Diversity Matters Newsletter v8:
March 1st, 2024
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Dear Engineering Community,
It is with heavy hearts that we mourn the loss of two University of Georgia students on campus last week. In light of recent events, we want to draw your attention to the university’s commitment to public safety.
The university has announced new measures totaling more than $7.3 million, including a permanent 20% increase to the UGA Police Department budget to recruit and retain top officers, enhanced campus lighting and security camera upgrades, and the extension of the RideSmart program, providing discounted Lyft rides for students during late hours.
- Student Care & Outreach is available to assist anyone experiencing grief or hardship (https://sco.uga.edu/, sco@uga.edu, 706-542-8479).
- Counseling and Psychiatric Services (CAPS) is available 24/7 and stands ready to assist as well (https://caps.uga.edu/, 706-542-2273).
- The UGA Safe App is available to download from the Google Play store or the Apple App store and offers features including a Mobile Bluelight that automatically calls the UGA Police and shares your location in real-time with police, a Friend Walk that sends your location in real-time to a friend who can monitor you, UGA Well-Being resources, and more.
- Digital well-being resources (https://well-being.uga.edu/digital-virtual-resources)
During times of personal crisis, please remember that support is available. We encourage you to utilize the resources provided and to lean on one another for support and understanding.
As we navigate these difficult times, let us come together as a college community, showing support and respect for one another. Take care of yourselves and your fellow
Engineers.
Wishing you a restful and safe Spring Break!
All the best, Gracias,
Sonia Garcia and the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Team
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Inaugural Engineering Trailblazer Award |
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About the Award: The Engineering Trailblazer Award is dedicated to honoring those who have not only persevered in the face of adversity but have also demonstrated exceptional leadership, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to paving the way for others in the field.
Criteria for Nomination: We invite nominations for individuals who embody resilience, exemplify leadership, and have made outstanding contributions to the engineering community. Nominees may have faced unique challenges, yet their dedication and impact continue to inspire those around them.
Why Nominate:
- Showcase the extraordinary stories of resilience within our engineering community.
- Recognize and celebrate those who have led by example, breaking barriers and inspiring others.
- Contribute to building a culture of inclusivity and support within our organization.
How to Nominate: Visit bit.ly/engrtrail to submit your nomination or learn more about the criteria and selection process. Nominations are open until March 1st, 2024.
Selection Criteria:
Nominees for the Annual Trailblazer Engineering Award will be evaluated based on the following criteria - Fill out Qualtrics and Upload Information:
Nominee Resume/CV
Letter of Support should demonstrate:
- Professional Achievements: Demonstrated excellence in their engineering career, showcasing innovative contributions to the field.
- Leadership and Mentorship: Evidence of leadership within the engineering community and a commitment to mentorship, especially of underrepresented groups.
- Community Impact: Contributions to fostering diversity and inclusion in the engineering field, both within the academic setting and the broader community.
Minimum GPA Requirement 2.75
Nomination and Selection Process:
Nominees are open to undergraduate students, graduate students, faculty, staff, and alumni. In essence, nominations are open to everyone at the College of Engineering.
Nominations will be accepted from faculty, staff, and students within the College of Engineering.
Award Categories:
First-Generation Trailblazer Award: Recognizing a trailblazer who is the first in their family to pursue a career in engineering, demonstrating perseverance and determination.
Woman Trailblazer Award: Acknowledging a trailblazing woman who has made significant contributions to the field of engineering, breaking gender barriers and inspiring others.
Student Trailblazer Award: The Student Trailblazer Award aims to celebrate the resilience of students who have overcome challenges and obstacles, demonstrating tenacity and fortitude on their educational journey. We seek to acknowledge students who have exhibited outstanding leadership qualities, not only within academic settings, but also as inspirations to their peers and the broader community.
Award Ceremony: Join us in celebrating the trailblazers at the Celebration of Excellence Award Ceremony on April 2nd, 2024, where we will acknowledge their accomplishments and the positive influence they have had on our engineering community.
Let's come together to recognize the unsung heroes in our midst and celebrate the resilience, leadership, and innovation that make our engineering community exceptional.
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RSVP For Our Women's History Month Dinner! |
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"From Monday, February 19, to Friday, February 23, the University of Georgia College of Engineering celebrated Engineers Week, joining in the nationwide celebration organized by the DiscoverE Foundation. The week was packed with various activities aimed at highlighting the importance of engineering and honoring engineers’ contributions to society... The Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers (SASE) ultimately secured the top spot, followed by the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) in second place, and the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) in third place."
Congratulations to SASE, SHPE, and NSBE
for their E-Week Placements! |
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Save the date for the CDI Luncheon. Formal invitations will be sent at a later date. |
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Encourage your students to attend one or more of our Career & Internship Fairs this semester.
