Resources
September is Hispanic Heritage Month
Join us this September as Empire State University proudly celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month—a time to honor the vibrant histories, diverse cultures, and invaluable contributions of our Hispanic and Latine communities.
Kicking off on September 15, our celebration aligns with the Independence Days of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua—a meaningful start to a month filled with culture, pride, and community. We also recognize:
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September 16: Mexico’s Independence Day
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September 18: Chile’s Independence Day
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September 21: Belize’s Independence Day
While the term “Hispanic” refers broadly to people with origins in Spanish-speaking countries, terms like “Latinx” or “Latine” represent the broader and richly diverse communities of Latin America and the Caribbean—including Indigenous roots, African diasporas, and a wide range of languages, traditions, and identities. Whether you use Hispanic, Latinx, Latine, or Latino/a, this month is about celebrating the full spectrum of experiences that shape this dynamic and evolving cultural landscape.
This year’s celebration is especially meaningful as it coincides with the launch of Empire State University’s new Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Spanish. This groundbreaking initiative reflects our commitment to access, equity, and cultural inclusion—and it wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible vision, dedication, and collaboration of the faculty, staff, and community who brought it to life. We celebrate not only the program, but the individuals who made it possible, paving the way for greater opportunities for Spanish-speaking students across the state and the world.
Throughout the month, you’re invited to explore our events, engage with new perspectives, and access a variety of educational resources. Whether you're attending a panel discussion, joining a cultural event, or simply diving into our curated materials, there's something for everyone.
Let’s come together to celebrate, learn, and honor the richness of Hispanic heritage.
Hispanic Heritage Month - LibGuides at Empire State University
Disability Justice and U.S. Latinx Art
The Voices of Intersectionality: Life as a Disabled Latinx
NPR Latinos Share Their American Immigration Stories
Latino, Hispanic, Latinx, Chicano: The History Behind the Terms
Nueva York and Beyond: The Latino Communities of the Tri-State Area
The Latinx Files : Race, Migration, and Space Aliens
Latinx environmentalisms : place, justice, and the decolonial
Mobilizing the U. S. Latinx vote : media, identity, and politics
Latinx photography in the United States : a visual history
Brown trans figurations : rethinking race, gender, and sexuality in Chicanx/Latinx studies
Oral Histories
Hispanic Communities Documentation Project records
Music
Hispanic Heritage Month Playlist
Viva Latino | Spotify Playlist
Radio Chart: Latin - Playlist - Apple Music
Podcasts
¿Qué Me Cuentas?: Latinx Storytelling
AFROSAYA The Afrolatino Podcast
The Latin American History Podcast
Register to Vote
Speaker Events
"Technology as a Tool for Connection vs. Disconnection and Isolation"
Epps, a Ph.D. candidate at Harvard's Graduate School of Education, is at the forefront of research on how online, machine-learning-driven environments impact youth of color as they develop their racial and gender identities. In this webinar, she will explore:
- How technology serves as a connector and an isolator in our lives
- The challenges and opportunities technology presents for youth development
- Strategies for harnessing technology's connective power while mitigating its isolating effects
- The implications of these findings for educators, parents, and technology professionals
This webinar is essential for:
- Educators seeking to understand how technology impacts students
- Parents navigating the digital landscape with their children
- Technology professionals interested in the social impact of their work
- Researchers in youth development, technology, or social connection
- Anyone concerned about the role of technology in our lives and communities
Employee Affinity Groups (EAG)
Recruiting and retaining a highly engaged, diverse workforce is central to SUNY Empire’s mission. Employee affinity groups (EAGs) are employee-led and facilitated groups formed around interests, backgrounds, identities, and common bonds. The primary goal of EAGs is to promote diversity, openness, understanding, and inclusiveness. Through participation in the groups, employees foster a positive work environment at SUNY Empire by actively contributing to its mission, values, and efforts specific to diversity and inclusion.
The intention of the EAGs is to create a safe space for individuals and their allies or advocates to share their ideals, experiences, and information. These groups are one example of a variety of institutionally supported activities to cultivate and foster an inclusive community.
Please be advised that affinity groups are formed voluntarily, are not dictated by leadership, individual employee membership and participation are voluntary, and have a minimum membership requirement of five employees.
- EAGs must be open to all full and part-time employees. As required by state, federal law, and institutional policy, EAGs may not discriminate based on race or ethnicity, creed, color, national origin, citizenship, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, religion, disability, genetic information, or veteran status.
- EAGS are bound by institutional policies and procedures.
- Roles within EAGs are voluntary and decided upon by the group.
- Employees may use work time to prepare meeting agendas and/or other materials with supervisor approval.
- Participation in EAG activities will not interfere with the performance of the employee’s regularly assigned duties.
