Training student assistants on diversity literacy through a cross departmental mentorship program.

Type of Presentation

Individual paper/presentation

Conference Strand

Diversity and Inclusion

Target Audience

Higher Education

Second Target Audience

Higher Education

Location

Session 1 Workshops/Panels

Relevance

Training student assistants to perform the jobs they were hired to do is teaching them their role and duties at the Libraries and how their role fits into the bigger picture of the Libraries' mission. Student assistants are asked to attend professional development and DEI related workshops where they learn how to function professionally and inclusively in their current roles and future careers.

Abstract

This presentation will focus on a unique collaboration between library departments to train student assistants with an emphasis on inclusive excellence literacy. As Georgia Southern University made Inclusive Excellence a central theme in the university’s strategic plan, the University Libraries wanted to ensure that student assistants also receive diversity literacy skills that directly translates to their current role at the library. The Access Services and Technical Services Departments joined forces to create a student assistant mentorship program that includes professional development workshops offered by the University Libraries Diversity Council. This program is focused on connecting diversity and inclusive excellence literacy to mentorship and training the whole person and not just a functional employee. In addition to workshops, and individual mentorship sessions, student assistants learn about work/life balance, diversity and inclusion and how these skills directly translate to their current role as a student assistant and how they will apply to their future careers. Students attended workshops on the use of pronouns and idioms as well as microaggressions and they are encouraged to use the Georgia Southern University Libraries Brain Booth, a space dedicated to mindfulness and stress reduction. This program itself is also viewed as a practice in inclusive excellence. In general, student assistants in libraries are seen more as periphery staff and not integral and valued members of the team. This program is meant to change that sentiment, and provide a sense of collegiality and teamwork with our student assistants.

Presentation Description

This presentation focuses on a collaboration between Access Services and Technical Services departments to train student assistants with an emphasis on inclusive excellence literacy. The University Libraries wants to ensure that student assistants receive diversity literacy skills, so mentorship sessions, DEI workshops, mindfulness and stress reduction are all part of the program. The goal is to train the whole person, not just a functional employee.

Keywords

Inclusive Excellence Literacy, Diversity Literacy, Student Assistants, Mentorship, Training, Mindfulness, Work/Life Balance, Collaboration

Publication Type and Release Option

Presentation (Open Access)

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Mar 30th, 9:45 AM Mar 30th, 10:45 AM

Training student assistants on diversity literacy through a cross departmental mentorship program.

Session 1 Workshops/Panels

This presentation will focus on a unique collaboration between library departments to train student assistants with an emphasis on inclusive excellence literacy. As Georgia Southern University made Inclusive Excellence a central theme in the university’s strategic plan, the University Libraries wanted to ensure that student assistants also receive diversity literacy skills that directly translates to their current role at the library. The Access Services and Technical Services Departments joined forces to create a student assistant mentorship program that includes professional development workshops offered by the University Libraries Diversity Council. This program is focused on connecting diversity and inclusive excellence literacy to mentorship and training the whole person and not just a functional employee. In addition to workshops, and individual mentorship sessions, student assistants learn about work/life balance, diversity and inclusion and how these skills directly translate to their current role as a student assistant and how they will apply to their future careers. Students attended workshops on the use of pronouns and idioms as well as microaggressions and they are encouraged to use the Georgia Southern University Libraries Brain Booth, a space dedicated to mindfulness and stress reduction. This program itself is also viewed as a practice in inclusive excellence. In general, student assistants in libraries are seen more as periphery staff and not integral and valued members of the team. This program is meant to change that sentiment, and provide a sense of collegiality and teamwork with our student assistants.