Student Affairs 2015-2016 ANNUAL REPORT
STUDENT AFFAIRS VISION The Occidental student fully engaged as a catalyst for change. MISSION The Division of Student Affairs calls students to engage in all aspects of learning and supports their development as socially responsible members of their communities. The Division impacts intellectual, social and personal development through student-centered programs and services. VALUES • Respect: To hold positive regard for others’ traditions, beliefs and goals, promoting an environment of inclusiveness. • Authenticity: To display consistency in our thoughts, feelings and actions with ourselves and others. • Responsibility: To be accountable to one another for our actions, statements and beliefs. • Global Awareness: To act with an understanding of the world as a global community, recognizing the rights and responsibilities within it. GOALS • To provide students with paths to enhance leadership skills that develop self-efficacy and collaboration. • To facilitate mastery in life skills as students prepare for the transition through and beyond Occidental College. • To connect students to communities on and off campus by providing opportunities for reciprocal learning.
TABLE OF CONTENTS A Message From the Dean of Students ..................... 3 Campus Safety............................................................4 Dean of Students Office..............................................6 Emmons Wellness Center...........................................8 Intercultural Affairs.................................................... 10 Neighborhood Partnership Program....................... 12 Office of Community Engagement........................... 14 Office of Religious and Spiritual Life........................ 16 Office of Student Life................................................ 18 Project S.A.F.E. ..........................................................20 Residential Education and Housing Services..........22 Upward Bound...........................................................24
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STUDENT AFFAIRS ANNUAL REPORT 2015-2016
A MESSAGE FROM
THE DEAN OF STUDENTS OFFICE
I
t is with great pleasure that I share this overview of the milestones, memories and special moments created in 2015-16 by Occidental College’s Division of Student Affairs. In a year of tremendous opportunity and change, the dedication and commitment of our staff to the success and well-being of our students has never been more apparent. This Annual Report demonstrates the wide array of services, programs, and assistance provided to students, parents, the campus, and surrounding community through the work of dedicated Student Affairs professionals. Once again, our staff not only maintained the consistent quality of services that are a hallmark of our division, but also planned for and implemented new initiatives, enhanced student life and promoted a culture of inclusiveness and respect for all. With the collaboration of our staff and faculty colleagues and community partners, the division excelled in its mission to engage students in the development of their unique potential. I present to you the 2015-16 Student Affairs Annual Report with pride and deep gratitude to all who do this excellent work. My pride is a reflection of the exemplary work being done each and every day across the entire
Student Affairs Division to meet the needs of our students and support their success on their journeys of discovery and growth. My gratitude stems from working with a division that is dedicated, innovative, and resilient in its collective work to support the success of all students. In this report, department leaders describe some highlights of the numerous activities that took place within their respective areas this past year. They proudly share with you the milestones their teams have reached in implementing new strategic initiatives to improve and enhance the student experience. The co-curricular experience is powerful and essential to the holistic development of students. Coupled with the academic experience, Occidental continues to create adults capable of leadership in a pluralistic world. Go Tigers! Erica O’Neal Howard Acting Dean of Students
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CAMPUS SAFETY To serve the Occidental College community with compassion, excellence and integrity. We are committed to the protection of life, the prevention of crime and the preservation of peace.
OXY CAMPO 911.
HIGHLIGHTS •After many months of negotiation and coordination, Campus Safety reached an agreement with the Los Angeles Police Department and signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA). The MOA is a Department of Education requirement and a tool used to define and detail the shared use of resources, information and services by Occidental College and the LAPD. •To assist in the fight against sexual assault, three members of the Campus Safety Department attended and successfully gained certification as Rape Aggression Defense instructors. Sergeant Claudia Conde, Officer Wendy Carrillo and Officer Jasmine Vasquez
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earned certificates of completion. Since her successful completion of the course, Officer Carrillo has been invited by the RAD organization to assist with instructing other participants in Long Beach, CA; Whittier, CA; and Albuquerque, NM •Three Campus Safety members were accepted into the Northwestern University Center for Public Safety Leadership course. The chief will participate in a 22-week online course in police staff and command. Two Campus Safety supervisors will participate in a seven-week police supervision online program. Successful completion of these courses will give the members and the department nationally recognized certification and advanced law-enforcement management skills.
I feel like the College is investing in my future. That makes me want to work harder and perform better. WENDY CARILLO CAMPUS SAFETY OFFICER
STUDENT AFFAIRS ANNUAL REPORT 2015-2016
Thank you for taking care of me for the past four years. I know we have had our challenges, but I know you always had my back in the end. KARLA AGUILAR FORMER DIRECTOR, PROJECT SAFE
I couldn’t have done my job without the assistance of Campus Safety. I appreciate you all for everything you have done. I know it’s a thankless job, but I know many are thankful for for what you do every day.