- UGA Spring Career & Internship Fair 2024 | January 31, 12-5pm, Classic Center
- UGA Spring Engineering & Computer Science Career & Internship Fair 2024 | February 1, 4;30-7:30pm, Classic Center
- UGA Mary Frances Early College of Education Career Fair 2024 | February 6, 11:30am-2:30 pm, Tate Student Center Grand Hall
- UGA Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication Career Day | February 7, 10am-2pm, Tate Student Center Grand Hall
- UGA College of Environment + Design Career & Internship Fair 2024 | February 14, 10am-2pm, Tate Student Center Grand Hall
- UGA Summer Job and Internship Fair 2024 | March 20, 11am-2:30pm, Tate Student Center Grand Hall
- SEC - ACC Virtual Career Fair | April 10, 10am-5pm, Virtual Venue
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Did you get a job offer? Win a scholarship? Go to a conference? Please consider filling out the form so we can highlight and celebrate your milestones! |
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Scholarships & Internships |
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Google Conference Scholarships (Americas)
Overview:
At Google, we believe a diversity of attributes, experiences, and perspectives are needed to build tools that can change the world. We also believe that everyone deserves an opportunity to pursue connections in the industry, networking with peers, and a career path in technology. To help break down the barriers that prevent underrepresented groups in technology and business from attending leading conferences, we're excited to offer Google Conference Scholarships for selected conferences in the tech industry and related fields.
Scholarship eligibility varies by region, so please review the information on the region-specific tabs on the top. Scholarships will be awarded to the most qualified persons based on application review. Every applicant will be notified of their status according to the time frames specified for the region.
What is included in the scholarship?
Conference registration, one round trip travel to and from the conference site, hotel accommodation for the travel dates as communicated directly with accepted scholars. Please refrain from making travel and/or hotel arrangements on your own, as this is not a part of the reimbursement package.
Eligibility:
While all qualified industry professionals and students are able to apply, we’ve designed our North American program to expose career opportunities to those who identify as historically excluded in tech. This includes those who identify as Women, Black/African American/Caribbean/West Indies, Hispanic/Latinx, persons with disabilities, veterans, and Native American/First Nations.
In order to apply for the North America Google Conference Scholarship, you must fulfill the following eligibility requirements:
- Be at least eighteen (18) years of age at the time of application
- Be a University Student or industry professional
- Be a citizen, permanent resident of, or currently studying in the US, Canada, or Mexico
- Be able to attend the conference in its entirety
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The Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) is a paid opportunity for students to engage in an intensive research project and participate in professional development.
Program Logistics
The REU program includes ten weeks of research at Purdue University in West Lafayette, IN, or at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, NM. May 20-June 28, 2024.
Participants will:
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be matched with an Engineering faculty member and graduate mentor on a research project of mutual interest;
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attend weekly professional development seminars;
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learn how to conduct a literature review and research abstract;
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design and present a research poster;
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meet with industry professionals to learn about energy companies, go on tours, and
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receive a total stipend of $6,000 for 10 weeks with CISTAR.
REU students will be eligible to apply for funds to present their research at a professional conference (AIChE, ACS, etc.) during the 2024-25 academic year.
Apply today! Applicants should include a resume, transcript, letter of interest, and a faculty member's name for a reference. See the attached flyer for more information. This program has rolling admission. Applications will be accepted until all spaces are filled.
See the attached flyers for program details. Please don't hesitate to contact me directly if you have any questions.
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The Research Experience and Mentoring (REM) program is a paid opportunity for students to participate in a combined 2024 summer experience: 6 weeks doing cutting-edge research at Purdue University and 4 weeks mentoring kids participating in an NSBE SEEK camp.
The research focus this summer is on a broad theme that all participants will have in common:
Energy for Our Growing World--how a wide range of energy sources (renewables, emerging energy technologies—biofuels, solar, nuclear, wind, shale, and other fossil fuels) serve the needs of people and communities, and how we balance those needs against the impact these energy sources differentially have on our world.
If you’d like to see how our students felt about their combined summer experience in 2023, please watch this video on YouTube.
Program Logistics
The REM program includes six weeks of research at Purdue University in West Lafayette, IN, May 20-June 28, 2024.
Participants will:
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be matched with an Engineering faculty member and graduate mentor on a research project of mutual interest;
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attend weekly professional development seminars;
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learn how to conduct a literature review and research abstract;
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design and present a research poster;
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meet with industry professionals to learn about energy companies;
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go on tours to different energy sites and companies
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have weekly interactions with an industry mentor; and,
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receive a total stipend of $6,000 for 6 weeks at CISTAR - $5,000 for completing the 6 weeks and $1,000 after submitting program deliverables.
