr. Cross is “old school” and his involvement in the racial-cultural discourse dates back to 1971. He exited the Graduate Center-CUNY in 2008 as professor emeritus, with the intention of retiring, but as he tells his friends, he is a total failure at retiring, and has since held positions at UNLV and is currently at
A1: Across the Spectrum: Insights and Best Practices When Working with Students with ASD
Tivoli 261 (Multicultural Lounge)With a significant increase in the prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), faculty and staff are seeing a growing number of students with ASD making the transition to postsecondary education settings. As colleges grapple with issues related to student retention and persistence, many of the same models, supports, and accommodations may not be as readily applicable to students with
B1: Handling the Financial Challenges of Children with Disabilities
Tivoli 320AMary J. Schultz of the National Endowment for Financial Education will present this lively, engaging workshop that helps the caregivers of children with disabilities handle their money. With this knowledge, the children may have more opportunity, including the change to go to college. This workshop is available for any organization to download for their audience. It addresses the
C1: A Freshman Course Project that Grows Understanding
Tivoli 320BIf we don't teach a specific course on culture or bias, surely there is little beyond modeling respectful behavior that we can do regarding these topics. And if our students are mostly white, these topics certainly have little importance anyway. I don't believe either of these statements to be true, at all. Yet I do believe they are
D1: Transcending Gender Labels: Exploring the Experiences of Non-Binary Identifying Students
Tivoli 320CPoliticization of GLBT civil rights at both the Federal and State levels of US government, especially those surrounding marriage and employment rights, has had positive and negative influences on the GLBT population. These influences play out on campus challenging our students’ identity development. Development which is complex and intersecting the psychosocial, sexual, gender, and emotional. This workshop uses data
E1: What Happens When You Think You Get It?
Tivoli 440Do you think you get it? Have you ever considered the possibility that you don’t? The purpose of this workshop is to engage in dialogue and challenge ourselves about the ways we are socialized to have biases. Participants will learn more about how to identify these biases and how they can and do impact our work and interactions
F1: When the DREAM Becomes a Nightmare: Supporting Undocumented Scholars Through the Unknown
Tivoli 444Despite a number of policy gains for undocumented Colorado scholars in accessing higher education, they are faced with the possibility of a dramatic political shift after the 2016 elections. Community College of Denver Retention Specialists, Tarsha Degay and Jenaya Zarrad, will use a practitioner approach to provide background on state and federal policies provide accessibility to college for undocumented
G1: The Monologue Project: Autobiographical Performances by Underrepresented Students
Tivoli 640Join us to hear three underrepresented students from a multicultural learning community at CU Boulder perform autobiographical monologues that we wrote, memorized, and performed live on stage as part of a one-credit leadership course. Talk with our instructor to learn how your students can explore their lived experiences through guided writing exercises focused on social and cultural identity in
A2: Deaf/Hard of Hearing Students Accessibility: Culture, Language, and Communication
Tivoli 261 (Multicultural Lounge)Accessibility and experiences for Deaf or Hard of Hearing students in Higher Education differs from secondary education support services. This presentation will outline the cultural, linguistic and communication differences between Deaf and Hard of Hearing students. Participants will be able to identify cultural nuances, language variations and communication preferences amongst the Deaf and Hard of Hearing student population and
B2: “They Didn’t Just Get Here!” Acknowledging and Supporting LGBT International Students
Tivoli 320AThis interactive workshop brings the audience on a journey with five international students who identify with the LGBT community. Audience and presenters will collaboratively develop strategies for supporting LGBT international students in American higher education. The session will include an informative and theoretical background of the topic being explored and conclude with an overview of established practices for supporting
C2: Invisible Diversity: Helping Ex-Offenders and Homeless/Foster Youth Get Where They’re Going
Tivoli 320B"How did we get here" is a question asked by the ex-offender and homeless/foster youth population that goes much deeper than it does with other populations, primarily because it is often followed with the question, "how do I get out of here?" Pursuing post-secondary education is most definitely a goal for these populations, but they first have to
D2: The Reality of Discrimination Against “Minority” Professors: Consequences, Impact, and Alternatives
Tivoli 320C“Minority” college professors often face different expressions of discrimination, racism, and marginalization in the institutions where they teach. The issue has been abundantly documented, but its emotional and pedagogical consequences are seldom explored, much less shared with administrators, fellow instructors, or students. Based on recent research done by the American Philosophical association and on personal experiences and interviews of
E2: Student-Initiated Retention Projects That Work
Tivoli 440Offices at the University of Colorado Boulder and the University of California Los Angeles utilized foundational research on student-initiated retention projects (SIRPs) to develop programming strategies to increase retention and academic success of historically underrepresented students (students of color, women, LGBTQ, low-income, 1st generation, student parents, students with disabilities, international students, and veterans). This session will include the sharing
F2: Mental Health Awareness Need and Use of Counseling Services for International Students
Tivoli 444Mental health of its students is a concern for all university campuses. Unfortunately, one population that seems to go unnoticed regarding mental health is that of international students. International student enrollment is at an all-time high with enrollments continuing to increase. So many factors play a role in the success rates of international students but many are unsuccessful
Lunch and Keynote with Marsha Aizumi & Geena Rocero
Tivoli 250 (Turnhalle)A3: Being Mixed: How Multiethnic/racial Identity Leads to Liberation
Tivoli 261 (Multicultural Lounge)Through engaging performance and multimedia dialogue we will bring to light how being "mixed" is a strength. While many mixed people feel as though they are not enough of one or the other, this session is designed to demonstrate a unique perspective of being from multiethnic/racial background.