JARED FRIEDMAN ’16
20,608
ACTIVITIES between July 2015 and June 2016 equivalent to
56 PER DAY 23.3%
22.6%
UNLOCKS
LOCKUPS
15.3 % VEHICLE PAT R O L
5.5%
SAFETY ESCORTS
1 . 7
8.5%
CAMPUS SAFETY D E TA I L
5.4%
BRIEFING
%
MEETINGS
1.6
%
PUBLIC ASSISTS
4.8 %
ADMIN. DETAILS 0 . 6
%
VARIOUS DUTIES
INCIDENT REPORTS WRITTEN CAMPUS SAFETY 2016.
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DEAN OF STUDENTS OFFICE The Dean of Students Office provides administrative and educational services through initiatives designed to challenge and support student academic, social and personal development. The office advocates for support and services for a diverse student body and their families, all designed to foster student awareness, autonomy and accountability. This holistic student-development approach is aligned with the College’s overall mission to prepare its graduates for leadership in an increasingly complex, interdependent and pluralistic world.
HIGHLIGHTS
for more seamless service and support to students who are struggling with physical and emotional issues.
•Engaged in successful outreach and relationship-building with faculty and the campus community despite being short staffed.
•Disability Services implemented a new Emotional Support Animal policy.
•Conducted a qualitative assessment of faculty perceptions of working with students in crisis and presented it to the faculty meeting in May 2016.
•Conducted a campus-wide, contemporary threat-assessment training in October. •Conducted successful divisional diversity training in January 2016.
•The psychoeducational testing program successfully tested 14 students at very minimal cost to students. •The Dean of Students Office’s close partnership with Emmons Wellness Center, Athletics and other departments makes
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STUDENT AFFAIRS 2016.
STUDENT AFFAIRS AT THE BROAD.
Thanks for your support this year and for always checking up on me and providing accommodations for my classes. It definitely made them less stressful and helped me to be successful. I feel blessed to have someone like you help me through it. STUDENT, CLASS OF 2017
STUDENT AFFAIRS ANNUAL REPORT 2015-2016 STUDENTS REGISTERED WITH DISABILITY
2015-2016 STUDENT SUCCESS TEAM INCIDENTS BY CLASS STANDING
15% 355 STUDENTS
INCREASE
200
CURRENTLY SERVING
150
100
Academic
OTHER
SENIOR
JUNIOR
SOPHMORE
FRESHMAN
50
2015-2016 STUDENT SUCCESS TEAM PRIMARY CASE TYPE DISTRIBUTION Mental Health
6%
0 Life Event
Mental Health Alcohol & Drugs
28% 34%
Academic
2015-2016 STUDENT SUCCESS TEAM INCIDENTS BY MONTH
Life Event 6%
80
25% Medical
70
of
60 50 40 30 20 10 0 AUG
SEPT
OCT
NOV
DEC
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
cases
We never imagined, when we sent our son off to Occidental, that we would have the depth of support that was so freely given us. You have shown us that Occidental truly is a family. We are proud to be a part of that and proud to have known you personally. Your support [through Student Affairs] was over the top! PARENT OF CLASS OF 2016 STUDENT
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EMMONS WELLNESS CENTER Emmons Wellness Center is committed to providing the students of Occidental College with accessible, culturally sensitive and high-quality medical care, psychological counseling services, and student-driven wellness education. Emmons’ staff utilizes a comprehensive approach to wellness services that seeks to enhance the physical and emotional well-being of students so they may be fully engaged in all aspects of college life.
HIGHLIGHTS •60% of students were able to waive student health insurance based on fewer restrictions on parents’ plans. •Awareness of concussion symptoms and their short and long-term effects has increased among students and news media this year. Emmons has worked to develop protocols that recognize and treat the symptoms of a concussion and help navigate the effects that a concussion can have on a student’s academic success. The goal in the upcoming year is to develop protocols with other campus offices like the Dean of Students and Athletics to ensure continuity of care for students suffering from concussions. •Broke records this year by administering just over 700 flu vaccines to students, faculty and staff. As a result, we had a very low incidence of flu.
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•Counseling highlights included: adapting to increased utilization, providing three therapeutic groups (mindfulness, family dynamics, and survivors circle), successful introduction of a new documentation system (new notes, codes and templates), introducing a collaborative model for intakes and case disposition and developing prioritization processes for vulnerable students (survivors, Pell grant recipients, students at risk). •Improved our freshman clearance system by having the students upload forms instead of going through numerous paper forms. This will be even more greatly improved next year with the patient portal up and running. •Advised four student groups: ActiveMinds, Peer Health Exchange, the Student Wellness Advisory Committee and the Peer Mentors. The Peer Mentors was a new program this year that is still finding its footing in the provision of care,
Between you and me, Emmons counseling is the only reason why I am still in college. Matt (who I could never tell fully in person how much he helped me), is the sole reason why I am graduating this spring. Although I don’t see him anymore, I know he’s providing the same amazing care to other students.
STUDENT, CLASS OF 2016
but has trained four outstanding students in peerto-peer support. •Graduate students for the psychoeducational assessment practicum conducted testing for 14 students. •Increased revenue thanks to the hiring of a medical biller who developed a new, efficient and streamlined billing process.
EMMONS PHYSICIAN’S ASSISTANT ANN MARTELLA CHATS WITH ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT KIM REEVES.
