10. Adopting the U.S. Multicultural Overlay

This initiative is a collaborative effort with the academic colleges and faculty members to adopt the U.S. multicultural overlay as a universitywide model.

Status: Launched

The committee work has been completed. Status updated to launched 3/30/21.

3/30/22 Update:

As part of the Action Plan for a More Inclusive K-State, it is recommended that Kansas State University adopt a U.S. Multicultural Overlay as a new, general degree requirement. This has been shared with the appropriate parties for comment, and as all are in agreement, will be sent through the course and curriculum process for Fall 2023.

View the details about the U.S. Multicultural Overlay

U.S. Multicultural Overlay

Students will complete two courses to meet the University U.S. Multicultural Overlay. These courses may be existing or be newly developed courses. Before meeting the Overlay requirement, all systems must go through the University U.S. Multicultural Overlay approval process.

Course One in the Multicultural Overlay: Foundational

Purpose: To educate students on the historical and contemporary inequities related to race and ethnicities of currently marginalized groups in the United States.

Criteria: To fulfill the overlay requirement, a course must be at least three credit hours and have at least half of the system, measured by content and time, to cover the following areas:

Histories, challenges and agency of currently racially marginalized groups in the U.S.
Existence, causes and impacts of the historical and structural nature of inequities and power about race and ethnicity within contemporary U.S. culture.
Challenge students to be aware of their implicit biases.
Ability to identify, analyze and evaluate structural inequities within the U.S.

Course Two in the Multicultural Overlay: Application

Purpose: To expand upon knowledge and skills gained in the first course of the U.S. Multicultural Overlay by providing professional context to build cultural competency in interpersonal and working relationships. Students should gain knowledge of varied cultures and differences in cultural/behavioral expectations to help build campus community and foster understanding to help students productively live and work in a diverse world.

Criteria: A course in which at least one credit hour (1/3 of the content in a three credit hour course) meets the Overlay requirements.

Student Learning Assessment: Assessment of student learning and understanding across colleges and departments.

Assessment will include themes from student learning outcomes related to student perception of race, structural inequities, identity, implicit bias, awareness/perception of racism and microaggressions.

8/19/21 Update

Work completed and proposal submitted to President and Provost.

4/26/21 Update:

By the end of the spring semester, the action team plans to complete proposals for:
- engaging students in completing two courses to meet the University U.S. Multicultural Overlay requirement,
- a process to select the courses that will fulfill the requirement, and
- an assessment plan.

Timeline and Milestones

The timeline and milestones for this initiative are currently under development by the action team.

Accountable Administrators and Action Team

This initiative is led by a core leadership team. The lead administrator identified below is responsible for initiating and reporting on the progress of the initiative overall.

Core leadership team

Chairs
- Amit Chakrabarti, Dean, College of Arts and Sciences, lead administrator
- Be Stoney, Interim Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer
- Matthew O'Keefe, Dean, College of Engineering
Team members
- Sherryl Allen, Advisor, College of Arts and Sciences
- Sandra Avalos, Advisor, College of Education
- Matt Basel, Assistant Professor, College of Veterinary Medicine
- Joyce Baptist, Professor, College of Health and Human Sciences
- Ansley Chua, Department Head, Finance, College of Business Administration
- Ronnie Elmore, Professor, College of Veterinary Medicine
- Pamela Erickson, Director, Student Success and Advising, K-State Global Campus
- Melia Fritch, Associate Professor, Hale Library
- Socorro Herrera, Professor, College of Education
- Caroline Jones, Advisor, College of Business Administration
- Shawna Jordan, Assistant Dean, College of Health and Human Sciences
- Kimberly Kramer, Professor, Carl R. Ice College of Engineering
- Anna Salas, Office Specialist, College of Business Administration
- Hannah Schuh, Advisor, College of Health and Human Sciences
- Scott Tanona, Associate Dean, College of Arts and Sciences
- Lisa Tatonetti, Professor, College of Arts and Sciences
- Lisa Wilkens, Associate Professor, Carl R. Ice College of Engineering