Page 11 - CEMS Newsletter Fall 2023

DEI UPDATE
Diversity, equity and inclusion continued from page 10
and February, the GSC continued its Quiet Workspace series, providing snacks, coffee, and a calmer working environment every week. The space was opened up to all CEMS graduate students and post-docs this year to include those working on theses or manuscripts,
in addition to second-year students working on their written preliminary exam. Then, the group hosted a Lunar New Year potluck and gathered to enjoy both graduate student-made desserts and popular Asian snacks. Next, to prepare second-year students for their oral qualifying exam, the GSC collaborated with the Materials Research Society (MRS) chapter to host a student panel. The panelists shared their advice for both preparing for and passing the exam. Lastly, the GSC hosted a May Social on the Mall to kick off the beginning of warm weather. The group provided bagels and light refreshments in its first outdoor event since the Fall semester. The GSC looks forward to expanding upon these event series and future opportunities for bringing the CEMS graduate student community together.
Inclusive Teaching Committee
Two information sessions were hosted by the CEMS Inclusive Teaching Committee last semester in response to student suggestions. Using the latest student health survey data, Kate Elwell MPH, CHES, CPH from Boynton Health, presented the current state of undergraduate student mental health along with recommendations to help promote good mental health within our classrooms. Kate and her team also developed a Canvas learning module, made available to all Spring 2023 teaching assistants (TAs), regarding mental health resources
and how to help support undergraduates experiencing mental health issues. Representatives from the Disability Resource Center (DRC) presented a refresher on the DRC process and how accommodations allow students to overcome obstacles, as well as best practices to support students with disabilities and move towards inherently inclusive classrooms.
The Working Group faculty collaborated with CEMS faculty in the Mental Health Advocates program to raise
Numerous members of our community received CEMS Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Action and Service (IDEAS) Awards for their contributions and outreach activities. Winners include (pictured, from left, front row) Ashlie Hamilton and Annie Moorhead; (back row, from left): Kacey Gregerson, Raisa Carmen Andeme Ela, and Daniel Krajovic. Not pictured: Maya Albright, KD DeAcetis.
awareness of all faculty advisors about mental health resources, in part to better assist students and postdocs who face unprecedented new issues in considering professional progress activities and career plans.
In August, the annual Inclusive Teaching and Advising Faculty Workshop was held featuring lightning shares of inclusive practices from CEMS faculty as well as a few colleagues in other departments. The information presented is also available to faculty in a custom, online toolkit updated each year by the committee.
CEMSnews Fall 2023 11