What's Happening in DEI @ OCU

Student-led arts initiative holds event

On August 28, OCU played host to the Live Life Music Fest, a music festival to celebrate and uplift the artists and performers of the surrounding Oklahoma City community with performers such as Vinnie the Kid, Pharoah the People and Cherith Hellstern. Live Life Music is an Edmond-based, student-led group dedicated to serving and nurturing the fine arts and to raise awareness about social issues within the arts through music-related initiatives in underserved communities throughout Oklahoma and the United States. The performers involved in this year's festival were a diverse lineup varying in everything from race and ethnic-identity to gender expression, sexual identity and even their performance experience. All proceeds raised were donated to a local underfunded arts program.

OCU Law speaker series continues

The OCU School of Law is keeping the conversations going with the continuation of their popular speaker series, Stony the Road. It began last semester with presentations and panels on subjects ranging from the institutionalization of discriminatory practices to racial disparities in the criminal justice system to the roles of identity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. On October 1, the series will recommence with "Legislative Roadblocks" in which panelists will discuss some of the potentially problematic and controversial bills and laws of the most recent congressional sessions of the Oklahoma state legislature and what we, as citizens concerned with the tenets of diversity, equity, and inclusion work, can do to mitigate the potential harm of such legislation. These events are open to everyone across the entire OCU community and will run throughout the fall and spring semesters. However, prior registration is required. All events will be advertised on the social media pages of OCU Law.

Learning communities for faculty start

Over the summer, VP Carroll and two colleagues in collaboration with the OCU Center for Excellence in Teaching & Learning (CETL) facilitated a workshop for faculty to discuss the creation and significance of equity minded, equity-focused syllabi. Throughout the semester CETL will offer many more events like VP Carroll's including a choice of six exciting new Learning Communities led by faculty and staff which will explore, discuss, and implement tools from different books, programs, and even podcasts to improve the teaching and learning at OCU. Folx interested in joining one of this semester's Learning Communities may contact Cady Lewis, Coordinator of CETL Operations, at cllewis@okcu.edu.