Established in 1995, the Chancellor’s Advisory Committee for LGBTQ+ Advocacy is a non-elected, standing committee devoted to improving climate and diversity by making recommendations related to current and proposed policies and practices that affect LGBTQ+ employees and students.
News and Events
The Chancellor’s Advisory Committee for LGBTQ+ Advocacy is active and engaged in raising the visibility of LGBTQ+ communities on the UWM campus and in fostering a sense of inclusion for all across campus. The committee is currently working on a wide variety of topics and advocating and creating positive change within our University community. See below for highlights of what we’re currently working on.
LGBTQ+ CHAMPION OF THE YEAR AWARD
This annual honor is given to a UWM faculty or staff member helping campus (1) introduce or improve policies and practices improving climate and diversity that positively affect LGBTQ+ students and employees and (2) engage in advocacy activities beyond the scope of their job description by increasing awareness of issues that affect LBTBQ+ individuals through institutional, administrative, or personal support of LGBTQ+ campus constituents. This fall recognition has been awarded annually since 2016. The committee administers the award process, including soliciting nominations, evaluating nominations, and selecting the recipient. See the dedicated page for more information about this prestigious award.
FREE SPEECH, NOT HATE SPEECH
Achieving a balance between freedom of expression and the rights and safety of all members of our diverse campus community is vital. UWM community members wish to engage in a free exchange of ideas, and to do so, must be able to voice opinions that may be unpopular. But freedom of speech does not protect discriminatory harassment, invasions of privacy, or threats against another. The committee will work closely with the Divisions of Global Inclusion and Engagement, University Relations and Communications, and Student Affairs to encourage student organizations to be mindful that individuals invited to the campus for speaking engagements and/or public events must uphold the university’s values of free expression and safety for all. This committee will additionally strive to identify how violations of campus policy impact LGBTQIA+ community members and suggest ways to be proactive in demonstrating care for them.
GRADUATE STUDENT RECRUITMENT
Integrating students into the life of the committee and fostering a sense of community for LGBTQ+ graduate students on campus is key to developing next-gen LGBTQIA leadership in higher education. Graduate student members reach out to student-led organizations and student advocates to co-host university events, academic symposia, and to ensure that the committee speaks in a voice that resonates with UWM students.
HEALTHCARE FOR TRANS EMPLOYEES
Great progress has been made in providing health coverage for procedures, services and supplies related to surgery and hormones associated with gender reassignment. The CACLBGT+ will work with the Department of Employee Trust Funds and associated vendors (e.g., StayWell) to frame information they solicit in a less binary fashion, especially for information they request in registration forms or service applications.
INFORMED CONSENT MODEL
Empowering students to have agency over their own healthcare enhances their psychological and physical well-being. Elements of an informed consent model already are in place at the university’s Norris Health Center, making it possible for trans students to obtain hormone treatments and other care they need to prioritize their health and wellness. This sub-committee is working to formalize and implement a complete informed consent model at Norris Health Center for the 2019-20 academic year.
INTENTIONAL CONNECTIONS
Following the UW Colleges restructuring in summer 2018, this committee is working to build intentional, inclusive connections between UW-Milwaukee and its new branch campuses, UWM at Washington County and UWM at Waukesha. Both campuses are looking forward to working with this committee on such issues as LGBTQ+ training sessions for faculty, staff, and students and inclusive and accessible restrooms.
RESEARCH GUIDELINES
University researchers working with human subjects have an ethical obligation to protect them from harm. This committee engages with the University’s Institutional Review Board for the Protection of Human subjects to ensure that studies in which researcher’s gather data about subjects’ sex, gender and sexuality meet this obligation. This involves recognizing human diversity when gathering demographic data and asking substantive questions in an affirming and sensitive manner.
UNIFORM SYLLABUS POLICY
Updating the university’s Uniform Syllabus Policy has been on the committee’s agenda for some time. Encouraging faculty, staff and students to identify by names-in-use, use nonbinary pronouns in UWM syllabi, and other inclusive practices are among the suggested best practices. Building greater awareness of the updated syllabus policy is a committee goal for the 2019-20 academic year.