STUDENT AFFAIRS ANNUAL REPORT 2015-2016
counseling
appointments
provided
with
423 UNIQUE VISITS
As someone who just feels very ill, I wanted to really thank you and your staff for their support, care and assistance. Ann and Cindy have also seen me at my medical worst (hives, throat abscess, STI testing) and always remember me and care for me in the best way possible. Wow— they made the process so easy and followed up every step of the way! Not trying to be too narcissistic, but I would dare to call myself Emmons’ No. 1 fan!
STUDENT, CLASS OF 2016
3,574 with
1,289 UNIQUE VISITS FLU SHOTS GIVEN 200 given to Staff and Faculty
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INTERCULTURAL AFFAIRS The Office of Intercultural Affairs works with all members of the Occidental College community to help students thrive in an inclusive environment that challenges bias based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation and other identities. Our office aims to promote cultural competency, gender equity and an inclusive campus climate that is free of violence and bias. Intercultural Affairs uses a social justice framework to promote leadership formation, wellness and the success of all students.
HIGHLIGHTS •To address the needs of LGBTQIA+ students at Occidental College, Intercultural Affairs initiated a year-long mixed-methods needs assessment to address the needs and challenges of LGBTQIA+ students at Occidental College. This assessment focused on Inclusivity, Utilization/ Understanding of Campus Space, Trainings and Academics, Community Building and Self-Care. The assessment found that LGBTQIA+ students at Oxy struggle with a variety of challenges such as feelings of inclusion, finding on-campus queer mentors and finding bathroom facilities on campus that are inclusive of their fluid gender identity. To address these issues, Intercultural Affairs will be implementing a resource navigation center at the Center for Gender Equity; LGBTQIA+ awareness training sessions for students, staff and faculty; an LGBTQIA+ Speaker Series focusing on professional development and leadership; an Outlist Mentorship Program; and an Experience Los Angeles Initiative to address student concerns.
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•Utilizing a self-efficacy development model, Oxy 1G: First Generation Success Program assisted firstgeneration college students with transitioning to the rigors of campus life through discussions and workshops. Discussions provided for community development and reinforcement of a sense of belonging for all participants. Workshops provided students with on-campus resources that positively benefited their academics, career development, stress-management and co-curricular experiences at Occidental. The goals of Oxy 1G were to increase retention and graduation rates of firstgeneration college students, provide a positive collegiate experience for first-generation students and establish connections with fellow students, supportive staff and faculty, and the Occidental community. •Intercultural Affairs introduced a new component into Cultural Graduations: a Faculty of the Year Award to recognize faculty (voted on by students) who have been a supportive and guiding force for underrepresented students at Occidental. We are pleased to announce that the 2015-2016 winners were Donna Maeda (API Graduation), Kenjus Watson
(Black Graduation), Richard Mora (First-Generation Reception), Brandon Lehr (Lavender Graduation), Jaclyn Rodriguez (Latinx Graduation) and Felisa Guillen (Latinx Graduation). •Intercultural Affairs started a Veteran Resource Program to provide veterans on campus with the tools and resources needed to navigate Oxy and prepare for post-graduation. In addition, this program sought to work with current veterans to improve the Oxy experience for new and future veterans on campus. Recent graduate and veteran Aaron Hammonds will be attending the University of Chicago to obtain a Ph.D. in sociology. •Utilizing an anti-deficit achievement framework, Harambee, now under Intercultural Affairs, sought to challenge and dismantle pre-existing stereotypes and assumptions about Black males; empower Black males to develop strong identities that incite productive activism; develop a political and social acumen for success in settings in which they are racially underrepresented; reframe how Black masculinity is perceived, defined, and understood; and provide an affirming space for coalition-building and peer support. This year, Black male students focused on retention efforts to ensure that Black males at Occidental College are heard, seen and sustained. •To address intersectionality in the context of health care, Intercultural Affairs focused on addressing the social determinants of health by implementing programs that described the association between where one lives and health outcomes, addressed the cycle of poverty, analyzed the health conditions in and around various service-planning areas and discussed HIV/AIDS acquisition in communities of color (working with the Black Aids Institute). This has in turn helped Occidental think about how conversations centering on diversity, equity and inclusion impact public health.
CULTURAL GRADUATION: LATINX GRADUATION.
•The Intercultural Club Affiliate Program (ICAP) represented a partnership between the Intercultural Community Center and the student-run Cultural Organizations of Occidental College. This year, Intercultural Affairs successfully worked with cultural club leaders using the theme “Discovering the Power of Leadership: Guiding, Empowering, and Ensuring the Success of Your Organization,” on the importance of sustaining their organizations at Occidental College utilizing a model rooted in critical race theory and “knowledge-strategy-ideal,” and has provided agency for students to sustain their clubs and organizations and ensure that Occidental continuously supports and prioritizes conversations around diversity, equity and inclusion. •A research study, Motivational Interviewing in Higher Education: A Collaborative Approach to Elicit and Evoke “Change Talk” from Underrepresented Students, addressed how open-ended questions, affirmations, reflections, summaries, validation and change talk can assist educators in increasing retention and persistence efforts for underrepresented students (utilizing motivational interviewing). Ultimately, this study highlighted the transformative power of motivational interviewing in increasing student success and persistence as an innovative and collaborative approach to elicit and evoke change talk from underrepresented students. HERSTORY MONTH PROGRAM: BAMBY SALCEDO: TRANSVISIBLE.
