Oregon State University recognizes that a diverse and inclusive community is essential for fostering excellence, creativity, and achievement. By prioritizing belonging, the university aims to create an environment where all individuals are respected, valued, and supported in their personal and professional growth.
This page provides information on belonging resources at OSU, community resources, diversity, equity and inclusion training and events. If you know of additional resources not included on this page, please reach out to [email protected].
OSU Resources
OSU has a variety of different types of connection groups you can join. Commissions have advocacy and reporting structures built in. Affinity groups typically also do advocacy work as well as serve as social connections, and social groups usually do not have advocacy or institutional reporting requirements. Professional social groups help employees grow their professional networks and connections as well as offer professional development opportunities. All groups are open to any employee who is interested in the purpose of the group. The Belonging at OSU Brochure showcases some of the available groups and belonging resources at OSU.
Additional belonging resources include OSU's Cultural Resource Centers, community resources, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Training and events.
Commissions
PCIA
President’s Commission on Indigenous Affairs
This group helps provide space to gather as Indigenous staff and faculty as well as stay connected with broader work at OSU that centers Indigenous people and Tribal nations. It has been great to help advocate institutionally to help strengthen OSU’s support of Indigenous people and Tribal nations as part of the institutional responsibilities to Indigenous people as a land grand institution.
PSCBFSA
President's Commission on the Status of Black Faculty and Staff
The President's Commission on the Status of Black Faculty and Staff (PCSBFSA) uplifts, mobilizes, and cares for the Oregon State University Black faculty and staff community. This group has action committees and hosts events, as well as offers professional development funding for Black faculty and staff at OSU. Please reach out for details on meetings.
PCOSW
President's Commission on the Status of Women
Rooted in feminist principles, the Commission works to identify and address the changing needs of all women in our university community. By building partnerships and collaborating with others from historically underrepresented groups, PCOSW now seeks to improve the collective status of all who have been limited, silenced, excluded, or otherwise disadvantaged by unexamined norms, beliefs, and practices.
Affinity Groups
AFAPC
Association of Faculty and Staff for the Advancement of People of Color
We are an organization that works to recruit, retain, build community, and provide support (nourishment, enrichment, and inspiration) for faculty and staff of color, and Indigenous, and mixed-heritage identities at Oregon State University. We believe in providing a climate of acceptance and promote the principles of diversity and inclusion.
BEAVS
Beaver Employee Association for Veterans Success
The Beaver Employee Association for Veteran Success (BEAVS) strives to cultivate a professional network made up of employees who have served America in the United States Armed Forces and Allies, employees who have an interest in supporting Veterans and Veteran causes, and aid in the recruitment, transition, and retention of new Veteran hires at Oregon State University.
Social Groups
Queer Pros Listserv
QueerPros is an informal group of Oregon State employees who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, non-conforming and non-binary who periodically gather to attend events and be in community.
Family Resource Center Connection Series
The Family Resource Center offers several social groups in their connection series to support OSU community members including:
- Beaver Family Connections
- ElderCare Connections
- International Mom's Group
- Beaver Dads Connections
- Beaver Moms Connections
Professional Social Groups
PFLA
Professional Faculty Leadership Association
The Professional Faculty Leadership Association welcomes anyone who works at the university, while providing a very special focus and forum for leadership growth. PFLA members are proud of the work they perform throughout the university community and are always striving to be the best leaders, managers and colleagues possible.
Employee Connections
Employee Connections is a Zoom-based meetup where OSU employees can network, stay informed about upcoming community and university events, and engage in discussions with colleagues. Whether you're looking to expand your network or simply connect with others, Employee Connections offers a welcoming space for all OSU staff.
Work Life & Wellness Ambassador Program
OSU Work Life and Wellness Ambassadors are a committed group of volunteers who understand the importance and value of connecting employees to work life and wellness programs and resources on campus in order to support the whole employee. These volunteers help create a culture of whole-person wellness by promoting participation, awareness and engagement in work life and wellness programs, services and events.
Cultural Resource Centers
Our Cultural Resource Center (CRC) facilities provide community, celebration, and traditions that encourage students to become dynamic role models with innovative approaches to create social change. These spaces also provide a venue for functions that educate students and members of the community about the CRC facilities designated culture, and provide leadership development through these events and activities.
Community Resources
Partners in Diversity Community Resource Groups
To better support our communities, Partners in Diversity created Community Resource Groups (CRGs). They are affinity spaces designed to bring people together in a safe space to network, discuss current issues relevant to that specific community and learn from each other.
Corvallis Multicultural Literacy Center
The Corvallis Multicultural Literacy Center (CMLC) is a place where people of all cultures can come together in a "living room for learning," where all people can be teachers and learners and where sharing cultures and expanding literacies enables everyone to take part in the community.
Crossroads International
Crossroads International is a group of volunteers from the community who help enrich the experience of international students and build a bridge between people in our community and international students, scholars, visiting faculty, and their families.
NAACP Linn Benton Branch
Your community-focused branch of the NAACP, a diverse group of individuals working towards equality in the mid-Willamette Valley for more than 50 years. Representing persons in Linn and Benton counties.
MidWillamette Transgender Support Network
Mid-Willamette Trans Support Network was founded in 2016, by and for gender diverse people, to provide for the needs and security of transgender, nonbinary, intersex, gender diverse and gender-nonconforming members of our community. We accomplish this through collaboratively-sourced resource donations, emergency grants, and social support networks.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging Training
Office of Institutional Diversity
In alignment with the university's mission, the Office of Institutional Diversity plans, leads and implements, in collaboration with university partners, institutional strategy and initiatives to advance inclusive excellence in all facets of Oregon State University.
Search Advocate
OSU's Search Advocate program enhances equity, validity, and diversity in university hiring. Search Advocates are OSU faculty, staff, and students who are trained as search and selection process advisors. Advocates' knowledge and skills are also valuable beyond hiring processes.
Difference Power & Discrimination Academy
DPD courses engage students in the intellectual examination of the structures, systems and ideologies that sustain discrimination and inequity in society. The DPD Academy prepares teaching faculty to design and facilitate DPD designated courses.
Leading Change
Leading Change prepares academic unit leaders—including deans, school directors and department heads—to effectively lead organization change, build diverse coalitions, facilitate organization learning, and respond with care to community crisis.
Dialogue Facilitation Lab
The Dialogue Facilitation Lab is a professional learning seminar for faculty, staff and graduate assistants looking to integrate critical dialogue facilitation skills into their daily practice. Here you can learn facilitation skills relevant to teaching, research, and administrative contexts.
Social Justice Education Initiative
The Social Justice Education Initiative (SJEI) consists of an interactive, workshop-based curriculum that invites all OSU faculty and staff members (including GTAs and GRAs) to begin, or continue, their learning regarding diversity, equity, inclusion and social justice.
National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity Membership
Through Oregon State University’s institutional membership, all graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, and faculty have access to the National Center for Faculty Development & Diversity (NCFDD), which provides professional development, training, and mentoring.