Diversity Abroad Community Agreement
The Diversity Abroad community is an inclusive space for those who have made a commitment to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in global education. Diversity Abroad does not tolerate discrimination or harassment at any time during its events or online learning opportunities based on race, color, religion or belief, national, social or ethnic origin, sex, disability, sexual orientation, gender expression, or veteran status.
Participants — including all attendees, speakers, vendors, media representatives, exhibitors, sponsors, students, staff, and volunteers — are expected to follow the community agreement at all Diversity Abroad events as outlined below:
Respectful engagement. Promote mutual respect and understanding by acknowledging other perspectives, constructively confronting differences, and actively listening.
Challenge by choice. Learning happens outside of our comfort zones; however, the choice to engage in discussion and offer perspective is solely up to each individual.
Onsite in San Francisco: We ask that attendees be mindful of each other’s comfort level when sharing spaces and letting attendees know about personal protocols such as whether it is okay not to handshake or hug and to always respect others’ personal space.
Two critical components to building and organizational culture that prioritizes DEI are strategy and leadership. This workshop will focus on how leaders can identify structural inequities in the workplace and advance more inclusive policies and practices to affect institutional and organizational change. Participants will have the opportunity to reflect on their own sphere of influence and walk away with practical tools and strategies to use when they return to the office.
Presenters:
- Eduardo Contreras - University of Portland
- Kory Saunders - AIFS
Education Abroad relies on a conventional toolkit of instruments - from insurance products, waivers, and travel warnings to orientation programs and bespoke healthcare - to mitigate risk and support the health & safety of student travelers that historically neglects the needs of marginalized student groups. While student health and safety are a priority, the standard approach perpetuates this marginalization ignoring the variety of social factors that challenge historically underserved students abroad - and on our campuses - in various cultural settings. This workshop will examine health, safety, and security from an inclusion and equity lens using case studies and reflective activities, while providing tools participants can take back to their own institution to work toward creating more inclusive health, safety, and security plans and policies, while working toward a duty of care that centers the marginalized.
Facilitator(s):
- Mark A. Beirn (he/him),Global Risk Manager, Study Abroad Center | Office of Global Engagement, University of California, Irvine
- Maria R. Segala (she/hers) Data & Operations Administrator/Department Co-Lead of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Efforts, MIT
- Melanie Mala Ghosh (she/hers) Associate Dean, Tufts Global Education, Tufts University
- Elisabet Raquel García (she/they) Global Education DEI Specialist, Access Equitable Education
Comprehensive internationalization can be a compelling strategy to embed global learning and opportunities throughout an institution. However, unless diversity, equity, and inclusion are considered from the outset, internationalization efforts may inadvertently replicate and reinforce oppressive and exclusionary practices in education. Participants will leave with a better understanding of how to approach internationalization from a DEI lens and walk away with practical tools and strategies to use when they return to the office.
Facilitator(s):
David Wick, Ed.D. - Middlebury Institute of International Studies
