Mission Statement and learning outcomes
The College of Natural Sciences Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Concentration facilitates students' exploration of DEI concepts through coursework and opportunities to develop skills and knowledge needed to succeed in a diverse world.
Concentration Learning outcomes related to DEI concepts include:
- Developing a Knowledge Base
- Facilitating Self-Awareness
- Fostering Critical Thinking
- Improving Intercultural Communication Skills
- Engaging in Action-Planning Skills
- Committing to Ongoing Learning
If you have questions please contact Dr. Tonia Guida via email at tonia.guida@austin.utexas.edu or cns.diversity@austin.utexas.edu.
Click here to view and download the DEI Concentration Roadmap.
concentration description
The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Concentration is comprised of coursework and events to promote dialogue and guide students through a variety of experiences aimed at exploring and expanding understanding of complex ideas and issues. The goal of this credential is not to indicate mastery in these areas, but rather to demonstrate purposeful and thoughtful guided exploration and self-reflection around themes related to diversity and inclusion.
degree requirements
Additionally, 2 out of the 3 required concentration courses satisfy two of the Skills and Experience flags all undergraduate students must meet. Dialogue Across Difference (formerly Civil Discourse) meets the Cultural Diversity in United States flag and the DEI Capstone course meets the Independent Inquiry flag.
Concentration outcomes
After participating in the DEI concentration, students are significantly more likely to:
- Reflect on culture/ethnicity in life
- Know the difference between race and ethnicity
- Self-reflect to challenge their own biases/stereotypes
- Understand that talking about racial issues does not cause more tension
- More aware of their own biases and how they affect one’s thinking
- Discuss social identities with their friends
- Attend DEI groups/events
- Understand that those with marginalized identities are treated more poorly
- Knowledgeable about race/ethnic relations in the U.S.
- Work to make sure people who are different from them are heard/accepted
- Seek opportunities to connect with different people
After participating in the DEI concentration capstone course, students were more likely to have…
- Written a DEI statement
- Developed leadership experiences related to DEI
- Built solutions to DEI issues
- Gained project management training
- Developed oral presentation skills
Overview
Students must complete a minimum of four semesters of Concentration work. The Concentration is comprised of four parts:
I. Application
II. Coursework
- NSC 106 - Dialogue Across Difference: Identity, power, and Privilege (Formerly Civil Discourse)
- At least one other UT course chosen from the coursework list below
III. DEI Events - students must attend two approved events or trainings per semester
IV. NSC 207 - Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Capstone Course
- Contact Dr. Guida at tonia.guida@autin.utexas.edu for permission to be added to this course
- This course is ideally taken in your graduating semester at UT.
Application
An application is required for this Concentration. Students should expect to spend a minimum of 20 minutes to thoughtfully complete the application:
Coursework
NSC 106: Dialogue Across Difference
NSC 106: Dialogue Across Difference-Identity, Power, & Privilege (Formerly Civil Discourse) aims to provide frameworks, terminology, and critical thinking & empathy tools for engaging in productive conversations around difficult topics related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). You will be introduced to DEI resources, issues, and challenges across campus. This course also serves as a cohesive foundation for the subsequent DEI Concentration, which can be pursued through a variety of trainings, courses, and events across campus.
You will learn from one another’s perspectives, participate in experiential learning exercises, read and discuss relevant materials, and explore their own and other groups’ experiences in various social and institutional contexts. In addition, the course aims to provide you with opportunities to appreciate and learn to bridge differences, discover and maximize commonalities, and work to help create social change.
In this course you will explore the meaning of your social identities and how they intersect, influence and/or are influenced by one another (e.g. race, ability/disability, age, culture, ethnicity, nationality, gender, social class, sexual orientation, etc.). Through assigned readings and in-class activities, you will enhance your knowledge, awareness and skills around diversity and intergroup relations. You will explore both differences and commonalities across and within social identities, dialogue about issues pertaining to systems of privilege and oppression, and enhance intercultural competencies. Weekly, semi-structured class meetings integrate readings, experiential activities, informed dialogue, and reflective writing as means of encouraging self and group awareness and exploring ways to promote social justice and alliance building across different identities and perspectives.
