Initiatives

UNL Out and Allied List:
Athletic staff members and student-athletes have the option to join UNL's Out and Allied List. An Ally is an individual who is pro-LGBTQA+ and actively committed to diversity and inclusion, mutual respect and safety for all people of all sexual orientations, gender identities and expression. Staff members who sign receive an ally and safe space sticker, demonstrating their visible support for diversity and inclusion in the workplace.  
 
Student-Athlete Programming

Diversity and Inclusion Summit:
Nebraska Athletics has planned and executed the Diversity and Inclusion Summit since 2016, devoting time and resources to maintaining Diversity and Inclusion as a consistent conversation in athletics. The goal is to expand the definition of diversity, spread awareness and educate student-athletes and staff on the concept of celebrating diversity and practicing inclusion. The Summit has received praise from NCAA administrators, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Administration, national experts on diversity and inclusion, coaches, staff and student-athletes.
 
Student-Athlete Advisory Committee Diversity and Inclusion Subcommittee:
The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) Diversity and Inclusion Subcommittee aims to provide counsel, feedback and programming around Diversity and Inclusion for the greater SAAC and student-athlete body. Members collaborate with the Diversity and Inclusion Director on Diversity and Inclusion events, such as the annual Summit. The D&I Subcommittee has hosted Diversity Day at dinner at the Lewis Training Table, has hosted culturally rich and diverse movie screenings, and provides a consistent presence of the student-athlete voice in diversity and inclusion initiatives.

Big Ten Anti-Hate and Anti-Racism Coalition
The goal of the Coalition is to seek tangible ways to actively and constructively combat racism and hate around the world while also empowering student-athletes to express their rights to free speech and nonviolent protest. The Coalition is comprised of student-athletes, staff members, coaches, faculty and administrators from the 14 institutions across the Big Ten Conference. The Coalition is consistently working to create content, programming and policies that can be distributed and implemented across the Big Ten Conference. Members of each Coalition take the information and explore ways to implement it to their specific campuses.

Cultural Celebrations and Spotlights:
Nebraska Life Skills frequently partners with campus and community partners to host, sponsor and co-manage programming for a number of cultural celebrations. Some programs include:

Black History Month Arts Showcase:
The Black History Month Arts Showcase is a collaboration with the Black Graduate Student Association, The Jackie Gaughan Multicultural Center and campus partners. The Showcase highlights performing and visual arts that highlight and create tribute to Black History. Student-athletes are eligible to perform acts or serve as an emcee.

 
Women’s History Month and UNL’s Women’s Week:
The UNL Women's Center hosts Women's Week, which athletics frequently collaborates and co-hosts. Past programming has included women in athletics leadership panels, female student-athlete networking nights, and self-defense workshops for staff and student-athletes.
 

Men@Nebraska Week and Men and Masculinities Conference Panel
Nebraska Athletics frequently partners with Men @ Nebraska (M@N), which is a recognized student organization that works with the Women’s Center to expand the definitions of masculinity and explore the issues men experience at UNL and beyond. Athletics cohosts programming and attempts to integrate male student-athletes into the conversation of masculinity at UNL and beyond. Past collaborations has included panels on athletics and masculinity, male staff members facilitating conversations for M@N, and student-athletes serving as members of M@N. 

International Student-Athlete Support:
Life Skills and Enrichment frequently plans an international student-athlete welcome program for incoming international student-athletes, as well as collaborative programs with The International Student and Scholar Office (ISSO). ISSO provides support and materials to international student-athletes on an ongoing basis. Life Skills and Enrichment displays the flag of each international student-athlete and staff member at the diversity and inclusion summit, and in the life skills area to create a welcoming environment for all of our staff and student-athletes.

Staff and Coach Programming

Diversity and Inclusion Summit:
Nebraska Athletics has planned and executed the Diversity and Inclusion Summit since 2016, devoting time and resources to maintaining Diversity and Inclusion as a consistent conversation in athletics. The goal is to expand the definition of diversity, spread awareness and educate student-athletes and staff on the concept of celebrating diversity and practicing inclusion. The Summit has received praise from NCAA administrators, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Administration, national experts on diversity and inclusion, coaches, staff and student-athletes.

Big Ten Anti-Hate and Anti-Racism Coalition
The goal of the Coalition is to seek tangible ways to actively and constructively combat racism and hate around the world while also empowering student-athletes to express their rights to free speech and nonviolent protest. The Coalition is comprised of student-athletes, staff members, coaches, faculty and administrators from the 14 institutions across the Big Ten Conference. The Coalition is consistently working to create content, programming and policies that can be distributed and implemented across the Big Ten Conference. Members of each Coalition take the information and explore ways to implement it to their specific campuses.
 
Staff Nclusion Pledge:
Introduced at the 2019 Summit, The Staff Nclusion Pledge is a visible sign of support for maintaining an inclusive environment for student-athletes and staff in Nebraska athletics. The pledge is also available in athletic programs for fans to view and sign. 
 
UNL Out and Allied List:
Athletic staff members have the option to join UNL's Out and Allied List. An Ally is an individual who is pro-LGBTQA+ and actively committed to diversity and inclusion, mutual respect and safety for all people of all sexual orientations, gender identities and expression. Staff members who sign receive an ally and safe space sticker, demonstrating their visible support for diversity and inclusion in the workplace.  
 
Staff Diversity and Inclusion Lunch N Learn Series:
The Diversity and Inclusion Lunch N Learn series allows staff members and coaches the opportunity to learn more about diversity and inclusion in a more intimate, detail oriented setting. Formatted differently than the annual summit, the lunch and learns are more interactive and allow for participants to learn more about specific diversity and inclusion topics and initiatives. The lunch and learn series happen once a month in the summer, and semesterly during the school year, touching on a variety of topics. Presenters come from community organizations, speakers and campus partners. 

Justice in June Challenge
Life Skills and Diversity and Inclusion will co-sponsor educational challenges and resources to provide to staff, coaches and student-athletes. Following the aftermath of the racial injustice in Spring 2020, the staff discovered the Justice in June Challenge. This resource was compiled by Autumn Gupta with Bryanna Wallace’s oversight for the purpose of providing a starting place for individuals trying to become better allies. By completing a reading, watching a video, and listening to a podcast for 10-45 minutes per day over an entire month, individuals actively learned about social justice, antiracism and allyship. A discussion was then held twice over the course of the month, to discuss how the resources were impactful and how to create meaningful change after the challenge. A number of Student-athletes, staff members and coaches participated in the challenge. The challenge serves as one of the many educational opportunities around diversity, equity and inclusion that Nebraska Athletics provides to the staff.