Support DEI Efforts in Culverhouse
Culverhouse DEI Model SummaryDEI Retention and Success Fund
The Culverhouse Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Retention and Success Fund supports our DEI work. Our efforts are designed to mitigate challenges among diverse students, and to engage all our students in respect to DEI, shaping their trajectory for academic, career, and life success. Built around mentoring and leadership training along with broader social and financial support as needed, the initiatives form a comprehensive effort to ensure that students reach their greatest potential and become their best selves, ready to make strong contributions to organizations and society. A few key elements are summarized below.
DEI Leadership and Mentoring Initiative
Upper-Level students who work in the office of DEI, designated as DEI fellows, will provide leadership, mentoring, and other developmental support. This relationship will support mentees’ academic success as well as personal and professional development. DEI Associate fellows are leaders from various Culverhouse student organizations who will also be trained and be able to serve as peer mentors, aiding in their development and preparation for a diverse workplace. DEI alumni fellows are Culverhouse alums who commit a couple of hours a month to interacting with their designated pod members, providing mentoring and sponsorship for Fellows and mentees. Student Fellows help to coordinate these interactions. This effort builds upon our Black History Month Alumni Speaker Series, with some of those participants and other alumni contributing to the organizational and mentoring efforts. It also complements our Diversity in Business Bridge Program. The first class of Fellows was identified and in place for Fall 2021.
Mentoring Pods
Each pod will feature at least 2 student fellows, 2 alumni fellows, and 4-8 freshman and sophomore mentees. The DEI fellows will coordinate pod activities including but not limited to regular group gatherings for academic and personal support and for broader activities (dining etiquette, public speaking, or networking tips).
Mentee Details
Mentees will need to commit an hour a week to interact with their mentor or pod in one way or another and to support the development of the group as they strive to become their best selves. Successful mentees will be preferred applicants for a DEI fellow(mentor) opportunity when they become juniors. This is a $12 an hour position for 10-20 hours a week , mostly devoted to mentoring students. The position as a fellow, like being a mentee, is a good developmental opportunity and positive thing to have on a resume.
DEI Women’s Leadership in Business Initiative
This initiative involves a collection of efforts designed to bolster and support the presence and success of female students and professionals, focusing on supporting the development of pre-college and college women who are interested in or are majoring in business, with an emphasis on leadership development and functional areas where women are underrepresented. Elements include the Women’s Conference and Dinner and the Minerva Summer Program for young women.
Our Leadership
Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Director of Diversity, Equity , And Inclusion Initiatives
James E. King Ph. D| Miles-Rose professor of Leadership Marcus Cotton
jking@culverhouse.ua.edu mcotton@culverhouse.ua.edu
205-348-8916 205-348-3948
How to Give
The students in our programs disproportionately experience financial challenges, which threaten their retention and success. They are also more likely to leave with debt amounts that are a serious drag on their post-college lives. Besides employing some of them as student workers, we help our students through financial difficulties as we can.