Early Bird

How MSU Denver is building a more equitable campus climate

Microaggression training helps faculty and staff take their awareness of identity, power and privilege to the next level.

By Lindsey Coulter

August 26, 2019

Metropolitan State University of Denver’s grassroots Microaggressions Awareness Campaign is building faculty and staff awareness about the impacts of identity, power and privilege — and highlighting the difference between intent and impact.

The campaign is supported by a series of trainings designed to help faculty and staff members develop action plans to address and combat the impact of microaggressions. The ultimate goal is to help participants improve their interactions with colleagues and students, ensuring that all Roadrunners feel welcome, valued and connected to our campus.

Through this professional-development opportunity, participants will gain a better understanding of how visible and invisible identities affect interactions with others and how to use their strengths to improve interactions and tackle difficult situations. Participants will reflect on their own identities and discuss how subconscious assumptions about others’ identities can affect interactions and relationships. Presenters will also share valuable tools and resources on how to address microaggressions as they happen by helping participants bring awareness to their own biases.

“Through the Microaggressions Awareness Campaign, we are bringing awareness to faculty, staff and students about the ways in which our own implicit biases affect our interactions with others,” said Tisha Townsend, chair of the Microaggressions Awareness Campaign. “Our goal is to help participants gain a better understanding of how microaggressions show up and what we can do to combat them. This campaign is one of the many steps we are taking toward creating a more equitable and inclusive campus culture.”

Sign up today for one of four upcoming trainings:

• Sept. 10, 9-11 a.m., JSSB 440A
• Oct. 16, 2:30-4:40 p.m., TBD
• Nov. 11, 10 a.m.-noon, TBD
• Dec. 18, 10 a.m.-noon, Boulder Creek 132R

If you are interested in hosting a training in your department, please email Townsend at ttownse6@msudenver.edu. Presenters will tailor activities and discussions to the needs of each department.