Penn State is committed to and accountable for advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in all of its forms. We embrace individual uniqueness, foster a culture of inclusive excellence that supports both broad and specific diversity initiatives, leverage the educational and institutional benefits of diversity, and engage all individuals to help them thrive. We value inclusive excellence as a core strength and an essential element of our public service mission.
Diversity among students and faculty is a top priority for the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences and the Office of Educational Equity takes an active role in promoting respect and embracing diversity in the college. By fostering an environment that values diversity, we hope to help all people find a place in our college. We highly recommend these important references:
- All In at Penn State: A Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
- Penn State Statement on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusive Excellence
- Advancing Inclusion, Equity, and Diversity-Our Commitment to Impact: The Pennsylvania State University’s Strategic Plan for 2020 to 2025
- Action Together: Advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Penn State
- Diversity and Inclusion Resources
- Addressing Bias: Rights, Responsibilities and Responses
The College of Earth and Mineral Sciences is committed to expanding diversity efforts and embarked on a number of strategic initiatives. Please visit the sections below to learn more.
Created in 2021, the EMS Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Awards honor undergraduate students, graduate students, staff and faculty who have demonstrated exemplary leadership that manifests the ideals of diversity, equity and inclusion into practical action. These awards will be awarded annually by the college's Diversity Council.
These awards are given in recognition of students (graduate and undergraduate), faculty and staff who have gone above and beyond in demonstrating awareness, leadership, or commitment to promoting and fostering diversity, equity and inclusion in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences. They are designed to foster an academically enriching and supportive climate for all members of our community and to sustain an inclusive environment, especially for those underrepresented with respect to social identities such as race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, and socioeconomic status. An inclusive culture respects and celebrates this diversity as a means to enhance the EMS community.
The student awards are named after Dr. Catherine Lyons, the first associate dean for educational equity in EMS. The staff and faculty awards are named after Dr. Charles Hosler, a former dean of the college and a strong proponent of diversity, equity and inclusion. Award information and nomination forms may be accessed using the below links:
The College of Earth and Mineral Sciences believes that the best science emerges when our researchers can bring their whole selves to the team. Patterned after the Eberly College of Sciences' network, the created the Rainbow Science Network (RSN) to foster a fully inclusive environment in our research groups.
Visit the EMS Rainbow Network webpage >>
As part of efforts to build a welcoming culture supportive of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, the college offers resources and opportunities for all members of our community to learn about how to be more aware of and how to combat racism.
Visit Anti-Racism Resources to learn more >>
The college offers resources and opportunities for all members of our community to learn about how to be a better Ally to underrepresented/underserved groups and diversity in general.
Visit Active Ally Resources to learn more >>
During the fall of 2019, the college partnered with Penn State’s Stand For State program to offer lively, scenario-based, facilitated discussions focusing on fostering more inclusive working and learning environments with the Bystander Intervention approach.
To learn more, visit the Bystander Intervention webpage
Our goal with this update is to assess our progress, determining which action items can be considered to be “operationalized” within EMS and which need additional focus. By “operationalized” we mean that attention to an action area has become part of how we do things in EMS and that activities in support of the area will be ongoing as a matter of course; Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging rarely can be considered “completed.” We have broken out items needing additional focus from those which have been operationalized or are in progress. Moving forward, we will condense the implementation plan to highlight items that still need additional focus, and actions that will move in-progress items into operationalized status.
As part of efforts to build a welcoming culture supportive of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, the college's Educational Equity Office host EMS Reads. This program features readings and discussion on books that foster indepth thoughts on diversity topics.
To learn more, visit the EMS Reads webpage >>
- Feb. 6 - 16: Picture a Scientist Week
Picture a Scientist Week, jointly sponsored by the Eberly College of Science and College of Earth and Mineral Sciences, will feature events focused on celebrating diversity and equity in the STEM fields in conjunction with Black History Month.- Feb. 6-11: “Picture a Scientist” documentary free-viewing sessions
- Feb. 6: Empower Conference: Building Connections Through Community
- Feb. 10: Picture a Scientist Q&A with Jane Willenbring
- Feb. 10: Jane Willenbring, SAGF Lecture
- Feb. 11: Diversity in STEM Trivia Night
- Feb. 16: EMS Women Faculty Panel Discussion
The Safer People Safer Places network seeks to create a safer and more inclusive environment for sexual and gender diversity.
Learn more about the college's participation in the Safer People Safer Places program >>
Diversity, equity, and inclusive excellence play a central role in our college’s core mission to prepare our students to live, work, and lead in a global environment. The College of Earth and Mineral Sciences’ broad and multifaceted diversity efforts are inclusive of nationality, ethnicity, race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ability, veteran status, socio economic status, first generation to college status, and religion and apply to students, faculty, staff.
- View Undergraduate Diversity Resources >>
- View Graduate Diversity Resources >>
The annual International Culture Night celebrates cultures from around the world through food, music, performances and cultural exhibitions.
Learn more about International Culture Night >>
Diversity among students and faculty is a top priority for the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences and the college's Diversity Council helps the Office of Educational Equity in promoting respect and embracing diversity and inclusion in the college.
View members of the Diversity Council >>
One of the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences' strategic initiates is the status of women faculty in the college.
In the fall of 2016, Dean William Easterling charged a committee of nine faculty from the college to assess the status of women employees with faculty appointments. The dean requested that the committee consider the following questions on the professional opportunities and climate related to gender for EMS faculty:
- What special challenges do women face in the college in achieving their professional goals and balancing those goals with their personal lives?
- How much progress has the collegle made in the past ten years toward increasing the impact of women on achieving the college’s mission?
- What are the college’s strengths in promoting a healthy and productive environment for women to thrive? What are its weaknesses?
- What are some practical and potentially effective ways the College can improve the working condition for women?
Read the report: Status of Women Academics Report - College of Earth and Mineral Sciences (June 2017)
Read the Implementation Plan
Penn State offers numerous resources specifically for underrepresented students seeking assistance with a variety of concerns. We also encourage you to contact staff in our Office for the Associate Dean for Educational Equity, who can work with you and may be able to point you to additional resources.
- University Police — Report a Crime
- Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)
501 Student Health Center
814-863-0395- CAPS- Crisis Services (24/7): Penn State Crisis Line
Telephone: 1-877-229-6400
Text Line: “LIONS” to 741741
- CAPS- Crisis Services (24/7): Penn State Crisis Line
- Victim & Survivor Support & Advocacy
204 Boucke Building
814-863-2027 - Vice Provost for Educational Equity (EE)
304 Old Main
814-865-5906 - EMS Human Resources
116 Deike Building - Affirmative Action Office
328 Boucke - 814-863-0471
- Health Advocate Employee Assistance Program
866-799-2728 - Gender Equity Center
204 Boucke Building
814-863-2027 - Office of Sexual Misconduct Prevention & Response
222 Boucke Building
814-867-0099 - LGBTQA Student Resource Center
101 Boucke Building
814-863-1248 - University Health Services
Student Health Center
814-863-0774 - Paul Robertson Cultural Center
21 HUB-Robeson Center
814-865-3776 - Centre County Women’s Resource Center
140 W Nittany Ave, State College, PA 16801
877-234-5050
