Professional Development

Bi-monthly conversations hosted by the MOSAIC office for faculty, staff and students to have meaningful discussions on issues. Talks are hosted every first and third Wednesday of the month at 10am in CSC Cheyenne.

• The first Wednesday is selected topics with speakers.
• The third Wednesday is an open discussion for faculty/staff/students on different issues.

Dates & Topics for Donuts & Discussions:

8 February Allyship in Higher Ed. Allyship is an opportunity to elevate the voices and perspectives of historically marginalized people. If you’re interested in learning more about what allyship is and how it can benefit, this is a great discussion to get started.

22 February Open Discussion

8 March Self-care as a Strategy. Making impactful change, being an ally or advancing yourself can be emotionally and physically draining. Let’s discuss how to create healthy boundaries and self-care tips.

22 March Title IX & BIT Discussion

5 April Language.  (i.e, ableism, gendered language, etc.) Using language that avoid biases, slang, and expressions that can discriminate against groups based on race, gender, socioeconomic status and ability. We’ll explore how to use language in your everyday life.

19 April Open Discussion/Tentative

Faculty/staff are encouraged to bring their lunch for these Lunch & Learn webinars. MOSAIC provides desserts and drinks.

Lunch & Learns Webinars

13 February 
Retaining Black Men: Strategies for Before, During, and After College.
12pm-1pm, Location TBA
While enrollment and retention have dropped during COVID-19 overall, Black men in particular have faced barriers to college entry and completion that have only been further exacerbated by the pandemic. Enrollment for Black men dropped 14.3% in the spring of 2021 compared to the spring semester of 2020, and retention rates for Black men remain among the lowest in higher education overall. Developing a system of support that follows the journey of Black men from pre-enrollment through completion to alumni status can help to close this equity gap.

2 March 
A Toolkit to Reengaging and Reconnecting with Students Post-COVID
10am-4pm, CSC Caddo *Please note this is a four (4) hour event!!
A one-day virtual conference to learn more about how to rebuild the connection between your institution and the students who attend. There will be practical tips for understanding the nuances of student success today, as well as how to address student needs. You’ll have the opportunity to discuss engagement both in and out of the classroom, the adverse impact of intersectionality on some students’ experiences, and best practices to move forward.

Sessions
10:30am - 11am Defining Student Success

11am - 11:45am Current Students & Their Needs

12:15pm - 1:15pm Intersectionality and Equity Gaps: What are the Barriers to Student Success?

1:15pm - 2:15pm Concurrent Sessions: Student Success in the Classroom vs. Out of the Classroom

2:45pm - 3:30pm Best Practices and Tips to Connect and Engage Students

9 March 
Lunch & Learn: Engaging in Uncomfortable Conversations about Race
12pm-1pm, CSC Cheyenne
An opportunity to reflect on the messages you have learned over time about how to engage in conversations about race. We will explore how these messages have influenced your daily decisions to engage or disengage in difficult conversations over time. You will practice intentional engagement versus moving past uncomfortable scenarios and arrive at a place where you are more actively willing to take part in the conversation.

These sessions are designed to increase participants’ capacity to work with differing identities and backgrounds. Attendees will build awareness and skills which support communities and cultivate a safe and equitable space where everyone feels valued.

22 February 
Gender Identity & Sexuality in Higher Education.
Watch the recording here. 
Gender Identity & Sexuality in Higher Education. As faculty and staff, you have the power to help create a more inclusive environment for LGBTQ+ students, faculty, and staff. In this session, we will define key concepts related to LGBTQ+ communities like sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression; identify common barriers for the LGBTQ+ community; how to create a LGBTQ+ inclusive environment while reflecting your own identity.

21 March 
The Microaggressions Self-defense Workshop
10am, virtual
2pm, Location TBA
“Microaggression is a verbal or nonverbal slight that impacts an individual who might identify as being from a marginalized or nonmainstream community”. This workshop will explain what microaggressions are, examples, and an interactive activity to practice scenarios.

Upcoming Sessions. Check back for dates. 

• Safe Zone Training 
• BIT/Title IX Session

MSU Texas community members can request professional development. Please submit requests at least 3 weeks before the requested date.

Request a Professional Development Session.

• Pronoun Fluency Session. Do you have questions about non-binary pronouns? Are you unsure how to talk to new people without gendering them? This session provides faculty and staff an opportunity to improve their knowledge or usage of pronouns, and to develop familiarity with pronoun usage and strategies of address. We will also share best practices of incorporating this information in syllabi and classroom settings. All genders and identities are welcome.*
• Safe Zone Session. Increases the awareness, knowledge, and skills of individuals and addresses the challenges that exist when one wants to advocate for their LGBTQ+ peers, family members, friends, coworkers, and themselves. Creating safe zones or safe spaces is a proactive step schools, agencies, and corporations can take to create welcoming spaces so that all people are empowered to reach their full potential.
• Mitigating implicit bias. What is unconscious bias and how does it affect how we interact with one another? How does it impact our decisions or how we engage in our work? In this training, participants will learn about the types of unconscious bias, and how it may influence communication and decision-making. There will be interactive activities and examples that will help better understand this concept. Participants will also learn a variety of ways in which we can mitigate the impact of unconscious bias in our professional and personal lives.
• Intercultural Development (need 4 weeks notice)
  • Level I. Intercultural Competency is the ability to function effectively across cultures, to think and act appropriately, and to communicate and work with people from different cultural backgrounds – at home or abroad. This session will talk about the basics of IC and explore your values.
  • Level II. In the intermediate course, you have the ability to explore more about your values by taking the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI), an assessment to help build intercultural competence. *Will cost