Bridging Domestic and Global Diversity is a semester-long student leadership training program designed to increase intercultural awareness and skills, while enhancing understanding and connection through diversity. Focus is on increasing self-awareness while building intercultural leadership skills.
The program brings together undergraduate and graduate/professional domestic and international students at the University of Iowa. Students selected to participate in the Bridge program will be one of approximately 25 UI students identified to receive intercultural and diversity leadership training.
Participants work in small multicultural groups to plan the Bridge Open Forum - an intercultural program planned and facilitated by the participants to inform the campus community about intercultural issues.
Bridging Domestic and Global Diversity has no costs and the program does not offer course credit for participating in it. Students who complete the program will receive a certificate and be recognized on the International Programs website.
How to Apply
Bridging Domestic and Global Diversity program application for the spring 2025 semester will be available in October 2024. Please complete the interest survey if you would like to be contacted when the program application is available.
Participants in Bridging Domestic and Global Diversity will:
- Explore personal cultural background and understand how it effects your interaction with others.
- Demonstrate understanding of culture and how to navigate differences and cross-cultural conflicts.
- Explain dimensions of diversity, power and privilege, and why it is important to be a change agent.
- Experience building effective cross-cultural relationships and working in a multicultural group-setting.
- Facilitate a program to engage the campus community on diversity issues and raise awareness of these issues.
Participant Benefits
- Intercultural training that will be applicable to your role as a student leader, as well as, your future career in the diverse workforce of the 21st century.
- A Certificate verifying your involvement and achievements from this program. Successful participants will also receive letters of recommendation upon request.
- Group size is limited in order to ensure opportunities for in-depth discussions. You may expect to learn more about your own culture(s) and the cultures of others in the group. This will take place on a personal level as you interact with other participants and on a more academic level as you learn about Milton Bennett's Developmental Model of Intercultural Sensitivity and its application.
- A mentor (former Bridge participant) will provide you with opportunities to reflect on your experiences.
- To have your ideas about global and domestic diversity challenged in a supportive environment.
- Opportunities to make new friends.
Participant Expectations
- Complete an Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) profile, which is short inventory provided by the program (requires only 15-20 minutes to complete).
- Assist with planning, implementing, and/or the evaluation of a 90 minute Bridging Domestic and Global Diversity Open Forum.
- Complete brief evaluations regarding the quality, efficacy, and usefulness of the program and make recommendations for improvements in the program.
- Be reliable and dependable with regard to following through on commitments.
- Be willing to take part in respectful and in-depth discussions regarding a wide variety of diversity issues.
- Be willing to challenge yourself and others in a respectful way.
- To be assertive in proactively communicating with Bridge staff and peers any learning, academic, or non-academic concerns you have that might impact your learning experience in the program.
- To submit a final evaluation upon completion of your participation in the Bridging Domestic and Global Diversity program.
Spring 2024
Bridging Domestic and Global Diversity program will be in-person in the Spring 2024 semester. Sessions are scheduled for Thursdays 3:30-4:45 p.m. each week in the International Commons 1117 UCC.
If you have any questions, please contact Brandon Paulson by email brandon-paulson@uiowa.edu.
| Date | Topics | Student Leadership Competencies | Assignments | Instructors |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 18 |
Welcome and Program Overview
|
|
|
Brandon Paulson |
| January 25 |
Story Stitch |
|
|
Brandon Paulson |
| February 1 |
Making It Real
|
|
|
Margaret Kaus |
| February 9 |
Open Forum Introduction
|
|
|
Brandon Paulson |
| February 15 |
Developing Your Intercultural Insight
|
|
Pauline Beazer James and Shuhui Lin | |
| February 22 |
Power, Privilege, and Oppression - Part 1 |
|
Valerie Garr | |
| February 29 | Power, Privilege, and Oppression - Part 2 |
|
Valerie Garr | |
| March 7 |
Navigating Intercultural Conflicts
|
|
|
Pauline Beazer James and Shuhui Lin |
| March 21 |
Global Leadership
|
|
Matt Augeri | |
| March 28 |
Open Forum Preparation
|
|
Brandon Paulson | |
| April 4 |
Open Forum Preparation
|
|
Brandon Paulson | |
| April 11 |
Open Forum Preparation and Practice
|
|
Brandon Paulson | |
| April 18 |
Open Forum |
|
|
Bridge Participants |
| April 25 |
Reflection and Synthesis |
|
||
| May 2 |
Application and Practice |
|
Program Instructors:
- Matt Augeri, Senior Associate Director, Academic & Leadership Programs, Pomerantz Career Center
- Pauline Beazer James, Senior Advisor, International Student and Scholar Services
- Valerie Garr, Director of Diversity Equity and Inclusion and Coordinator of Supplemental Instruction/Tutoring, College of Nursing
- Margaret Kaus, Assistant Director, Center for Inclusive Academic Excellence
- Shuhui Lin, Coordinator of International Student Support and Engagement; International Student and Scholar Services/Multicultural and International Student Support and Engagement
- Brandon Paulson, Assistant Director, International Student and Scholar Services
A very special thanks to our program instructors for their willingness to share their expertise and knowledge with our participants.
Participant talks about what he gained from the program
"Bridging Domestic and Global Diversity is an excellently-designed program with great instructors! It has a lot to offer both to undergraduate and graduate students who are looking to learn valuable intercultural skills which will help them have a deeper understanding of cultural diversity. The program also provides the participants with concrete tools to navigate cultural conflicts in their future careers."
UI Accessibility Statement
Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all University of Iowa-sponsored events. If you are a person with a disability who requires a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in this program, please contact Brandon Paulson in advance at (319) 335-0335.
UI Non-Discrimination Statement
The University of Iowa prohibits discrimination in employment, education programs, and activities on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, pregnancy, disability, genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, service in the U.S. military, sexual orientation, gender identity, associational preferences, or any other classification that deprives the person of consideration as an individual. The University also affirms its commitment to providing equal opportunities and equal access to University facilities. For additional information contact the Office of Institutional Equity (OIE), (319) 335-0705.
Contacts
Program Contact
Contact Brandon Paulson with questions about the Bridging Domestic and Global Diversity certificate program by email brandon-paulson@uiowa.edu or phone (319) 335-0335.
Be Better at Iowa
As part of the Be Better at Iowa Initiative, this program integrates Dr. Corey Seemiller’s Student Leadership Competencies (SLCs) into educationally purposeful experiences to support student success. More information can be found at https://bebetter.uiowa.edu/