INTERCULTURAL AFFAIRS AND COMMUNITY TEAM-BUILDING ACTIVITY.
STUDENT AFFAIRS ANNUAL REPORT 2015-2016
INTERCULTURAL AFFAIRS FUNDED
97
%
of student requests for funding
TRANS-I-AM WEEK recognized as
PROGRAM OF THE YEAR
of
GRADUATES participating in all cultural graduation ceremonies
INTERCULTURAL AFFAIRS CONDUCTED
30+ PROGRAMS including community speakers and performers
LGBTQIA needs assessment
Oxy 1G Veteran Support Program
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NEIGHBORHOOD PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM The mission of Occidental’s Neighborhood Partnership Program (NPP) is to enrich Occidental students’ college experience through partnerships with schools and community agencies in the Los Angeles area. These partnerships will emphasize the value of a post-secondary education by promoting community engagement, civic responsibility, self-empowerment, education and leadership, in adherence to Occidental’s mission.
HIGHLIGHTS •Hosted 993 GEAR UP students through shadowing days, Look at College Program and Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) tours. •This year, we hosted 10 shadowing days for 500 LAUSD 10th-grade students. This program matches up two to three LAUSD students with an Occidental student. The Occidental students go about their normal day and the LAUSD students “shadow” them for a few hours. Shadowing days give future college students a chance to get a personal and up-close look at the college experience rather than a group tour. LAUSD students get the chance to sit in on a college class, meet professors, attend work, and, most importantly, see themselves on a school campus. •Oxy tutors provided 211 hours of tutoring to 233 high school students.
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/OXYNPP
•NPP worked with Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity to provide campus tours for 500 GEAR UP high school students at five different colleges led by students associated with the College’s respective Greek system, including members from SAE, Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority and Sigma Lambda Gamma sorority. Through these tours, GEAR UP high school students got the chance to better connect with someone who has gone through the college process and to learn about college life from the perspective of a current college student. •NPP offered tutoring services to GEAR UP high schools including Belmont High School, Los Angeles Teacher Preparatory at Edward Roybal Learning Center and Ramon C. Cortines School of Visual and Performing Arts. Thirtythree Oxy tutors assisted students in subjects such as English, algebra, geometry, ESL and others. This year, Oxy tutors also assisted in honors and AP classes in physics and chemistry as well as traditional classes with many at-risk
The tutor was good at motivating uninvolved students. TEACHER, LOS ANGELES TEACHER PREPARATORY HIGH SCHOOL
students. Oxy tutors were received and reviewed extremely well by participating students and teachers surveyed.
My favorite part of the trip was being able to get experience in the classrooms and having a great host. JOSUE VASQUEZ, ROYBAL LEARNING CENTER HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT
STUDENT AFFAIRS ANNUAL REPORT 2015-2016
CASWELL TOUR PROGRAM PROVIDED TOURS TO
758 2,014 Elementary and Middle School LAUSD students
GEAR UP OXY STUDENTS SHARING WHY THEY PARTICIPATE IN SHADOWING DAY.
GEAR UP PROFESSOR ALEKSANDRA SHERMAN (COGNITIVE SCIENCE) TEACHING GEAR UP STUDENTS ABOUT HOW OUR BRAINS CONSTRUCT OUR PERCEPTIONS.
HOURS OF SERVICE
by 233 volunteers
through the Look at College Program assisted more than
239
GEAR UP STUDENTS LEARNING ABOUT LA VERNE THROUGH NPP’S PARTNERSHIP WITH SAE.
100
in over
10 % of teachers surveyed said the program met expectations
80% said it exceeded them.
GEAR UP PROFESSOR RICHARD MORA (SOCIOLOGY) INTRODUCING GEAR UP MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS TO SOCIOLOGY.
GEAR UP STUDENTS SHADOWING OXY SENIORS (CLASS OF 2016).
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OFFICE OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT The Office of Community Engagement (OCE) provides students with opportunities to enact Occidental’s values through community-based service and learning collaborations with organizations in Los Angeles and beyond. We work with all members of the Occidental community in challenging students to connect their oncampus learning experiences with meaningful and reciprocal off-campus experiences on issues of social concern. In doing so, the OCE seeks to support students’ development as responsible members of communities and endeavors to achieve a more just, livable and democratic society, a strong commitment to diversity and a commitment to enacting a life devoted to public good and social justice.
HIGHLIGHTS • For the third year in a row, the California Campus Compact awarded the OCE four Student Fellowship Awards. The fellows worked on specific projects as a part of the fellowship program, which included a project on photography and gentrification and another project on developing an English language program for day laborers. •Continued its Year of Service Program with L.A. Works Day, the MLK Day of Service and the Cesar Chavez Day of Service. These programs included collaborations with community organizations L.A. Works and City Year Los Angeles, Oxy’s Office of Religious and Spiritual Life and La Raza Coalition. Close to 400 students participated in these combined events, contributing thousands of hours of service to our local community.
