Inclusive Programming

When creating programs, it is important that you are considering whether or not the programs are inclusive. Often, without even meaning to, programs exclude members of our communities. As a campus leader, it is important that you are programming in a manner that makes all students feel welcome, safe, and included as a member of your community. Here are some ways to make sure your programs are inclusive:

• Ask yourself who might not be included in this program. For instance, how might a Speed Dating program exclude students? What if your residents are in a same sex relationship, already in a relationship, or happily single? Perhaps, it might be better to have Speed Friendship program.
• Hold your program in an area that is accessible to all of your students. Most of our campus is ADA compliant, but you might want to consider whether or not the location is comfortable for students who may have a disability. Remember, residents may not always let you know that they have a disability. So, it is important that we hold all of our programs in places that are accessible to all students.
• Avoid celebrating specific holidays. For instance, while you may want to have a party that includes Santa, not all students will celebrate Christmas. Also, not all of our students were raised in the United States and may not celebrate Thanksgiving. Instead, you may want to hold a door decorating contest that has residents decorate their doors in the theme of whichever holidays they choose to celebrate. This is a great way to celebrate the diverse backgrounds of your community!
• Avoid generalizations in presentations. In general, statements that characterize traits of an entire population are false. Before giving a presentation, make sure that you are well educated on the topic and are able to avoid generalizations, or at least back them up with research.
• Watch your language! Words we consider to be socially acceptable often carry other connotations. Be aware of the words that you are using and who may feel left out or hurt by your words. For instance, calling something “gay” implies that there is something wrong and insulting about being gay and could unintentionally make some of your residents feel uncomfortable or unwelcome.
• Utilize campus resources. There are many identity based organizations on campus, as well as a variety of offices charged with educating students about a variety of topics. They can be great speakers or resources when you are planning a program. For instance, you may want to bring in the American Indian Student Union to do a program about Seminole heritage and what it means to be a Seminole.
• Try to reflect all sides of a story. It may be a good idea to bring in a panel to present various sides of an issue. At times, we may think there is only one side to an issue, but we want to make sure that we are giving equal time to all sides. Again, utilize your resources to present the differing viewpoints.