This resolution establishes mandatory diversity trainings for UPUA representatives at Penn State University. It requires representatives to complete the Intercultural Development Inventory assessment, Stand for State training on preventing sexual assault, and group/individual debriefing sessions. The goal is to educate representatives on issues of diversity, inclusion and sexual assault so they can better advocate for students. Representatives will take the IDI individually, receive Stand for State training as a group, participate in group and individual debriefing sessions, and discuss applications at a retreat. The trainings aim to help representatives understand issues, develop intercultural competence, and transform campus culture.

1. THE UNIVERSITY PARK UNDERGRADUATE ASSOCIATION
The Pennsylvania State University
16th Assembly
2021 - 2022 Session
Resolution #07-16
September 15th
, 2021
Be it decided by the Assembly of Student Representatives,
having been brought to the floor by the Committee on Justice & Equity,
a
RESOLUTION
In Support of Established Trainings for UPUA Representatives
Nature of the Situation:
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The Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) Training is a “cross-cultural assessment of
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intercultural competence. This is a tool to measure intercultural competence along the validated
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intercultural development continuum.1
The IDI has been demonstrated, through research, to have
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high predictive validity to both bottom-line cross-cultural outcomes in organizations and
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intercultural goal accomplishments in education.”2
Penn State University offers IDI Trainings
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through the Global Programs Office.
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Former Speaker Steven Zhang of the 15th
Assembly collaborated with current Speaker Sydney
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Gibbard of the 16th
Assembly to bring the IDI training to the UPUA by facilitating a connection
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with Global Programs and solidifying the timeline.
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Five Timely Warnings about sexual assault cases were reported to Penn State’s University Police
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during the first week of classes. Six total warnings were sent during the month of August 2021,
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marking the highest number since October 2016.3
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1 DMIS theory developed by Milton Bennett)
2 https://www.dickinson.edu/info/20050/diversity_and_inclusion/3918/intercultural_development_inventory_idi
3 http://timely-warnings.police.psu.edu/university-park?_ga=2.206672022.467941065.1629982113-
1012705578.1628695347

2. The first few weeks on college campuses are known as the “Red Zone”, when statically, students
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are at greater risk of sexual assault. Annually, the UPUA takes active action during this time
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period by equipping students with ways to stand up for themselves and their peers, providing
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reporting resources, and standing in unity with offices/programs around campus to spread
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awareness about this issue. The 15th
Assembly of the UPUA also spent months advocating to
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Student Affairs for the release of the 2018 Campus Environment survey to better understand the
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prevalence of sexual assault and relationship violence on campus.
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While external programming and advocacy is effective, it is also important for our organization’s
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members to be well-educated about these issues themselves and question how we can develop
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new methods to better student life.
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Stand for State is a program that seeks to educate students about risky situations, how to make
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our campus a safer place, and skills to change the culture on university campuses. “With the goal
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of transforming the university’s culture to one where people step in when it counts to create a
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safer and more inclusive campus for all, 36% of the 47,000 students at University Park are able
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to articulate steps to intervene in risky situations and 56% of students recognize Stand for State.
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These students are statistically more likely to recognize that bias, sexual assault, and relationship
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violence are problems and are more confident they can impact change around these issues than
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students not exposed to the initiative.”4
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Currently, Stand for State programming is offered at the 23 commonwealth campuses of Penn
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State, including World Campus. In 2021, Stand for State trainings were temporarily transferred
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to the Gender Equity Center. UPUA reached out to Becca Geiger, the Assistant Director of the
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Gender Equity Center, to bring Stand for State to our organization.
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Recommended Course of Action:
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The University Park Undergraduate Association (UPUA) hereby establishes the following
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timeline for the purposes of providing educational trainings for representatives of the UPUA so
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that they are well-informed and equipped with the skills/knowledge they need to advocate for
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communities at Penn State.
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Timeline:
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September 1-15: Global Programs sets up individualized logins for each participant
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September 16-24: UPUA representatives take 30-minute IDI assessment at a time convenient for
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them during this time on their own computers
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September 22 from 6 PM – 7 PM: The Gender Equity Center provides Stand for State training
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for all UPUA Representatives, run by Becca Geiger
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September 24-29: Speaker works with Global Programs to explain context of our organization
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and what our strengths/needs/weaknesses are
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September 29 from 7 PM - 8:30 PM: Group Debrief at our UPUA weekly General Assembly
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meeting in person in HUB 233B/A
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4 https://studentaffairs.psu.edu/stand-state

3. September 20-October 15: UPUA representatives have an individual debrief with one of the QAs
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from Global Programs at a time they have signed up for
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October 16: UPUA Retreat - internal debrief led by UPUA leadership about how we can use
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these results to grow as individuals and as an organization.
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The following trainings will be mandatory for all active UPUA representatives, the UPUA
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President, Vice President, Chief of Staff, and Chief Justice: 30-minute individual IDI
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Assessment, Stand for State Training on 9/22, Global Programs Group Debrief on 9/29,
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individual debrief with QA, and UPUA Retreat Overall Discussion. All other members of the
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UPUA will not be required, but they are highly encouraged to participate in this training.
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4. Respectfully submitted,
Sydney Gibbard
College of Engineering Representative
Speaker of the Assembly
Cara Fliegel
At-Large Representative
Chair of Facilities
Aarathi Kallur
APIDA Caucus Representative
Chair of Justice & Equity
Steven Zhang
At-Large Representative
Lakyn Meeder
At-Large Representative
Chair of Governmental Affairs
Samantha Browne
At-Large Representative
Chair of Student Life
Annmarie Rounds-Sorenson
At-Large Representative
Sam Ajah
At-Large Representative
Vice Chair of Governmental Affairs

5. Committee Vote: 7/0/0
Assembly Vote: Unanimous
Speaker of the Assembly ________________________________________________
President of the Student Body ________________________________________________
The University Park Undergraduate Association