As of 2016, the Geosciences is the least diverse STEM field with only 6% of doctoral students identifying as an underrepresented minority (Bernard and Cooperdock, 2018). We are committed to the ongoing work that must be done for our field to be more equitable. This starts within our department and culture. If you have any suggestions or wish to participate in ongoing efforts please reach out to us as an organization or our DEI chair

GGO DEI Goals & Mission

It is our goal as an organization to help foster and maintain a welcoming, safe, equitable environment for every graduate student in our department. We act as a liaison between faculty and students to help address and amplify graduate students voices and issues they raise. If you are feeling unsafe, unheard, discriminated against, or generally uncomfortable in any way, we strongly encourage you to reach out to us as an organization or as individuals.

Department DEI Mission Statement

The Department of Geosciences at Boise State seeks to become a campus leader in increasing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) through a range of efforts. We will do this by identifying the structural and cultural mechanisms that have prevented greater diversity in our department in the past and use this understanding to increase recruitment and retention of underrepresented groups while creating and fostering a departmental environment that will allow people in all intersections of underrepresented groups to succeed and thrive in the Geosciences at Boise State University.

Mission Statement

GGO Code of Conduct

GGO and BSU are committed to providing a safe, productive, and welcoming environment for all staff and participants in any meeting, workshop, field project or event hosted or managed by GGO/BSU, no matter what role they play. All leadership members and participants/guests are required to abide by this Code of Conduct. This Code of Conduct is adapted from the one adopted by NCAR/UCAR and AGU, and applies to all GGO/BSU related events, including those sponsored by organizations other than GGO/BSU but held in conjunction with GGO/BSU events, in any location throughout the world.

Expected Behavior:

All staff and participants are treated with respect and consideration, valuing a diversity of views and opinions.
Be considerate, respectful, and collaborative.
Communicate openly with respect for others, critiquing ideas rather than individuals.
Avoid personal attacks directed toward other participants.
Be mindful of your surroundings and of your fellow staff members and participants.
Alert GGO members, as identified here, if you notice a dangerous situation or someone in distress.

Unacceptable Behavior:

Harassment, intimidation, or discrimination in any form will not be tolerated.
Physical or verbal abuse by anyone to anyone, including but not limited to GGO members, a participant, member of the public, guest, member of any institution or sponsor.
Examples of unacceptable behavior include, but are not limited to, verbal comments related to gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, religion, national origin/color, inappropriate use of nudity and/or sexual images in public spaces or in presentations, or threatening or stalking anyone, including a participant.

Consequences:

Anyone requested to stop unacceptable behavior is expected to comply immediately.
GGO/BSU staff, as identified below (or their designee), or security/local police may take any action deemed necessary and appropriate, including immediate removal from the event, meeting, workshop, field project, or facility without warning.
GGO/BSU reserves the right to prohibit attendance at any future event.
Notification of an infraction to a Home Institution. In cases where GGO determines there has been a potential policy or code of conduct violation which may or has caused serious personal and/or professional harm, the home institution of the offender will be notified of the complaint.

Reporting Unacceptable Behavior:

If you or someone you know is subject to unacceptable and/or unwelcome behavior, or if you observe inappropriate behavior, or have any other concerns, please contact a GGO member immediately.

Code of Conduct established in 2020. Written by Carson MacPherson Krutsky & Elizabeth Padian

Code of Conduct

Ongoing Initatives

Working with the department to create a free gear closet
Developing a Field Safety Policy & Guidelines
Developing a department TA training geared towards more equitable teaching practices
Surveying fellow graduate students to understand where their needs are being met, where they need support, and subsequently advocating that support to the faculty
Organizing students and faculty to oppose state legislature which penalizes and prohibits "social justice" initiatives on campus

Current Initatives

Past Initiatives

Organized a food drive for the Boise State Food Pantry (Fall 2021)
Survey of undergraduates to understand their concerns and needs as they pertain to field work, relaying those barriers of entry to faculty
Organizing students and faculty to oppose state legislature which penalizes and prohibits "social justice" initiatives on campus (Spring 2021)
Surveying fellow graduate students to understand where their needs are being met, where they need support, and subsequently advocating that support to the faculty (Spring 2020 & 2021)
Providing input for the department's Spring 2021 Graduate Climate Survey
Making contact with other like-minded organizations on campus
Making connections with local organizations for future collaborations
Establishing ourselves as an official BSU-recognized organization (Fall 2020)

Future Goals

Past Initatives

Future Goals

Establish a graduate DEI committee

Work with Inclusive Idaho to create beginner-friendly field guides

Work with the department to include a more diverse speaker list for Monday Seminar

Follow up on projects proposed from the Fall 2020 Race and Racism Seminar

Create a page of resources and references