B3: Feeling the Work: empathy and Social Justice Advocacy in Female-Identified Students of Color
Tivoli 320AHow does empathy inform the social justice advocacy of female-identified students of color? Social justice advocates work with individuals and communities for lasting structural change for those who are oppressed at the risk of an emotional, social, and financial cost to the advocate. Often poorly represented in studies of social justice advocacy are the stories of female students
C3: If You Build It, They Will Come: A Model for Sustaining Cultural Competency in Your Organization
Tivoli 320BCultural Competency is a major variable in delivering equitable services to diverse consumers and families. Over the years we continue to build on what an organization or institution that values cultural competency may look like. However more models or approaches are needed on how to build structures that can sustain organizational cultural competency. This session presents the results
E3: LGBTQ Students and College Admissions: Challenges and Best Practices
Tivoli 440In this session, we will discuss the best ways to support LGBTQ students from both sides of the desk in the college search and application process. After building a solid understanding of the challenges facing LGBTQ students seeking post-secondary education, we will explore best practices around inclusivity and access in college admissions for queer and transgender students. This
F3: Diversity in Community College Campuses: Addressing the Gap
Tivoli 444The community college access mission has evolved into a mission of student success. Campuses need to investigate strategies to support all students, especially those who have been traditionally underserved. Join us for the opportunity to explore the gaps and investigate the possibilities for creating dynamic, inclusive learning environments. Presenters will share research and applications for improving practice related to
G3: Against the Grain: Radicalized Positionalities of Students of Color in Higher Education
Tivoli 640This workshop explores racialized experiences in higher education through the experiences of four doctoral students and audience. These experiences are used to interrogate more deeply the espoused values related to inclusive excellence, social justice, and equity. Members of the audience and the presenters will co-construct strategies that aim to promote inclusion, diversity and equity.
D3: “If These Halls Could Talk”: Film Preview and Diversity Dialogue
Tivoli 320CIf our halls could talk, what would they say about the alarming rates of students of color leaving our colleges? What would they say are some of the causes for their departures? What would our students say it is like to be a minority student at a predominantly white campus? Are faculties and staff prepared for this influx
A4: Closing America’s Doors: A History of Immigration Exclusion
Tivoli 261 (Multicultural Lounge)Immigration is a frequent topic of discussion on the presidential campaign trail, with some leading candidates recommending the exclusion of Muslim immigrants. This session will review the history of Asian immigration exclusion and the impact of exclusion on Asian American communities to offer a historical perspective on what the consequences of new exclusion policies might mean today.
B4: Beyond the Binary: Deconstructing the Gender Binary System on Campus
Tivoli 320AThe Day of Silence was originally designed as a means to spread awareness of LGBTQ+ bullying and harassment in schools. Since its inception in 1996 and the subsequent movement-building that it inspired, we see far more legislation incorporating inclusion and protection for LGBTQ+ students. However, there is still much work to be done and many more voices that
C4: Exporing Anti-Black Racism within Non-Black Communities of Color
Tivoli 320BIn the fight against White supremacy, people of color must unite and work together, which means that it is absolutely necessary for non-Black people of color to be in solidarity with Black communities and engage with the Black-led movement for social justice (currently, the Black Lives Matter movement). We believe that all people of color have the agency
E4: Bridging the Divide: Solving Colorado’s Attainment Gap
Tivoli 440Bridging the divide will explore Colorado’s attainment gap and how the Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE) is attempting to fix the divide between Coloradans who traditionally attain education after high school and underserved Coloradans who do not. CDHE has devoted resources to more clearly understand when Coloradans stop their pursuit of earning a postsecondary credential (i.e. certificates and
F4: Institutionalizing Support for Undocumented Latino/a Students in American Higher Education
Tivoli 444This session investigates the institutionalization of support for undocumented students across states that extend In State Resident Tuition (ISRT) benefits and states that deny ISRT benefits. Through the authors’ review, promising practices are highlighted Attendees of this session are expected to walk away with learned institutional practices that provide support for undocumented students in higher education
Poster Presentations and Closing Reception
Tivoli 320's LoungeHigh Tea
Tivoli 440Our annual ceremony to honor and thank our allies and advocates for their continued support of the Auraria LGBTQ community.
Fall Fest
Auraria CampusVisit vendors, food trucks, and student orgs as our three institutions take over Auraria’s outdoor areas for this annual festival.
Fall Fest
Auraria CampusVisit vendors, food trucks, and student orgs as our three institutions take over Auraria’s outdoor areas for this annual festival.
CO-LEADS Student Summit
This annual leadership summit brings together college students from across Colorado to join in discussions of social justice, activism, advocacy, and social change. Students participate in a day of interactive workshops, speaker, and networking sessions that challenge, grow, inspire, and empower them to make change in their own lives and their communities. Justice for the
Women in STEM Conference
Tivoli Student Union COThe goal for this conference is to discuss the challenges women face in STEM disciplines and the tools for overcoming those challenges. These topics are particularly pertinent to our student population, of which more than half are women and largely women of color – both of which are underrepresented in STEM fields.
National Coming Out Day
Whether you're a member of the LGBTQ community or identify as an ally, be proud of who you are and show your support for LGBTQ equality.
World Aids Day
Tivoli 261 (Multicultural Lounge)Join us as we raise awareness of HIV & AIDS, commemorate those who have passed, and celebrate victories in the fight against this disease.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Peace Breakfast
Dr. Karen J. Thorpe, then-Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs, initiated the annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Peace Breakfast on January 15, 1992. At the first MLK Peace Breakfast, about 50 people from the campus and Denver community gathered in the old Student Union (now Plaza Building) to celebrate Dr. King’s life and legacy.