- EAGs may be dissolved when: 1) the group chooses to dissolve itself (dissolution should be reported to ODEI), 2) SUNY Empire concludes that the group has become insufficiently accountable for its activities, 3) the group’s membership falls below the minimum required, or 4) the group presents a legal or ethical liability to the institution as deemed/determined by SUNY Empire’s Ethics Officer.
Affinity groups that seek to be recognized and sponsored by SUNY Empire must apply with an application. EAGs receive:
- Recognition as an official organization of SUNY Empire and sponsorship through the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (ODEI).
- A teams space managed by designated leadership in the group. Leadership will work to establish their pages.
- A designated group leader will also have access to the EAG Resource Teams space upon approval.
Requirements to Form a New Employee Affinity Group:
- A designated leader or leaders who commit to an initial term of at least a year or stint of purpose.
- A mission statement, which must align with SUNY Empire’s institutional mission and ongoing commitment to fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment for all.
- Completion of the EAGs Application to form a new employee affinity group.
Applications will be reviewed in a timely fashion by Laura Decker of HR and the Chief Diversity Officer.
Have a great idea for a new group? Let us know by emailing odei@sunyempire.edu.
Guidelines for SUNY Empire Employee Affinity Groups
Application to Start Employee Affinity Group at SUNY Empire
(download application to fill out)
LGBTQIA+
Address challenges faced by the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning (LGBTQ+) students and employees at SUNY Empire State University.
Contact Josh Boardman- JoshBoardman@sunyempire.edu
NeuroDiverse Collective
Foster an inclusive and supportive work environment for all employees, including neuro diverse employees, celebrating the unique perspectives and talents they bring to Empire State University. Strive to promote understanding, advocacy, and collaboration, ensuring that the neurodiverse voices are heard and valued. Through education, resources, and community engagement, aiming to empower neurodiverse individuals and those around us to show up authentically and as their full selves each day at work.
Contact Ade Byron- AdeByron@sunyempire.edu
ODEI Knowledge Base
A Guide to Disability Rights Laws - This guide, a publication of the U.S. Department of Justice, provides an overview of Federal civil rights laws that ensure equal opportunity for people with disabilities.
The Pros and Cons of Person-First and Identity-First Language
Bias-Free Language (APA Guide Style) – The American Psychological Association (APA) emphasizes the need to talk about all people with inclusivity and respect. The guidelines and recommendations presented in this site were crafted by panels of experts on APA’s bias-free language committees and should be used in conjunction with APA’s inclusive language guidelines.
Hispanic Enrollment Reaches New High at Four-year Colleges in the U.S., but Affordability Remains an Obstacle – Pew Research article (Oc. 7, 2022).
Inclusive Language Guide (2023) – A guide by Oxfam, a nonprofit global organization dedicated to end poverty and injustice, focused on how written work can subvert or inadvertently reinforce intersecting forms of inequality.
Inclusive language guidelines – American Psychological Association (2021).
The Duality of Labels – and How to Use Them for Good (video) – Queer Activist and US Air Force Sergeant Alexandria Holder delves into how labels, from racial identity to political affiliation, shape our lived experiences.
What’s behind the growing gap between men and women in college completion? – Pew Research article (Nov. 8, 2021).
Diversity Statements on a Syllabus – Resource page by the Eberly Center at Carnegie Mellon University.
EDUCAUSE’s Guide to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion – The online guide includes resources and action steps to put the principles of DEI into practice, as well as learning and engagement opportunities to deepen your understanding.
EDUCAUSE Inclusive Learning Guide – A style guide for inclusive, bias-free, and equitable language.
Employing Equity-Minded & Culturally-Affirming Teaching & Learning Practices in Virtual Learning Communities (recorded webinar) by Dr. Frank Harries III and Dr. J. Luke Wood.
How to Make Teaching More Inclusive, Interactive, Equitable and Participatory – Inside Higher Ed (Oct. 27, 2022).
Inclusive Teaching – Article by Bryan Dewsbury and Cynthia J. Brame (2019).
Inclusive Teaching Resources for STEM (Michigan State University) – STEM classrooms are often overlooked in the area of inclusive education. This site by Michigan State University’s College of Literature, Science, and the Arts provides a series of resources to help STEM faculty.
Maintaining Equity and Inclusion in Virtual Learning Environments – This guide, from San Diego State University, provides suggestions on how to maintain equity and inclusion in online classrooms. This resource covers accessibility, flexibility, proactivity, relationality, and transparency.
A Guide to Gender Identity Terms – NPR explains LGBTQIA+ language and best practices.
Language Around Gender and Identity Evolves (and Always Has) (video) - Sociolinguist Archie Crowley deconstructs three common myths around language, demonstrating how it's a fluid system that naturally evolves in the direction of inclusion.
Why I Must Come Out (video) - Professional model Geena Rocero tells the story of becoming who she always knew she was.
All employees and students at SUNY Empire have access to LinkedIn Learning courses/resources. (Login required.)
