Student Organization Officers Guide

Inclusion and Accessibility

 

Student organizations thrive when they meet the needs of all students. Resources are available to assist organization officers in leading diverse, inclusive organizations. 

 

Diversity and Inclusion

Organization leaders should work to ensure that their organization provides welcoming and supportive environments and experiences for all students. Organizations interested in learning about the diverse experiences and perspectives of Tennessee Tech students are encouraged to attend events hosted by Intercultural Affairs and culture- or identity-based organizations. Intercultural Affairs team members may also be available to host training activities with your organization. Finally, Identity- and Culture-Based organizations can also reach out to Intercultural Affairs to learn about getting involved with their programs and advising.

Contact Intercultural Affairs at interculturalaffairs@tntech.edu.

 

Accessibility

Organization leaders are welcome to attend any events or seminars hosted by the Accessible Education Center (AEC). AEC team members may also be available to host trainings and activities tailored to your organization. Your organization may also wish to partner with the AEC to partake in a series of trainings which could be scheduled over the course of a semester.  This option is available on a first come first serve basis for organizations who would like to take their accessibility to the next level and would be scheduled through the AEC.

For more information reach out to disability@tntech.edu.

Officers should consider accessibility when planning meetings, events, and programs. Helpful questions to consider include:

• • Is everyone of varying abilities/disabilities welcome in our organization? In other words, can everyone particulate fully in meetings, activities, events, planned off-campus outings, are they able to access the necessary resources to serve in leadership etc. For example, will students with mobility-related disabilities be able to access the meeting or navigate the event space? Are our materials readily accessible in a variety of formats? When possible, are videos captioned or can they be captioned upon request? Is your website accessible?
  • Do we invite members or prospective members to request accommodations related to disabilities, serious food allergies or restrictions, etc. and do we provide an organizational leader’s contact information for such requests or to answer questions?
  • Are our social media posts accessible to everyone? (See the Social Media Accessibility Guide (PDF) for recommendations and best practices.)
  • It is recommended that organizations have an accessibility statement on their website, and if possible on their promotional materials.
  • Organizations may also consider designating “accessibility” to one of the organizational officer’s duties or they may consider creating an officer or chair for accessibility within their organization. This is not an organizational requirement, but may be a helpful addition to leadership, while also communicating that accessibility-related concerns are important, and that everyone is welcome. At the very least, it is recommended someone be designated as a point of contact for feedback and concerns related to disability and access.