Advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Cornell
Training for all Cornell employees to create an inclusive work environment.
In this six-course certificate program, you will hear from Cornell leadership about the importance of evolving a culture of diversity, equity, and belonging. Using Cornell’s Skills for Success as your foundation, you will develop techniques to create and cultivate an inclusive work environment. Building on these values, you will examine ways to initiate change through self-examination and by evaluating how power, privilege, and oppression manifest in your everyday life. As the program progresses, you will have the opportunity to practice engaging respectfully with peers and teams with different perspectives and using strategies to speak up and respond when you witness bias. By the end of this program, you will be empowered to support a Cornell culture where everyone feels valued and where we can all bring our whole, authentic selves to work. The course format consists of short, 2-4 minute videos interspersed with reflection exercises, activities to establish comfort and confidence, and a completion quiz. Colleges/units are encouraged to host their own conversations as well. Facilitation guides will be made available from the Department of Inclusion and Belonging upon request for colleges and units that wish to host conversations within their organizations.
Please note that only CU101 and CU102 are required courses. You will be automatically enrolled in CU101 and CU102. Because this is a six-course certificate program, we strongly recommend CU103-CU106 to complete the certificate. You will NOT be automatically enrolled in CU103-CU106; search for them in CULearn to add them to your list.
CU101: Cultivating Cornell's Inclusive Working Environment (Required)
In this course, you will hear from our senior leadership on how we can create an inclusive environment by focusing on our mission, vision, and values. The Skills for Success and Leadership Skills for Success were drafted to support Cornell's mission, and you will explore how you can use your skills to contribute to the mission.
CU102: Developing a Culture of Belonging and Respect (Required)
In this course, you will examine belonging, diversity, inclusion, and respect, and how it looks when everyone can bring their authentic professional selves to work. You will also consider the impact of diversity and inclusion initiatives on the organization's bottom line. What specific ways can you help build or evolve a culture of belonging, inclusion, and respect in your organization? The experts at the Department of Inclusion and Workforce Diversity and Organizational Development and Effectiveness at Cornell University will guide you in actions you can take.
CU103: Understanding ourselves and Our Ability to Create Change (Optional)
In this course, you will begin by identifying how you became the person that you are using the cycle of socialization to understand the things you were taught about yourself and others throughout your life. Then, you will define and explore what power, privilege, and oppression mean, and how they connect to you, and the ways you have been socialized. You will use what you learn to create a new approach to interacting with others that fosters connection and allows you to make positive change using the cycle of liberation.
CU104: Engaging with Different Perspectives (Optional)
As you progress through the course, you will gain skills that will allow you to better prepare for challenging conversations both mentally and emotionally. You will practice a deeper level of listening and assess your listening skills. You will then have the opportunity to navigate scenarios where the LARA method of communication can be fruitfully employed in the workplace.
CU105: Speaking up and Responding (Optional)
In this course, you will evaluate what kinds of behavior require speaking up and responding, and what benefits can come from standing up for others in cases of bias or discrimination. You will then explore different ways you might choose to respond, ranging from directly supporting the person who experienced the effects of the inappropriate behavior, through various forms of bystander intervention, and, ultimately, to more formal processes.
CU106: Your Commitment to Advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (Optional)
This course will equip participants to act through self-reflection and the creation of an action plan that will help them identify inclusive and equitable practices that can be applied to their work environments. Prepare participants to be in alliance with one another within their organization and function.
FAQs
Who is required to take this training?
Cornell benefits-eligible staff, librarians and archivists. An anti-racism center for faculty (tenured, tenure track and RTE) is in the process of being created.
Why am I being asked to complete the first two courses?
A diverse community includes everyone and is the foundation for the meaningful exploration and exchange of ideas. The University is committed to fostering a safe, respectful, and inclusive living, learning, and working environment for the entire University community. As community members, it is important to recognize our shared responsibility to each other. The program focuses on evolving a culture of diversity, equity, and belonging. The overall goal of the program is to give all staff members the same foundations so that we can all contribute to building a better, more equitable, and inclusive Cornell.