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@oxyoce
•Held the 5th annual Open Mic Night in collaboration with InsideOUT Writers, an organization that uses creative writing as a catalyst for personal transformation with young people incarcerated in Los Angeles jails. Over 50 Oxy students and members of InsideOUT Writers participated in an evening on writing, reflection and spoken word highlighting issues of mass incarceration. • 12 organizations participated in this year’s Social Action Fair, held this year in collaboration with the Office of Student Life’s Involvement Fair. Students were afforded the opportunity to interact one-on-one with community organizations. Participants included 826LA, WriteGirl, Reading Partners, Food Forward and School on Wheels. •Two Oxy students were finalists in the Project Pericles Debating for Democracy Competition in
CLÉO CHARPANTIER, FIRST-YEAR STUDENT, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT STUDENT FELLOW
I was lucky enough to be selected as a California Campus Compact Community Engagement Student Fellow (CESF). It was a very valuable opportunity. I know I grew immensely and learned even more. Talking about the subject of gentrification with many different people with varying perspectives and personal experience with the subject has taught me a lot and made me a more conscious person. I have also grown as a leader and an individual throughout this process.
March 2015. They received $500 to further develop their proposal this academic year. An outcome of that was a collaboration with an urban-planning course at the Alliance for Community Transit-Los Angeles (ACT-LA) to host a Northeast Los Angeles (NELA) People’s Planning Summit. At this event, over 30 participants had the opportunity to engage in activities to discuss transit-oriented development and examine their position in NELA.
STUDENT AFFAIRS ANNUAL REPORT 2015-2016
STUDENTS CONTRIBUTED
2,000+ hours of service STUDENTS HARVEST FRUIT WITH FOOD FORWARD DURING THE MLK DAY OF SERVICE.
HARVESTED APPROX.
960 POUNDS
OF FRESH PRODUCE
TO DONATE TO LOCAL PANTRIES
Thanks for inviting alumni to participate in this day. Volunteering at the Food Bank was an impactful, in-person reminder that what many take for granted—a meal when hungry—can’t be by many others … thanks again for providing the opportunity to spend time with other Oxy alumni.
400+ STUDENTS ALTERNATIVE BREAK STUDENTS AT CHICANO PARK IN SAN DIEGO.
SHERRY WINN ’82
OPEN MIC WITH OCE COMMUNITY PARTNER INSIDEOUT WRITERS.
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OFFICE FOR RELIGIOUS AND SPIRITUAL LIFE The mission of the Office for Religious and Spiritual Life (ORSL) is to support Occidental students, faculty and staff in their pursuit of a vibrant and meaningful religious and spiritual life while engaging religious pluralism with a commitment to mutual respect, awareness and dialogue. We encourage students to consider how their spiritual development intersects with their intellectual growth and to engage life’s big questions concerning truth, morality, religious belief and social justice through programs and services that foster honest, respectful, intrapersonal and communal reflection and holistic student growth.
HIGHLIGHTS •The Values and Vocations Fellowship enables students to examine spirituality and social justice by serving at a community organization and attending a weekly seminar. During the seminar, students learn contemplative practices and discuss topics such as social justice, spirituality and vocation. This year, nine students participated for the entire year, three participated for the fall, and seven for the spring. •ORSL received a grant from the Network for Vocation in Undergraduate Education to offer the Interfaith Social Justice Practitioner program. Four students volunteered with faith-based or interfaith organizations for eight to ten hours a
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week, participating in interfaith projects. They also attended a weekly reflection seminar. During the seminar, students learned contemplative practices and discussed topics related to religious pluralism, interfaith cooperation, religious belief and practice and spirituality and vocation. •ORSL received a grant from the Network for Vocation in Undergraduate Education for an alternative spring break program called Sustaining Communities. Fourteen students and four administrators spent spring break meeting with representatives from community organizations in Mexico, San Diego and Los Angeles to learn about issues related to sustaining healthy communities. Topics covered included immigration, the impact of the North American Free Trade Agreement on workers’ rights and the environment, art as a form of social protest, and environmental and labor
[Participating in the Values and Vocations Fellowship] has been an incredible experience. I am so grateful for this chance to explore my spirituality. CASSIE SHULTZ ’16, SPRING VALUES AND VOCATIONS FELLOW justice. After the break, the students made a presentation about their experiences on the trip. •Occidental participated in the Fifth Annual President’s Interfaith and Community Service Campus Challenge sponsored by the White House Office for Faith-Based & Neighborhood Partnerships. ORSL coordinates Occidental’s participation in this national initiative to encourage students to engage in interfaith service and dialogue. Rev. Dr. Susan Young, director for Religious Life, and four students attended the annual gathering at Howard University in September. Highlights of the 201516 initiative included the Big Questions series, the Interfaith Thanksgiving Lunch, interfaith vigils, the Interfaith Baccalaureate Service, the alternative spring break program and the
STUDENT AFFAIRS ANNUAL REPOR STUDENT AFFAIRS ANNUAL REPORT 2015-2016 Values and Vocations and Social Justice and Interfaith Practitioner fellowships. •Rev. Dr. Susan Young and the Office for Institutional Advancement raised $115,000 in grant funding for ORSL staff and programs for 2015-16. Grants include: a ninth grant of $50,000 from the Angell Foundation for the Values and Vocations Fellowship; $30,000 from the Greater Los Angeles Jewish Federation to support Jewish life programming and a parttime Jewish student life coordinator position; $20,000 from the Network for Vocation in Undergraduate Education for the Social Justice Interfaith Practitioners and the Alternative Spring Break programs; and $15,000 from the Hannon Foundation to support a religious adviser and programming for the Newman Catholic Community. •On August 23, ORSL sponsored an interfaith student leadership retreat for ORSL student programming assistants and the students who lead our religious and spiritual groups. The students facilitated an interfaith worship service as part of Oxy Orientation and engaged in personal identity development and teambuilding exercises. Seventeen students and two administrators participated in this annual retreat at Sycamore Cove State Beach. •On October 17, ORSL, in partnership with the Food Justice House, the Muslim Student Association, Hillel and the Newman Catholic Community, hosted the Faith Traditions and Food Justice Dinner at the Oxy Food Justice House as part of Food Justice Month. Students prepared a homemade meal for over 30 students, faculty and community members.
