Department of Student Engagement

Purpose: The department will invest in student and community engagement initiatives that celebrate diverse identities and cultures, support students engaged in activism and civic engagement, guide student leaders to ensure their organizations are accessible and inclusive, and garner the participation of students across identity groups on campus.

Goals: 

• Goal 1: Create programming and collaborate with other campus departments in order to celebrate important culturally significant events.
• Goal 2: Review current student organization structures and offer guidance and resources toward creating inclusive, equitable, and accessible student organizations. 
• Goal 3: Build or share resources to support students who are engaged in activism, community and civic engagement efforts.
• Goal 4: Better understand the experiences and identities of students who are engaged in our programs/services and identify opportunities to engage a more representative population of students as needed.

Purpose: The department will better educate student leaders, community partners, and professional staff members on issues related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Goals:

• Goal 5: Educate student leaders on topics of diversity, equity, and inclusion, accessibility and wellness, as well as intersectionality.
• Goal 6: Staff will participate in coordinated DEI trainings and professional development workshops and attend or facilitate trainings through Brandeis and external organizations. We will also offer resources to community partners.

Purpose: The department will address financial barriers to student engagement, secure additional funding to support community engagement, and ensure the Student Activity Fee is equitably distributed.

Goals:

• Goal 7: Reduce and remove financial barriers to participating in DSE and student organization programs and leadership opportunities.
• Goal 8: Secure additional sources of funding for community engagement experiences, to support those students/organizations engaging in community engagement work.
• Goal 9: More equitably distribute the Student Activity Fee across student organizations, and ensure stronger accountability for how student organizations spend their dollars.

Purpose: The department will set consistent policies for all students/student groups, build diverse and inclusive student employee, student leader, and professional staff teams, and incorporate diversity, equity, and inclusion into our office culture.

Goals:

• Goal 10: Audit departmental policies and develop new ones to promote consistency and equity.
• Goal 11: Engage in student and professional staff hiring processes that center diversity, equity, and inclusion values.
• Goal 12: Incorporate DEI goals into our day to day practices, professional development, and office culture.