Dialogue Across Difference: Identity, Power, and Privilege also meets the Cultural Diversity in United States flag. This is one of the Skills and Experience flags all undergraduate students must meet.
Approved Courses
Culture/gender/religion courses have to relate to context in society, communication and/or health. While general history courses on various cultures or religions are a great start to understanding a culture or religion, we want coursework to delve deeper allowing students to engage in understanding of contexts, implications, systems, etc, which will improve their ability to interact with various individuals and engage in discussions around issues related to different cultures.
Health profession courses may apply if content deals with culture, gender, and/or the healthcare system as it relates to treatment of special populations or ethical issues.
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AAS 310: TOPIC 1 - PSY PERSP ASIAN AMER IDENT |
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ADV 378: HEALTH COMMUNICATION |
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AFR 372C: WOMEN OF COLOR FEMINISMS IN US |
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AFR 372D: MEDICINE IN AFRICAN HISTORY |
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AFR 374D: PSYCHOLOGY OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN EXPERIENCE |
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AFR 374D: BLACK WOMEN IN AMERICA |
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AMS 315: TOPIC 3 - RACE, IMMIGRATION & FAMILY |
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AMS 370: LATINA/O SPIRITUALITY |
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ANS 379: TOPIC 10 - COMPARING RELIGIONS |
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ANT 307: CULTURE AND COMMUNICATION |
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ANT 325L: TOPIC 18 - ETHNOGRAPHIES OF EMOTION |
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CMS 317C: SPEECH IN AMERICAN CULTURE |
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CMS 330: INTERPERSONAL HEALTH COMMUNICATION |
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CMS 355K: INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION |
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CMS 364K: GENDER AND COMMUNICATION |
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CSD 308K: PERSPECTIVES ON DEAFNESS |
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ECO 325K: HEALTH ECONOMICS |
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GOV 370L: TOPIC 23 - THE POLITICS OF HEALTH CARE |
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GOV 370L: TOPIC 21 - POLITICS OF FOOD IN AMERICA |
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GRG 336: CONTEMP CULTURAL GEOGRAPHY |
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H S 301: INTRO TO HEALTH & SOCIETY |
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H S 330: HEALTH CARE POLICY IN U.S. |
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H S 340: COMPARATIVE US HEALTH SYSTEMS |
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HDF 343: HUM DEV IN MINORITY/IMMIG FAMS |
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HIS 350L: TOPIC 94 - WOMEN/WEALTH IN SOUTH ASIA |
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HIS 350R: TOPIC 18: WOMEN IN SICKNESS & HEALTH |
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HIS 363KL POLITICS OF FOOD IN LATIN AMER |
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HIS 365G: TOPIC 13 - RACE, LAW, AND US SOCIETY |
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HIS 366N: TOPIC 18 - GLOBAL HISTORY OF DISEASE |
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LAS 322: TOPIC 17 - SPANISH HLTH CARE PROFESSNS |
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N 309: GLOBAL HEALTH |
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N 321: ETHICS OF HEALTH CARE |
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NTR 316: CULTURE AND FOOD |
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PHL 325M: MEDICINE, ETHICS, AND SOCIETY |
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PSY 341K: TOPIC 17 - PSYCHOLOGY AND RELIGION |
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S W 310: INTRO TO SOCL WORK & SOCL WELF |
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SOC 308: SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH |
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SOC 308M: SOCIOLOGY OF IDENTITY |
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SOC 321G: GLOBAL HEALTH ISSUES/SYSTEMS |
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SOC 321K: MENTAL HEALTH IN SOCIAL CONTEXT |
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SOC 321K: NGOS HUMANITARIAN AID/HLTH |
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SOC 321K: SEX/SEXUALITY MUSLIM WORLD |
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SOC 321K: WAR AND HEALTH |
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SOC 322U: UNITED STATES IMMIGRATION |