During the meal, speakers from different religious traditions talked about food rituals, dietary restrictions and practices within their traditions. This event was awarded the Outstanding Community Program Award at the Student Leadership Awards in spring 2016.
VALUES AND VOCATIONS
FELLOWSHIP PARTICIPANTS performed
3,000
I’ve really appreciated the meaningful conversations that we were able to have about so many topics. I really like the notion of reflecting about the positive, most alive parts of my day and want to continue to do that.
and
ANNA WARRICK ’17 FALL VALUES AND VOCATIONS FELLOW
INTERFAITH SOCIAL JUSTICE PRACTITIONERS PARTICIPANTS performed
600 to community organizations
GEORGINA GARCIA-OBLEDO, LILY GOLDFARB, KATHLEEN MCKENZIE: ORSL STUDENT PROGRAMMING ASSISTANTS, AT THE WHITE HOUSE INTERFAITH CAMPUS CHALLENGE ANNUAL MEETING, HOWARD UNIVERSITY, WASHINGTON, D.C., SEPT. 2015.
STUDENTS AT THE ANNUAL FALL BREAK FOOD JUSTICE RETREAT AT THE FARMER AND THE COOK FARM IN OJAI, CALIF. ON OCT. 10, 2015.
STUDENT LEADERS OF OUR CAMPUS RELIGIOUS AND SPIRITUAL GROUPS AT THE ANNUAL STUDENT LEADERSHIP BEACH RETREAT ON AUG. 23, 2015.
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OFFICE OF STUDENT LIFE The Office of Student Life (OSL) creates intentional opportunities that develop the leadership capacity of our undergraduates by inspiring and supporting student-led enterprises, organizations and initiatives that result in more effective, responsible global citizens. OSL aims to provide strong mentorship and advisement to all students at every stage of their time at Oxy.
HIGHLIGHTS •OxyEngage added a new wilderness offering in fall 2015 which was well received by participants. •Students voted in a new ASOC constitution in spring 2016. Key changes included: adding gender expression to nondiscriminatory statement; declaring constitution as governing document; clarifying that bylaws cannot conflict with one another or the constitution; allowing students from all branches to run for president; changing student body fee approval to student body vote; Honor Board decisions subject to appeal; establishing grounds for appeal; adding Diversity and Equity Board (DEB); adding officer removal grounds and procedures; establishing a Constitution Commission to address conflicts.
•Programming Board hosted Kehlani for FallFest and Dom Kennedy for SpringFest. •16 capstone projects were generated from the Emerging Leaders Program, ranging from forming a mock trial group and sustainable recycling to studying gentrification and educating day laborers. •Instituted several Women in Leadership (OWL) workshops this spring, including sessions on salary negotiation and leadership roles. •The Green Bean Coffee Lounge created a new fundraising opportunity for student organizations through its To Veitch Their Own scholarship drink program.
•Students voted for a $20 annual fee to go toward diversity and equity initiatives.
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oxy.edu/oxyengage oxy.edu/orientation
koxyradio.com catalist.tv
@oxyweekly @oxygreenbean
occidentalweekly.com
@asocsenate
@oxyosl
My eyes were open much more to social issues as a result of OxyEngage. PARTICIPANT, CLASS OF 2019
STUDENT AFFAIRS ANNUAL REPORT 2015-2016
RAPPER DOM KENNEDY PERFORMED AT OXY’S SPRINGFEST ON APRIL 9, 2016.
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KOXY DJS JAVIER SILVA ’17 AND JULIA D’AMOURS ’17 PLAY MUSIC AND TALK DURING THEIR SHOW, “ALONE TOGETHER.”