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Plus, NSBE SEEK offers their own stipend for the 4 weeks.
Further, as a culmination of the summer research part of the program, REM students are invited to present their research at the Emerging Researchers National (ERN) conference. The conference will be hosted by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) in Washington, DC, in March 2025. All conference expenses will be covered.
Apply today! Applicants should include a resume, transcript, letter of interest, and a faculty member's name for a reference. See the attached flyer for more information. This program has rolling admission. Applications will be accepted until all spaces are filled.
Application for NSBE SEEK (a separate application is required; the form will be available on this site in February).
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The National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education will hold the 2024 Annual Conference in Seattle, Washington from March 13-16, 2024. Event information will be updated below as it becomes available.
Proposal Submissions are closed.
Registration Pricing and Information details can be found here. Accessibility Information can be found here. Conference Registration is open.
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Strategies to Engage ALL Students in Your Classroom
Join Us, Wed., March 20, 2024
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. EST
Have you ever been frustrated because students don't seem engaged in your classroom? Do you wonder "How can I reach the diverse students in my classroom?"
Two instructors at Westchester CC, Prof. Juan Rodriguez Jr. (Cybersecurity) and Prof. Sarah Belknap (Mathematics), will share three ways to infuse your classrooms with culturally relevant practices that will make a difference.
This dynamic presentation will provide information on interventions used in the presenters' classrooms, how they relate to culturally relevant instruction, and how they have an impact on student engagement, retention, and performance
Register Here
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March 25–27, 2024
New York, N.Y.
The Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Conference is the can’t-miss event of 2024, taking place March 25–27 in New York City.
The conference will highlight a diverse selection of topics, from admissions to institutional accessibility and across functional areas. The program will be released soon, but here are a few highlights of what you can expect:
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HBCU Myth Versus Fact: Learn more about the unique experiences students have at HBCUs. Join this session for real talk about attending these historic institutions, and ask the experts about what HBCUs do to change students’ lives.
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Transforming Belonging Through Technology at HBCUs: Learn how the power of human-centered technology can enhance the impactful HBCU experience. This session explores early findings within a multi-institution cohort and amplifies candid reflections on thoughtful and strategic implementation to support a sense of belonging through technology. Digital engagement and AI/chatbot platforms and services show results in yield and retention that far exceed typical experiences and outcomes at non-HBCUs.
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From Recruitment to Enrollment: A Case Study on Data: The last four admissions cycles since the beginning of the covid-19 pandemic have been a roller coaster! While some institutions experienced record growth in applications and increased enrollment, some have seen a drop in both. Whatever the situation on your campus, in this session, you’ll learn how one of your esteemed peers used historical admissions data to understand their recruitment-to-enrollment pipeline so that they could be more strategic about building their first-year class.
Plan Your Trip
Register today, and remember to book your hotel room at our discounted rate by March 4, 2024. Space is limited, so don’t delay. You can make your hotel reservation from the confirmation page after you’ve registered for the conference. Learn more about the hotel venue and next steps for booking.
Register today before rates increase on March 15, 2024.
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March 25–27, 2024
New York, N.Y.
Resonant Programming Just for You
We’re excited to celebrate the programming announcement for the 2024 A Dream Deferred™: The Future of African American Education conference, highlighting a variety of breakout and educational summit sessions.
The conference planning committee has selected a dynamic program. The sessions announced today highlight a diverse selection of topics, from K–12 to higher ed.
View the event program and continue to check back for additional program announcements.
Plan Your Trip
Register today, and remember to book your hotel room at our discounted rate by March 4, 2024. Space is limited, so don’t delay. You can make your hotel reservation from the confirmation page after you’ve registered for the conference. Learn more about the hotel venue and next steps for booking.
Register today before rates increase on March 15, 2024.
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June 5–7, 2024
Minneapolis, Minn.
Register Early and Save
College Board is excited to head to Minneapolis from June 5–7, 2024, for the Native American Student Advocacy Institute (NASAI) conference. Make plans to join us for learning, collaboration, and inspiration.
The planning committee is hard at work bringing the 2024 event to life, and we look forward to welcoming you to Minnesota in June. At this year’s conference, we’ll elevate the voices of those committed to college readiness and access for Native American, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander students.
Here's why you can't afford to miss it:
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Resonant Programming: NASAI offers a dynamic program curated for educators committed to making a difference on students’ educational outcomes. It will leave you inspired and motivated.
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Meaningful Networking: Connect with educators, administrators, leaders, and innovators from across the country who share your passion for education.
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Innovative Insights: Gain access to cutting-edge research, trends, and model practices.
Check out highlights from the 2023 event, and make sure to register before April 5, 2024, to save.
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Congrats on making it to the end of the newsletter! We will release a newsletter on the first Friday of every month! |
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