The UNL Academic Advising Association, with support from the UNL Parents Association, will host a five-week brown bag luncheon series to address issues related to diversity and inclusiveness on campus.

The series will be focused on providing university staff and graduate students a better understanding and skills needed to positively impact the student experience on campus. This series will be on Mondays from noon to 1 p.m. Sept. 15 through Oct. 13. The presentations are free and open to faculty, staff and students.

Topics, meeting dates and locations are:

Sept. 15, “What is Diversity and Inclusion?,” Nebraska Union Heritage Room

Andre Fortune, director of the Office of Academic Success and Intercultural Services, and Pat Tetreault, director of LGBTQA Programs, Services, and the LGBTQA Resource Center, will co-present. The workshop is geared toward helping staff members understand the broad scope of diversity and the university’s diversity goals on campus. It will also address inclusion and how an inclusive environment can enhance each student’s experience.

Sept. 22, “Understanding Your Own Identity,” Gaughan Multicultural Center Unity Room

Before advisers and staff can adequately understand each student’s needs and how students’ identities impact their experience on campus, it is important for advisers to understand their own identities and how they impact work and interactions with others. Charlie Foster, a licensed mental health practitioner and counselor, and Amy Chatelain, a licensed psychologist and clinical coordinator, from Counseling and Psychology Services will engage participants in a session to encourage better understanding of the multiple aspects of their identity.

Sept. 29, “Developing Skills to Engage Diverse Populations,” Nebraska Union Georgian Suite

Building on previous discussions on understanding diversity, inclusion and personal self-identity, Vicki Highstreet, associate director of campus recreation programming, will work with participants to improve skills that can be used to engage students and staff from diverse populations.

Oct. 6, “Advising Needs of Students from Underrepresented Populations,” Nebraska Union Georgian Suite

A panel will discuss strategies and experiences that students from underrepresented populations often face on college campuses and how UNL employees can best serve the needs of particular student groups. Panelists include Fortune; Tetreault; Corey Rumann, assistant professor of practice in Educational Administration; and Jeannette Jones, associate professor of history and ethnic studies.

Oct. 13, interactive workshop utilizing case examples, East Union Arbor Suite

The final workshop in this series will allow participants to critically think and discuss real student experiences that have happened here at UNL. Co-facilitated by the UNL Ethics Center, participants will be challenged to consider the best ways to handle particular situations and ways to enhance the campus environment for students as they pursue higher education.

Participants are asked to check the Nebraska Union schedule to verify room locations on the day of each event.

For more information, contact Tony Lazarowicz at tlazarowicz2@unl.edu.

The UNL Academic Advising Association’s goal is to adopt and implement the mission and core values of UNL. AAA provides a network for all faculty, staff and administrators with an appointment and an interest in advising to adopt and implement best practices, enhance professional development opportunities and collaborate across colleges and departments. For more information on the Academic Advising Association, go to http://aaa.unl.edu.