Indiana State University Social Justice Certificate Program

Coordinated by the Office of Multicultural Services and Programs and University College in conjunction with the Career Center

Social justice is the assertion of the ideal that all humans should have the same rights and opportunities. From access to healthcare to safe spaces to live, social justice aims to level the playing field and eliminate discrimination. There are four interrelated principles of social justice: equity, access, participation, and rights.

The ISU Social Justice Certificate Program is a self-paced, comprehensive program designed to encourage and recognize student leadership education and experiences at Indiana State University. The program is adaptable so a variety of students can work toward completing this certificate.

Social Justice Issues

• Race
• Gender
• Age
• Sexual Orientation
• Religion
• Nationality
• Education
• Mental or Physical Ability

The ISU Social Justice Certificate Program Outcomes

• Demonstrate skills for engaging and addressing issues of diversity and social justice.
• Understand the power dynamics associated with difference and dominance/oppression, and their impact on human functioning and social relations within and across diverse groups.
• Understand how structural inequities in society are shaped by historical, psychological, social, and political factors.
• Demonstrate awareness of oppressive assumptions, biases, and prejudices that facilitate a stance of dominance, as well as identify where these biases, prejudices and assumptions rest in institutions.
• Develop methods for continuing this life long process of recognizing our biases, learning how to change oppressive systems, and building a more socially just, equitable multicultural society.

To apply for the certificate program, please go here!

Steps for an Effective Problem-Solving Process

1. Identify the issues

Be clear about what the problem is Remember that different people might have different views of what the issues are.

2. Understand everyone's interests

Interests are the needs that you want satisfied by any given solution The best solution is the one that satisfies everyone's interests

3. List the possible solutions

Program Requirements

Students will complete the following experiences at any point during a year of beginning the certificate program.

A. Leadership Bias Education (participate in 7)

• Completion of Implicit Association Tests

The Implicit Association Test (IAT) measures attitudes and beliefs that people may be unwilling or unable to report. The IAT may be especially interesting if it shows that you have an implicit attitude that you did not know about. Complete all Implicit Association Test (IAT) by visiting this site https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/takeatest.html. Documentation of completion of all tests are required.

*Once you go to the indicated website, you must agree to the statement below* in order for all test results are recorded. Print the completion document to submit as proof of completion.

B. Leadership Social Justice Experiences (participation in 4):

​​​To increase understanding and an affinity for social justice programs, workshops, trainings, and events participation in such events are vital.

• Attendance in a minimum of 4(four) social justice or diversity focused opportunities such as:

  • Office of Multicultural Services and Programs workshops

  • ISU sponsored Social Justice programs and/or events

C. Curriculum Based Leadership Development (complete both parts):

• Support 3(three) campaigns via Color of Change or other such avenues

  • Color Of Change, the largest online racial justice organization in the country, and help us fight to end the war on Black people in our country
  • Review the petitions on the website https://colorofchange.org/ and select 3(three) campaigns to sign in support
  • After signing the petition, you must post on your social media sites (i.e. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.) and share with friends via email)
  • Include MSP Office at isu-msp@mail.indstate.edu to the email list of friends

You are not required to donate any funds. Please do not donate any funds to any organization.

• Create 1(one) campaign you believe is missing from Color of Change by visiting Organize For at https://organizefor.org/

  • Print a copy of posted campaign and submit in order to obtain credit

Final Projects - your choice of two final projects (only complete one project):

Project one – You must complete both parts of Project one to obtain credit.

• Collage of Concern - This task allows you to express your thoughts and feelings about important social justice issues \

  • Digital Visual Component*
  • Write a description to accompany your collage and the concern and ideas represented
  • Gather photos, magazines, newspapers, catalogs and other recycled images to use.
  • The visual component is the means we will use that provides a powerful combination of images and ideas.

*Instructions on how to design and submit your collage will be provided

• ​​​Written Component
• In a one-page, double spaced, document discuss the following:
• Reflect on the process of creating the collage
• Describing how their collage connects to central themes
• Share how their collage can impact the community
• Provide possible solutions to concerns

Project two - Self & Us & Now

• You are to follow this worksheet http://marshallganz.usmblogs.com/files/2012/08/Public-Narrative-Worksheet-Fall-2013-.pdf.
• The worksheet focuses on your “story of self”, the goal is to identify sources of your own calling to the purpose in which you will call upon others (story of us) to join you in action (story of now).
• This is how to get started:
  • Consider: A story of now: What urgent challenge do you hope to inspire others to take action on? What is your vision of successful action? What choice will you call on members of your community – in this case, your classmates - to make if they are to meet this challenge successfully? How can they act together to achieve this outcome? And how can they begin now, at this moment? Describe this “now” in two or three sentences.
  • Consider: A story of us: To what values, experiences, or aspirations of your community – in this case your classmates at the very least ‐ will you appeal when you call on them to join you in action? What stories do you share that can express these values? Describe this “us” in two or three sentences.
  • Consider: A story of self: Why were you called to motivate others to join you in this action? What stories can you share that will enable others to “get you.” How can you enable others to experience sources the values that move you not only to act, but to lead? Focus on this section, trying to identify key choice points that set you on your path.

Certificate Management

Students participating in the ISU Social Justice Certificate Program will find all certificate information on the Office of Multicultural Services and Programs, University College, and Career Center website. Participation and completion will be tracked and monitored by the Office of Multicultural Services and Programs.  The Office Multicultural Services and Programs will meet with the student and verify that the requirements are completed.  The Career Center will process the certification and note it on the student’s Co-Curricular Record. The Career Center, University College, and Office Multicultural Services and Programs will jointly issue the ISU Social Justice Certificate.

For more information, please contact ISU-MSP@indstate.edu or call 812-237-8513.