Asian faculty member sitting outside using phone

The Credential

The Credential is a cultural competency certificate program for faculty and staff at the managerial level. This is an intermediate level DEI program for individuals to complete during the 2023-2024 academic year.

About the Program

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.

The Credential for Faculty and Staff: Education, Exploration, IntrospectionIn The Credential, our certificate program for faculty and staff in managerial positions, participants have the opportunity to:

  • Learn strategies for understanding, utilizing and promoting cultural competence in their respective roles.
  • Examine their own cultural narratives and how they influence intention and perceptions.
  • Learn how to assess their practice and pedagogy to make strategic advances to improve cultural competency and strengthen their sense of belonging.
  • 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.

The Credential is 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.

Program Components

OIED Approved ribbon

  1. Silver level Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) instrument ($50 cost)
  2. 8 hours of DEI coursework, approved by OIED
  3. DEI audit of your unit
  4. Case study analysis with cohort
  5. Reflection and plan of action

Program Outcomes

For the certificate, participants:

  • define cultural competency and culturally responsive practices in their professional environment;
  • 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 bias creates barriers and develop approaches to address these situations;
  • 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.

Prerequisites

  1. Complete a diversity course through REPORTER (OIED-DI-017)
  2. Must currently hold a managerial position at NC State (program directors, supervisors, department chairs, etc.)

Applications

The application period for the 2023-2024 Credential was October 4 – November 15 (extended from November 8). Applications are now closed.

Applicants must upload a letter of interest/intent along with a letter of support from their immediate supervisor. Applications will be reviewed only if participants have completed the prerequisites listed above. Applicants will be notified of their status before Thanksgiving break.

Past Cohorts