Office of Equity and Inclusion

Diversity in the Classroom
Red Dragon Welcome
Diversity in the Classroom
 
Bernadette Tiapo
Dr. Bernadette Tiapo
Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion/Chief Diversity Officer

The Office of Equity and Inclusion at SUNY Oneonta began in 2006, created as a recommendation to then-President Alan Donovan by the President’s Council on Diversity. Over the years it has adapted to the changing needs of the campus community and is now an umbrella unit for multiple institutional responsibilities that are dedicated to issues of diversity in their broadest sense.

The Office of Equity and Inclusion is led by the Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion/Chief Diversity Officer, Dr. Bernadette Tiapo, a member of the President’s Cabinet, who is responsible for supervision of the Affirmative Action/Title IX office, the Center for Racial Justice and Inclusive Excellence (CRJIE), and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives and Operations.

Our hope is to provide advisement, consistency and support for diverse constituents, the whole of the campus community and for our institutional aspirations. Our work supports institutional core values that provide the foundation for all that SUNY Oneonta does, with a particular focus on student engagement and building an inclusive and welcoming community. We accomplish our goals by focusing on the needs of individual diverse community members, on the success of students from diverse communities, and on educating and supporting programming to build an inclusive community.

The Office of Equity and Inclusion is dedicated to supporting the equity, diversity and inclusion endeavors of SUNY Oneonta's academic divisions, administrative departments, and all offices. Important to our mission is our work with both individuals and groups in their efforts to feel included and have voice in shaping our community. We further strive to acknowledge, embrace and affirm a broad vision of diversity that recognizes emergent communities and their needs in our effort to be truly inclusive. The Office accomplishes these ideals through engaging in cross divisional collaborations, participating in and providing professional development opportunities to build consensus and understanding, and working tirelessly to create an inclusive civil working and learning campus community.

SUNY Oneonta values inclusivity. Our greatest strengths come from the people who make up our community and as such are empowered to create a meaningful impact within our campus and globally. We foster a culture that is inclusive, and support the individual expression of differing perspectives, ideas, and experiences so that students can grow intellectually, thrive socially, and live purposefully.

Institutions of higher education have the power to redress inequities and stratifications in our society. SUNY Oneonta embraces this power as opportunity and provides equitable access to affordable, transformative educational opportunities. We promote and support living and working in a diverse, equitable learning-centered community. SUNY Oneonta values all members of our community whose sense of belonging and ability to learn, thrive, and achieve are the measure of our collective success.

Venn diagram of how equity, inclusion, and diversity work together to create belonging. Belonging is achieved when all components of students' and employees' identities are valued and accepted. Students and employees feel safe, are insiders, campus community brings out the best in them and they can be their authentic selves.

Religious Holidays

Education Law (Section 224-a) states that any student who is unable, because of their religious beliefs, to attend classes on a particular day or days shall be excused from any examinations, study or work requirements.

Similarly, under New York State law, SUNY Oneonta is obligated to provide an equivalent opportunity for faculty to be absent from classes for religious observance. In such cases, faculty may notify students of alternate class arrangements, assignments, or cancellation. Such absences may not result in additional class sessions scheduled outside the existing time pattern for the course.

Religious Holidays and Dates Fall 2024

HOLIDAY DATE(S)
ROSH HASHANAH (JUDAISM) is the Jewish New Year; start of the Ten Days of Penitence. The first two days are observed as full holidays. 10/03/2024-10/04/2024
NAVARATRI (HINDUISM) is the festival representing ‘Nine Nights’ honoring the Devi, the great Goddess and divine Mother, the all-pervading Shakti. 10/03/2024-10/11/2024
YOM KIPPUR (JUDAISM) is the day of Atonement; the most solemn day of the year devoted to fasting, prayer and repentance. 10/12/2024
SUKKOT (JUDAISM) is the first two days of Tabernacles, commemorating the dwelling of Israelites in booths in the wilderness. 10/16/2024-10/23/2024
SIMCHAT TORAH (JUDAISM) is the celebration of the new cycle of annual scriptural readings. 10/24/2024-10/25/2024
DIWALI (HINDUISM/JAINISM/SIKHISM/ BUDDHISM) is the ‘Festival of Lights’, a major festival lasting five days, celebrated during the Hindu lunisolar month Kartika. 10/31/2024
TWIN HOLY BIRTHDAYS (BAHA'I) is the festival to celebrate the births of two central figures of the Baháʼí faith, ‘Báb’ on the first day and ‘Baháʼu'lláh’ on the second day. 11/02/2024-11/03/2024
DAY OF THE COVENANT (BAHA’I) is the festival commemorating Baháʼu'lláh’s appointment of his eldest son, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, as the center of His Covenant. 11/25/2024
ASCENSION OF ‘ABDU’L-BAHÁ (BAHA’I) marks the passing of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, the appointed successor of the Baha’i faith in Haifa. 11/27/2024
CHRISTMAS (CHRISTIANITY) is the annual religious and cultural commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ. The Feast of the Nativity Christmas is celebrated in January. 12/25/2024
KWANZAA (AFRICAN HERITAGE) is the annual celebration of African-American culture culminating in a communal feast called Karamu, held on the sixth day. 12/26/2024-1/01/2025
HANUKKAH (JUDAISM) is the ‘Festival of Lights’, celebrating the victory of the Maccabees and rededication of the Ancient temple in Jerusalem. 12/26/2024-1/02/2025

Contact

Office of Equity and Inclusion
135 Netzer Administration Building
SUNY Oneonta
108 Ravine Parkway
Oneonta, New York 13820

Phone: 607-436-2830

Diversity Education Program Request

The Office of Equity and Inclusion responds to all requests and will get back to you in a reasonable time frame to discuss additional details related to your request. Sessions are tailored to your group's needs so requests should be submitted at least two weeks in advance to allow for adequate consultation and planning. Thank you.

Request a diversity education program/session/workshop

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