Penn State’s Equal Opportunity Planning Committee (EOPC) is soliciting proposals for EOPC funding to support the University’s diversity efforts. Funding can be obtained for programs that address one of the seven challenges identified in A Framework to Foster Diversity at Penn State 2010-15.
In order to assist faculty and staff in developing successful proposals, EOPC will conduct proposal writing training this fall, which will take place from 1:30-3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 18, in Room 112 Kern Building on the University Park campus. The presentation also will be available to all Penn State faculty and staff remotely through Media Site Live. This site allows participants to view the presentation online and ask questions. Also, the presentation will be archived for viewing at a later date.
As some examples of the type of programs that EOPC has funded during the past few years, Penn State Mont Alto has conducted a program, Jump Start, which has helped to raise the level of academic preparedness for first-generation students along with students from diverse racial/ethnic groups in their first year of college. Prior to their entrance in the fall, students complete online college-level coursework tutorials in consultation with faculty and peer mentors, which gives them a sense of academic expectations for college.
They continue to work with these faculty and peer mentors throughout the academic year. They also arrive on campus a few days early to complete an extensive orientation with Student Affairs professionals. Another program, World Wide Narratives: Digital Stories of the Penn State Harrisburg Community, uses online technologies to highlight the often untold or neglected stories of students, faculty, and staff who come from communities outside the American mainstream in order to help enhance understanding of diversity for the campus community and beyond. More information is available on other EOPC programs.
If you would like further information on the training session or on developing EOPC proposals, please contact Mike Blanco at mhb4@psu.edu 814-863-7890, or visit the EOPC website online.