Reminder: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion video training series

May 27, 2022

In April, President Pat Pitney introduced to System Office staff a new Diversity, Equity and Inclusion video training series. The timeframe for fully completing the training has been extended to September 1.

We have scheduled a town hall for System Office employees to come together to discuss the issues addressed in the videos. Employees are asked to have watched a minimum of the first two introductory videos and at least one more before the Town Hall which will be held at 2 p.m. on June 8.  

As a part of the Alaska Native Success Initiative (ANSI) the University of Alaska has committed as an institution to transformative change. That change will not occur overnight; it will be a process in which we commit to learning together. There will be multiple steps in this journey, which is starting this spring with a video series, and will be followed in future months by additional training and engagement opportunities – both in person and virtual.  

As a first step in this journey, we will be watching a series of videos with a focus on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Instructions and video links can be found on the REDIS website video training page. There are a few short videos that are required for all to build a common foundation, and then a list of other videos to choose from. You can select the videos from the list that speak to you and/or that sound interesting to you.

Please complete the first and second introductory video (approx. 15 minutes) and at least one or more of the elective videos by June 8, and view at least 3 hours of videos by September 1.

While watching please consider the following questions: 

• How did the video(s) make you feel?  
• Have you experienced anything like what you saw in the video(s)?
• Does the content elicit any questions?  
• How can we at the System Office implement best practices/lessons learned? Through the entire system? 
• Consider the questions you would like to bring up at the Town Hall. 

Together we can create a University of Alaska System and System Office which makes everyone feel that they belong.