What is the format of the program?
This is a six-course certificate program that will be delivered online through Workday Learning and will consist of short, 2-4 minute videos interspersed with reflection and activities to establish comfort and confidence. Each course will end with a completion quiz. Courses average 50 m to 1.5 hours in length.
Do employees who are on leave have to take the training?
Employees who are on leave should not take the course while they are on leave. They will be required to complete the course once they return from leave.
I have a question about one of the ideas/policies/examples given in the course, who should I ask?
Colleges/units can choose to host their own conversations. Facilitation guides can be made available from the Department of Inclusion and Belonging (inclusion@cornell.edu) for colleges and units that wish to host conversations within their organizations.
What happens if I do not complete the courses/program?
All required staff members are encouraged and expected to complete the first two courses (CU101 and CU102). Employees may be subject to disciplinary action (i.e., written warning, reprimand) or other administrative action (i.e., denial of requests for leave, travel, reimbursements and other privileges in employment) if the training requirement is not fulfilled within the specified timeframe.
Technical Help
Troubleshooting:
If you are having trouble accessing and/or advancing through the modules, please try the following:
If I have questions about anything in the program, who can I contact?
If you have additional questions and/or concerns about the ADEI Program, you may contact Department of Inclusion and Belonging at inclusion@cornell.edu.
Where are the courses located? How do I access the courses?
This program will be delivered online through Workday Learning. All staff members will be pre-enrolled into the courses. Staff members will receive an email from Workday Learning once they have been enrolled into the courses with a link to the course(s). The course is launched in Workday Learning which connects into eCornell/Canvas.
Please note that only CU101 and CU102 are required courses. You will be automatically enrolled in CU101 and CU102. Because this is a six-course certificate program, we strongly recommend CU103-CU106 to complete the certificate. You will NOT be automatically enrolled in CU103-CU106; search for them in Workday Learning to add them to your list.
Can I access the material again after I complete the course(s)?
Yes. You can log into your eCornell dashboard at any time and can then relaunch the course by selecting it from your completed list. This will relaunch the content in Canvas and you will be able to access the materials. Relaunching a course will not impact your completed status.
May I begin, stop, and return to the course(s)?
The course can be stopped/started and will bookmark until it has been completed. Relaunch is done via CULearn
For Supervisors, Managers and Human Resource Officers
Can I require my staff to complete this on their own time?
No. This is a university requirement and should be completed during work time. If you have concerns or would like to discuss options for how to do this, contact your HR representative or the Department of Inclusion and Belonging.
Can I enroll employees in the CULearn course(s)?
All staff members will be pre-enrolled into CU101 and CU102. Supervisors and managers do not need to do anything for enrollment.
Can my team take the courses together as a group instead of individually?
Only areas where individuals don’t have regular access to computers can complete this program in a group setting. If you complete the course(s) as a group, you must track and submit attendance records so that employees can receive appropriate credit for participating. Please work with your HR representatives to make sure you are properly documenting and submitting attendance for each course. If completion is not properly tracked and submitted, individual staff members will not be marked as having completed this required course.
What about employees who are on term appointments?
All benefits eligible staff employees should complete the course.
How will we be tracking who has taken the training? How will I know who has completed the training on my team?
Tracking of completion will be conducted by the Department of Inclusion and Belonging. This information will be shared with your HR Representative who will relay the information to you.
What if my employees ignore the training request, or refuse to take the training?
As part of the tracking process, employees will be given ample notice and reminders to complete the required program. Employees may be subject to disciplinary action (i.e., written warning, reprimand) or other administrative action (i.e., denial of requests for leave, travel, reimbursements and other privileges in employment) if the training requirement is not fulfilled within the specified timeframe.
What if I am unable to do the online training (i.e. due to disability, lack of internet or computer access, etc)?
If you are unable to take the course online, please contact your HR representative to discuss accommodation options. Your HR representative will partner with the Department of Inclusion and Belonging to generate an appropriate plan for all staff members to complete the program.
