Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Endorsement

Bellarmine University’s Office of the President through the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion invites interested faculty, staff, students, and community members to participate in the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Endorsement Series.

The Bellarmine University DEI Endorsement Series is an online, guided continuing education program that explores the identification, understanding, and application of key topics related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Learners will complete this phase of the endorsement series more equipped to help make their communities, workplaces, and organizations more inclusive and equitable spaces.

Registration will begin December 1, 2022 through January 23, 2023. The series will follow a two-week cycle for each module. Participants are expected to attend at least two but encouraged to attend all five of the in-person sessions at the close of each module. Dates and times of these in-person sessions are available through the registration form.

The endorsement consists of five modules:

• Module 1: Diversity and Inclusion -  This module provides an overview of the concepts of diversity and inclusion and introduces best practices for cultivating them in your workplace. In this module, you will complete an initial self-reflection, review content surrounding diversity and inclusion, complete an assignment, as well as a concluding self-reflection and module evaluation.
• Module 2: Implicit Bias - his module introduces implicit bias and demonstrates how one's biases affect one's thoughts and actions. The module's main goals are to help you define implicit bias and examine your own biases to see how they potentially affect your behavior. In this module, you will complete an initial self-reflection, review content surrounding implicit bias, complete an assignment, as well as a final self-reflection and module evaluation.
• Module 3: Equity vs Equality - This module defines and discusses the terms equality and equity. Though both terms are typically utilized to achieve a similar goal of creating a fair and diverse setting, at times, the terms are contradictory. Thus, recognizing the similarities and differences is important in understanding how the terms interact and can be utilized to gain positive outcomes. In this module, you will complete an initial self-reflection, review content surrounding equity vs equality, complete two assignments, as well as a concluding self-reflection and module evaluation. 
• Module 4: Intersectionality - This module introduces you to intersectionality as a framework to build inclusion and equity within your spheres of influence. The module's main goals are to help you define intersectionality and distinguish between intersectionality and identity intersections. In this module, you will complete an initial self-reflection, review content surrounding intersectionality, complete a final assignment, as well as a concluding self-reflection and module evaluation.
• Module 5: Navigating Difficult Conversations and Bystander Intervention - Having difficult conversations with individuals in any setting such as family gatherings, workspaces, schools, etc. challenges us all. This module will provide foundational skills on which to build both confidence and competence in engaging productive dialogue across differences. In this module, you will complete an initial self-reflection, review content surrounding navigating difficult conversations and bystander intervention, complete an assignment, as well as a concluding self-reflection and module evaluation. 

At the completion of this endorsement, learners will be able to...

• Define and understand distinctions between terms related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Recognize implicit biases and offer solutions to combat them.
• Articulate what systems of oppression are and how they overlap.
• Facilitate difficult conversations and intervene during difficult moments.

Bellarmine Faculty, Staff and Students

The Winter/Spring 2023 program runs from January 23rd to April 19th. To apply for this program, click the link below and fill out the form on or before January 23rd. If you have any questions, please email us at dei@bellarmine.edu.