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SOC 333K: SOCIOLOGY OF GENDER |
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SOC 336D: RACE, CLASS, AND HEALTH |
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SOC 341C: MEDICAL SOCIOLOGY |
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UGS 303: DISABILITY AND THE MEDIA |
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UGS 303: GLOBAL INEQUALITIES/HEALTH |
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UGS 303: MEDICAL ETHICS |
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URB 354: FOUNDATIONS OF SOCIAL JUSTICE |
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WGS 301: TOPIC 20 - FERTILITY & REPRODUCTION |
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WGS 301: TOPIC 6 - ETHNCTY & GENDER: LA CHICANA |
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WGS 324: GENDER AND FAN CULTURE |
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WGS 324: GENDER AND MEDIA CULTURE |
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WGS 340: TOPIC 52 - SEX & POWER IN AFR DIASPORA |
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WGS 345: TOPIC 26 - AMERICAN DILEMMAS |
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WGS 345: TOPIC 35 - PSYCHSOCL ISS WOMENS HEALTH |
NSC 207: DEI Capstone
The DEI capstone course is a two hour seminar that will guide you through a culmination of your work and progress in the DEI concentration. You will use critical and reflective thinking and effective problem solving to:
- Identify a DEI issue on campus or in the community to address and propose a solution or steps toward a solution
- Develop your leadership in the DEI Concentration by facilitating debrief DEI events along with assisting with Concentration development
The capstone course also meets the Independent Inquiry flag. This is one of the Skills and Experience flags all undergraduate students must meet. The DEI Capstone course is offered every Spring semester.
Events
Concentration students are required to attend two DEI approved events or trainings per semester (at least one needs to be a facilitated event), beginning in the semester of NSC 106 Dialogue Across Difference enrollment. Debriefing with Council for Diversity Engagement leadership representatives, Capstone students, and/or CNS DEI staff immediately following event attendance is mandatory to satisfy this requirement. Current approved events and trainings for each semester are available on our CNS DEI Concentration canvas page.
FAQs
- About the Program
- Application Requirements
- Program Requirements
- DEI events
- Outside Approved Course
- Capstone Course
- Classes and Registration
About the Program
What is the DEI Concentration?
The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Concentration is comprised of coursework and events to promote dialogue and guide students through a variety of experiences aimed at exploring and expanding understanding of complex ideas and issues. The goal of this credential is not to indicate mastery in these areas, but rather to demonstrate purposeful and thoughtful guided exploration and self-reflection around themes related to diversity and inclusion.
Additionally, 2 out of the 3 required concentration courses satisfy two of the Skills and Experience flags all undergraduate students must meet. Dialogue Across Difference (formerly Civil Discourse) meets the Cultural Diversity in United States flag and the Capstone course meets the Independent Inquiry flag.
Who is this program for?
This program is for all undergraduate students within the College of Natural Sciences who are interested in developing further self-awareness around their social identities, understanding a variety of diversity, equity, and inclusion issues, identifying DEI issues on campus or in the community to address, and proposing steps toward a solution.
What is a concentration? How is it different from a minor or certificate program?
A concentration entails a smaller amount of course requirements than a minor or certificate. Therefore, this concentration will not appear on your transcript like transcriptable minors/certificates, but you are welcome to include this Concentration in the Education portion of your resume alongside your degree and other credentials. While the concentration is not formally included on your transcript, we do spend time in the capstone course discussing how to highlight your DEI concentration experience in resumes, CV’s, grad school applications, and job iterviews.
What can I officially put on my resume for being part of/completing the concentration?
You are welcome to include the Concentration as a credential on your resume! Please be aware when communicating information about the Concentration on your resume or in interviews that the goal of this credential is not to indicate mastery in these areas, but rather to demonstrate purposeful and thoughtful guided exploration and self-reflection around themes related to diversity and inclusion.
How is this compatible with the HP certificate? What’s similar and what’s different?