OF OXY ENGAGE
PARTICIPANTS
RECEIVED A SCHOLARSHIP
AN ALL-TIME HIGH
BUNNIES PROVIDED A MUCH-NEEDED STRESS RELIEVER DURING OSL’S ANNUAL FINALS WEEK EVENT.
%
151 3.29 ORGANIZATIONS PARTICIPATED
IN INVOLVEMENT FAIR
543
ALL GREEK GPA
STUDENT ORGANIZATION
EVENT REGISTRATION WALK-INS 18 per week on average
student
339 jobs
Sponsored by OSL and ASOC OCCIDENTAL STUDENTS BROWSE THE TABLES AT THE ANNUAL INVOLVEMENT FAIR IN THE ACADEMIC QUAD ON SEPT. 10, 2015.
I attribute a lot of my success to the confidence I gained from being involved on campus. JEMMA PARSONS ’16, FORMER OSL PROGRAMMING ASSISTANT
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PROJECT S.A.F.E. Project S.A.F.E. (for a Sexual Assault Free Environment) is a prevention and intervention support program dedicated to ending sexual violence on Occidental’s campus. We seek to inspire and cultivate a culture of care by providing resources, advocacy and educational programming related to issues of sexual assault, dating violence and stalking.
During the Project S.A.F.E. upstander presentation, I learned more about how we can look out for people even if we don’t know them, and the difference it can make for one person to have the guts to step up and take a stand if they notice that someone needs help. FIRST-YEAR STUDENT
HIGHLIGHTS •The Mask You Live In screening featuring a discussion with film participants, Professor Caroline Heldman and Ashanti Branch. Onehundred students gathered in Choi Auditorium during April’s Sexual Assault Awareness Month Take Back the Week keynote event. The film explores how toxic masculinity impacts boys as they grow and develop. Following the screening, two educators interviewed in the film, Professor Heldman and Ashanti Branch, led an interactive discussion on cultural influences, Ashanti’s work with high school boys and how to challenge gender stereotypes. •In the fall during Empowerment Week—a week dedicated to raising awareness about domestic and dating violence—we hosted representatives from Gibney Dance, a N.Y.-based dance group that leads movement workshops with residents
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of domestic violence shelters. Their dynamic presentation, in conjunction with assistant professor of kinesiology Marci Rainey & Emmons Wellness Center’s Director of Psychological Services Jennifer Heetderks, explored the body’s response to trauma and alternative forms of healing. Students were invited to participate in a movement workshop led by our guests. •2015-2016 was the inaugural year of the Project S.A.F.E. student advisory committee, a diverse group of nine students who met monthly to provide feedback and support to the Project S.A.F.E. staff, generate community-focused programming and strengthen relationships around campus. The committee was a tremendous help and will continue to build on its success in years to come. •In collaboration with local rape-crisis domestic violence agency Peace Over Violence (POV), Project S.A.F.E. facilitated several empowerment-
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based self-defense workshops throughout the year on campus. Focusing on empowerment, assertiveness and the use of voice, participants both learned and practiced several techniques with POV staff. •As part of funding from the Office on Violence against Women (OVW), Project S.A.F.E. created a partnership with the Athletics department to develop an initiative around healthy masculinity.
REBECCA REESE ‘17, PROJECT S.A.F.E. PROGRAMMING ASSISTANT
Ultimately, our goal is to empower each and every student on campus to be an Upstander. If every student takes ownership for ending violence at Oxy, we can accomplish our goal of creating a safe and equitable campus.
STUDENT AFFAIRS ANNUAL REPORT 2015-2016
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TRAININGS
51 FYRE SESSIONS An active bystander intervention led by RAs who had been trained by Project S.A.F.E. Program Assistants
MOVEMENT WORKSHOP WITH GIBNEY DANCE FROM NYC.
SELF-DEFENSE AND EMPOWERMENT CLASS WITH PEACE OVER VIOLENCE.
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EDUCATIONAL AND AWARENESS-BUILDING PROGRAMS
Everyone is able to intervene to stop sexual violence, in one way or another. There are ways to protect ourselves and others at the same time. FIRST-YEAR STUDENT
21 MOVEMENT WORKSHOP WITH GIBNEY DANCE FROM NYC.
RESIDENTIAL EDUCATION & HOUSING SERVICES (REHS) Residential Education and Housing Services (REHS) fosters safe, inclusive and educational residential environments. It intentionally challenges and supports students to embrace global citizenship, civility and personal accountability both on and off campus. Through engaging events and meaningful interactions, REHS promotes the holistic development of all students from the perspective of a liberal arts education.
