Countering Political Attacks on DEI: Resources for Student Affairs Professionals

In highly-politicized campus environments, facilitating deliberative dialogues can create learning spaces for considering multiple perspectives. In partnership with the Kettering Foundation, NASPA has created a series of Issue Guides for Deliberative Dialogue addressing campus inclusion and equity, including the 2021 issue guide on the “Role of Institutions in Addressing Systemic Racism on Campus.”

• View Issue guide and Moderator's guide
• Consider guidance about using the 2021 issue guide from Nadine Petty, Chief Diversity Officer, University of New Hampshire, and Lorenzo M. Boyd, Ph.D., Stewart Professor of Community Policing, University of New Haven

Creating and accessing in-person and virtual communities of support is critical when much of the work of student affairs is facing existential attack. Workplace affinity groups, NASPA Knowledge Communities, confidential colleague circles, Employee Assistance Programs, and friends can help to counter isolation and increase access to resources.