The Health Professions Certificate offers a variety of theme courses, and while there may be some overlap in the courses approved, the purpose of these credentials differs. The Health Professions Certificate is transcriptable, and its aim is for pre-health students to explore interdisciplinary courses that are complementary to pre-health goals. The DEI Concentration is not currently transcriptable, and its aim is to guide students through a variety of themes specific to diversity and inclusion and provide not only courses, but guided event participation, as well as an introductory and capstone courses involving deeper exploration and personal reflection around themes and issues of diversity and inclusion. Pre-Health students may find this Concentration helpful for developing a personal diversity statement and developing responses to interview prompts. Students are welcome to pursue both credentials or choose the credential which they feel will most benefit their personal growth and meet their pre-health goals.
How does this Concentration work with other transcriptable credentials I’m pursuing?
You are welcome to pursue this Concentration along with other transcriptable credentials. Please be sure to check in with your advisor about fitting all of your credential courses in alongside your four-year degree plan before taking on multiple credentials. This concentration will not appear on your transcript like transcriptable minors/certificates, but you are welcome to include this Concentration in the Education portion of your resume alongside your degree and other credentials.
Application Requirements
What does the application entail?
The application is designed to gauge your interests in the DEI concentration and should take you no longer than 20 minutes to complete. This is more of a personal reflection than an application. The questions we are asking you to consider are directly related to what you'll be doing as part of the concentration. There are no right or wrong answers–– what is important is that you answer them thoughtfully.
When is this application for the concentration due?
There are two deadlines per academic year to be admitted to the DEI concentration. During the Fall semester, the application is due October 1st. During the Spring semester, the application is due April 1st.
Where can I access the application?
The application can be found here.
Program Requirements
What is dialogue across difference?
This course aims to provide frameworks, terminology, and critical thinking & empathy tools for engaging in productive conversations around difficult topics related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). You will be introduced to DEI resources, issues, and challenges across campus. This course also serves as a cohesive foundation for the subsequent DEI Concentration, which can be pursued through a variety of trainings, courses, and events across campus.
You will learn from one another’s perspectives, participate in experiential learning exercises, read and discuss relevant materials, and explore their own and other groups’ experiences in various social and institutional contexts. In addition, the course aims to provide you with opportunities to appreciate and learn to bridge differences, discover and maximize commonalities, and work to help create social change.
In this course you will explore the meaning of your social identities and how they intersect, influence and/or are influenced by one another (e.g. race, ability/disability, age, culture, ethnicity, nationality, gender, social class, sexual orientation, etc.). Through assigned readings and in-class activities, you will enhance your knowledge, awareness and skills around diversity and intergroup relations. You will explore both differences and commonalities across and within social identities, dialogue about issues pertaining to systems of privilege and oppression, and enhance intercultural competencies. Weekly, semi-structured class meetings integrate readings, experiential activities, informed dialogue, and reflective writing as means of encouraging self and group awareness and exploring ways to promote social justice and alliance building across different identities and perspectives.
Dialogue Across Difference (formerly Civil Discourse) also meets the Cultural Diversity in United States flag. This is one of the Skills and Experience flags all undergraduate students must meet.
Will dialogue across difference be offered every semester, including summer?
Dialogue Across Difference (formerly Civil Discourse) will be offered each fall and spring semester. Currently there is not a plan to offer this course over the summer, but that may change as the Concentration develops and demand is determined.
Do students need to take dialogue across difference first?
It is strongly recommended for students to take Dialogue across Difference to begin the concentration, though exceptions will be considered on a case by case basis.
Can I take Dialogue across difference and the Capstone course in the same semester?
No, students must take Dialogue Across Difference prior to enrolling in the Capstone course. Dialogue Across Difference will help to inform your progression through the Concentration and provide foundational discussions to help shape your Capstone goals.
How do I fulfill the outside approved course requirement?
Once you have taken Civil Dialogue Across Difference, you can select a course from the pre-approved list. If the course you are interested in taking is not on the outside approved course list, but covers similar topics as the pre-approved courses listed, you can submit an exception/appeal on the DEI concentration canvas page to see if the course meets the DEI concentration requirements.
