Integrating cultural competency training into our pedagogy and practice means going beyond the bare minimum. Students continue to report that cultural competency is an integral part of establishing and promoting a sense of belonging at NC State University.

In The Credential, our certificate program for faculty and staff, participants have the opportunity to learn strategies for understanding, utilizing and promoting cultural competence in their respective roles. Participants start by examining their own cultural narratives and how they influence intention and perceptions. They also learn how to assess their practice and pedagogy to make strategic advances to improve cultural competency and strengthen their sense of belonging. Participants build their skillset and cultivate tools and resources for fostering an inclusive environment, communicating clearly both verbally and nonverbally, and working with students, faculty and staff to promote individual and collective success.

By learning more about one’s own and others’ cultures, participants gain increased confidence in leading/learning in various culturally fluid scenarios to ensure a safe/brave space for diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.

The Credential offers two distinct tracks, each focused on providing a common framework and resources to assist faculty and staff in providing not only a stellar culturally competent environment but also one that places considerable emphasis on inclusivity, equity and belonging.

For the certificate, participants:

• define cultural competency and culturally responsive practices and evaluate their current professional environment for strengths and weaknesses in cultural competency;
• recognize many of the main obstacles to cultural competency and culturally responsive practices in their college/unit and propose strategies to overcome them;
• describe incidents in which curriculum bias creates barriers and develop approaches to address these situations;
• identify strategies for teaching in culturally competent ways and assess the environment in the classroom;
• identify strategies for leading and supervising in culturally responsive ways and assess the workplace environment;
• explain adaptations in one’s approach to difficult conversations in relation to knowledge regarding cultural competency;
• describe underlying components of cultural competency, including bias, curriculum bias, socioeconomic status and other forms of cultural bias.

Apply and register for The Credential in REPORTER. Please include a letter detailing your interest in joining the program, identify the track you are most interested in pursuing and indicate how you plan to utilize what you will learn in your pedagogy and/or practice. Please also include a letter of support from your immediate supervisor.

• See The Credential for more information.

Melvin “Jai” Jackson is assistant vice provost for faculty engagement in the Office for Institutional Equity and Diversity.