You'll be redirected to a screen like the one below. To access the resources, you'll need to sign in using your Empire credentials (email address and password). For more information visit: How to access Empire's LinkedIn Learning portal
Below are some courses that might be of interest to you.
Imposter Syndrome & Confidence
- Overcoming Imposter Syndrome
- Coping with Impostor Syndrome to Build Career Confidence
- Confidence: How to Overcome Self-Doubt, Insecurity, and Fears
- How to Crush Self-Doubt and Build Self-Confidence (audio course)
Emotional Intelligence
American Association for Access, Equity and Diversity - The American Association for Access, Equity and Diversity (AAAED) is the longest-standing national organization of professionals who engage in the important work of leading, directing and managing affirmative action, equal opportunity, and diversity programs.
American Association of Blacks in Higher Education - The American Association of Blacks in Higher Education (AABHE) is a national organization involved in numerous initiatives such as addressing the pipeline of Black faculty and staff in higher education, bringing issues pertinent to Black faculty and staff to the attention of the larger academic community and recognizing African American achievements and accomplishments to higher education.
Gender Spectrum – This is a national organization committed to the health and well-being of gender-diverse children and teens through education and support for families, and training and guidance for educators, medical and mental health providers, and other professionals.
The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights - A coalition of more than 200 national organizations that work to promote and protect the civil and human rights of all persons in the United States.
National Center for College Students with Disabilities – The only federally-funded national center in the U.S. for college and graduate students with any type of disability, chronic health condition, or mental or emotional illness.
National Center for Transgender Equality – A national organization focused on advocacy to change policies and society to increase understanding and acceptance of transgender people.
NYC Pride – A nonprofit organization that offers a diverse array of opportunities to gather in activism and advocacy working towards a future without discrimination where all people have equal rights under the law in New York City.
SUNY Office of Diversity Equity and Inclusion – SUNY ODEI provides leadership and strategic direction to all of SUNY’s campuses for developing and implementing a portfolio of affirmative action and diversity programs.
Are You a ‘Good-ish’ Person? How to Push Past Your Biases (podcast and transcript) – Psychologist Dolly Chugh discusses her book on how we can take stock of our unconscious bias.
CUE Racial Equity Tools - The Center for Urban Education (CUE)’s Racial Equity Tools aim to change the minds, hearts, and practices of faculty, staff, and leaders by reflecting on the racialized characteristics of everyday practices (CUE merged with the USC Race and Equity Center in July 2020.).
Harvard Implicit Association Test - Project Implicit is a non-profit organization and international collaboration between researchers who are interested in implicit social cognition - thoughts and feelings outside conscious awareness and control. The goal of the organization is to educate the public about hidden biases and to provide a “virtual laboratory” for collecting data on the Internet.
How Prejudiced Are You? Recognizing and Combating Unconscious Bias (video) – Business entrepreneur and public speaker Jennefer Witter talks about unconscious bias and how to confront our own biases.
How Racial Bias Works -- and How to Disrupt It (video) - Psychologist Jennifer L. Eberhardt explores how our biases unfairly target Black people at all levels of society and discusses how creating points of friction can help us actively interrupt and address this troubling problem.
How Students of Color Confront Impostor Syndrome (video) - Dena Simmons shares her story and talks about how for students of color, success in school sometimes comes at the cost of living authentically.
Identifying and Responding to Bias Incidents - This general audience website focuses on identifying and responding to bias incidents, offering 10 tips for identifying bias and seven tips for responding to bias.
My Identity is my Superpower (video) – Actor, director and activist American Ferrara talks about how her identity and the need for more authentic representation of diverse cultures in media.
Reducing Stereotype Threat - This website offers summaries of research on stereotype threat and discusses unresolved issues and controversies in the research literature.
The Indicators of Higher Education Equity in the United States: 2022 Historical Trend Report - The Pell Institute for the Study of Opportunity in Higher Education of the Council for Opportunity in Education (COE) conducts and disseminates research and policy analysis to encourage policymakers, educators, and the public to improve educational opportunities and outcomes of low-income, first-generation students, and students with disabilities. Findings are summarized in this report.
The Urgency of Intersectionality (video) - Kimberlé Crenshaw talks about the intersection of our identities and their importance.
Embrace Your Raw, Strange Magic (video) - Author Casey Gerald shares the personal sacrifices he made to attain success in the upper echelons of American society.
Get comfortable with being uncomfortable (video) - Author, podcast host Luvvie Ajayi Jones shares three questions to ask yourself if you're teetering on the edge of speaking up or quieting down.
How to Build Community When you Feel Isolated (video) - Educator Chitra Aiyar talks about how she encourages her students to cultivate spaces for other marginalized students to connect and help each other grow.
We're all Hiding Something. Let's Find the Courage to Open Up (video) - Ash Beckham offers a fresh approach to empathy and openness.
What is imposter syndrome and how can you combat it? (video animation) - Elizabeth Cox describes the psychology behind the imposter syndrome, and what you can do to combat it.