I’m studying abroad (or at least outside Austin) for a semester. How can I satisfy the 2-events requirement?
Students going abroad or completing semesters in other cities have a unique experience to interact with new cultures, which matches the goals of the Concentration. Once you know which semester during your Concentration progression you will be out of the country, please let us know at cns.diversity@austin.utexas.edu. We have some prompts for you to explore and respond to upon your return to meet the Concentration Events requirement.
DEI events
Where do I submit proof of completion of my event attendance?
On our DEI concentration canvas page, under the assignments tab, you can submit proof of event attendance.
How many hours of community service will I have to do for this?
Currently there are not required hours of specified community service for the DEI Concentration. However, there may be approved events for the semester that involve community service. If you sign up for one of those events, you would be required to fulfill the hours of that event and the debrief.
Outside Approved Course
Can a course I took last year to fulfill the outside approved course concentration requirements?
Yes if it’s on the approved course list, however, students are encouraged to continue exploring the approved courses as they have space during their time at UT. Please talk to your academic advisor about when and where you can fit in courses from the approved list.
Where can I submit requests for approved outside courses (and other) exceptions/appeals?
Petitions can be submitted on our DEI concentration canvas page and questions can be submitted to cns.diversity@austin.utexas.edu.
Capstone Course
What is the capstone course?
The DEI capstone course is the culmination of your work and progress in the DEI concentration. You will use critical and reflective thinking and effective problem solving to:
- Identify a DEI issue on campus or in the community to address and propose a solution or steps toward a solution
- Develop your leadership in the DEI Concentration by facilitating a class meeting of Civil Discourse [two events] along with an event and debrief, as well as assisting with Concentration development
The capstone course also meets the Independent Inquiry flag. This is one of the Skills and Experience flags all undergraduate students must meet.
What are the learning outcomes for the capstone course?
- Have a creative, focused, and manageable topic for inquiry.
- Identify and Synthesize existing knowledge and research relevant to your inquiry topic
- Gather, evaluate, synthesize, or create relevant evidence, knowledge, or other elements to reveal insights about your topic
- Present a conclusion that logically follows from the inquiry findings
- Better understand your own learning pathway in DEI areas
- Have a completed Diversity Statement for inclusion on your resume or cover letters
- Understand change and project management related to your Capstone Focus project
- Have Concentration leadership experience for inclusion on your resume and to talk about in interviews or include in cover letters
Will the Capstone course be offered every semester, including summer?
The Capstone course will be offered each spring semester. Currently there is not a plan to offer this course over the summer, but that may change as the Concentration develops and demand is determined.
What’s the earliest I can take the Capstone course?
The earliest a student can take the Capstone course is their fourth semester in the Concentration, however, it’s strongly recommended for students to save the Capstone course for their graduating semester if and where possible, as the Capstone is a culminating course that will be informed by the entirety of your undergraduate experience.
Classes and Registration
Can non-CNS students take NSC 106?
Yes, on a space available basis.
Can non-CNS students complete the concentration?
Yes, if they are able to take the courses to complete the requirements. Non-CNS students will be added to NSC 106 and the Capstone course on a space available basis after CNS students.
Can freshmen begin the concentration?
Yes!
Can seniors begin the concentration?
Yes, but you must have already taken an approved outside course before completing the concentration.
Can a student use dual/AP/transfer credit to satisfy any of the concentration requirements?
No, students must fulfill the coursework requirement at UT from the list of approved courses.
Can I count this Concentration toward my BSA degree?
No, currently this Concentration is not transcriptable. But we are working on it!
I finished the capstone course, how can I stay involved?
We’d love for you to stay involved! You can help us in the following ways:
- Help by attending and debriefing Concentration events
- Organize a Concentration project or outing (service event, museum visit, etc.)
- Keep attending approved events and taking approved courses! Just because you’ve completed the Concentration doesn’t mean your learning is done; find new avenues of exploration around your own identity or take a deeper dive into a facet of diversity or inclusion that interests you or you are curious about!