HIGHLIGHTS •Partnered with members from OSL and ICC to create an ethical decision-making workshop called It’s Complicated. The workshop, grounded in the Occidental College mission, uses the four cornerstones of excellence, equity, community and service to encourage students to understand multiple perspectives of a given case study. The main objective is for students to recognize their own ethical lens and that of others as simultaneously legitimate, even if they disagree on the course of action that they would take as individuals. •Created a mentor program in our Multicultural Hall that paired incoming first-year students with upper-division returning students that lived in the hall in an effort to connect students to the College prior to their arrival. There were 62 participants (22 mentors/40 mentees) in the
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inaugural program. Mentors were required to connect with their mentee during the summer and at least once during the first week of classes in the fall. •Collaborated with students and outside offices to begin the process of creating more inclusive housing spaces across campus. Through this process we have strengthened our current themed-living communities, will be providing a substance-free residence hall, and increased the number of gender-inclusive housing spaces. •In an effort to be more sustainable, the department moved two of its extremely paperheavy processes to an online format. REHS partnered with an outside company to digitize room-condition reports, and worked with the ITS department to move the Housing Licenses Agreement to an online form. This move will save Occidental nearly 5,000 sheets of legalsized paper each year and a huge amount of printer ink. /ResedOxy
•The Themed-Living Community Program has grown substantially over the last few years. They did a reorganization of the program this year and identified eight areas of focus that were aligned and measured against the high learning impacts as a co-curricular achievement program. These areas were used to reframe and redirect the program.
Thank you, REHS! You were so communicative, quick with responses, thoughtful and clear with every piece of information given. Made my process and next steps to selecting the room we wanted easy as can be. NAOMI BRAUNER ’19 DURING ROOM DRAW.
STUDENT AFFAIRS ANNUAL REPORT 2015-2016
THE OFFICE OF
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INCIDENT REPORTS
T H AT L I S T E D
STUDENT CONDUCT received
391
I N D I V I D UA L S T U D E N T S
Only 10 of those students were listed in more than one report
STUDENTS STAND ON THE MEXICAN BORDER DURING THEIR ALTERNATIVE SPRING BREAK TRIP.
92% 51resident advisers of the participants who went through the themed-living community room draw process were either highly satisfied or satisfied with the process.
completed
RA STAFF PREPARE TO WELCOME INCOMING FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS ON MOVE-IN DAY.
I submitted my application for the Multicultural Hall in Pauley… We truly appreciate all the help you’ve provided. It’s not always easy working with offices, but you have honestly made this process as easy and painless as possible.
ACTIVE
PROGRAMS
PASSIVE PROGRAMS
The number of gender-inclusive housing spaces on campus increased by
2,796%
including 112 spaces for incoming first-year students.
RICHARD VIA ’19
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UPWARD BOUND The Occidental College Upward Bound Program assists underrepresented, lowincome and first-generation students in the central and northeastern sections of Los Angeles with secondary education completion and post-secondary matriculation and completion. Staff do this through one-on-one academic advisement utilizing a case management approach, weekly academic enrichment services and workshops and summer residential programming. These transformative experiences, in turn, promote resiliency, leadership, integrity, self-actualization and the embodiment of competitive greatness so that students become life-long learners who can advocate for themselves and their community.
HIGHLIGHTS •94% of the class of 2016 applied and were accepted into institutions of higher education. Of the group, 47% are attending University of California schools, 29% California State University schools, 9% private universities and 9% community colleges. •Partnered with Union Bank to provide financial literacy courses to all students throughout the academic year. Union Bank donated a $500 scholarship to our “Senior of the Year.” •Hired an interim director, Jesus Maldonado, and administrative coordinator, Leonel Sanchez. With the addition of Leonel, 75% of the full-time staff are now Oxy Upward Bound alumni.
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•Implemented a program that focuses on selfefficacy and personal professional development for our students. The culmination was a social business dinner for our graduating seniors attended by Upward Bound alumni and Student Affairs administrators.
Upward Bound helped me gain the confidence not only to apply to college, but to know that I will succeed. RUBEN LOPEZ UPWARD BOUND STUDENT
•Continued to expand the College Retention program by hosting several events throughout the year including the Winter Celebration, which was attended by 30 Upward Bound alumni. This year 93% of our summer residential advisors and tutorial staff are Oxy Upward Bound alumni. •Successfully recruited 34 new participants and met our goal of serving 122 program participants this academic year.
STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN A TOUR OF UCLA HOSTED BY UPWARD BOUND ALUMNI.
The Upward Bound staff not only helps me, it helps my parents understand why it’s important for me to go to college. UPWARD BOUND STUDENT
STUDENT AFFAIRS ANNUAL REPORT 2015-2016
94
%
of UB seniors enrolled in post-secondary education upon graduation from high school
77 %
52%
3.0 achieved at the proficient level on state assessments in reading, language arts and math.
100
% of UB participants
continued in school for the next academic year, at the next grade level, or graduated from secondary school with a regular secondary-school diploma.
MEMBERS OF THE CLASS OF 2016 CELEBRATE THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND PREPARE FOR THEIR FUTURE.
Student Affairs CAMPUS SAFETY DEAN OF STUDENTS OFFICE EMMONS WELLNESS CENTER INTERCULTURAL AFFAIRS NEIGHBORHOOD PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM OFFICE OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT OFFICE OF RELIGIOUS AND SPIRITUAL LIFE OFFICE OF STUDENT LIFE PROJECT S.A.F.E. RESIDENTIAL EDUCATION AND HOUSING SERVICES UPWARD BOUND