Penn State is committed to and accountable for advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in all of its forms. We embrace individual uniqueness, foster a culture of inclusive excellence that supports both broad and specific diversity initiatives, leverage the educational and institutional benefits of diversity, and engage all individuals to help them thrive. We value inclusive excellence as a core strength and an essential element of our public service mission.
Diversity among students and faculty is a top priority for the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences and the Office of Educational Equity takes an active role in promoting respect and embracing diversity in the college. By fostering an environment that values diversity, we hope to help all people find a place in our college.
We highly recommend these important University references:
- Penn State Statement on Belonging
- Educational Equity in Penn State Strategic Planning
- Community and Belonging Resources
- University Faculty Senate Policy on Class Attendance
- Religious and Spiritual Observances Calendar
- Office of Equal Opportunity and Access
- Penn State Nondiscrimination Statement
- Policies and Definitions - Includes links to Statement on Intolerance, AD 85 Sexual Harassment AD 91 Discrimination and Harassment and Related Inappropriate Conduct, the Student Code of Conduct, and more.
- Penn State and EMS Values and Strategic Plans
The College of Earth and Mineral Sciences is committed to expanding inclusive excellence and has embarked on a number of strategic initiatives. Please visit the sections below to learn more.
The college offers resources and opportunities for all members of our community to learn about how to be a better Ally to underrepresented/underserved groups and diversity in general.
Visit Active Ally Resources to learn more >>
During 2018-19, the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences undertook a vital and relevant assessment of the environment for living, learning, and working - the Assessment of the Living, Learning, and Working Environment (ALLWE) survey. The initiative's goal was to make positive, lasting changes, and to help create a more inclusive campus. In September 2024, the final report was presented.
As part of efforts to build a welcoming culture supportive of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, the college offers resources and opportunities for all members of our community to learn about how to be more aware of and how to combat racism.
Visit Anti-Racism Resources to learn more >>
During the fall of 2019, the college partnered with Penn State’s Stand For State program to offer lively, scenario-based, facilitated discussions focusing on fostering more inclusive working and learning environments with the Bystander Intervention approach.
- Don’t walk on by: how to confront bias and bigotry aimed at others - (type Penn State into the “Access Through Your Institution” box) “Bystander-intervention programs use humor and other tools to call out bullying and harassment in science.”
To learn more, visit the Bystander Intervention webpage
The brand-new College of Earth and Mineral Science’s Educational Equity Community Room (in 116A Deike) offers gathering space for EMS students in support of our diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging goals, the University Values of Respect and Community, and the EMS Values of Inclusivity and Safety and Wellbeing. This welcoming, comfortable, and flexible space can be used for student group activities, study sessions, Zoom calls, networking events, or just hanging out. Open to both undergrad and grad students, it offers unique opportunities for fostering community.
The room is available by request. Interested groups should email edequity@ems.psu.edu or swb5843@psu.edu. When requesting, students should indicate the group or meeting details, the expected number of attendees, and if any special accommodation is needed.
Open Hours: Monday through Friday 8:00am to 5:00pm
Evening hours 5:00-7:00pm by request. Please give at least one week’s notice for any times after 5:00pm.
EMS Educational Equity Community Room Guidelines
- Respect the space, respect each other.
- Please clean up after yourselves in this brand-new room. There is no regular cleaning schedule, so please help keep it tidy and neat. Please dispose of all trash in the hallway trash bin and recycle what you can. If you make a mess and you cannot clean up, please let the Office of Educational Equity know.
- No paint and no glitter. No red beverages. (There is no carpet or upholstery cleaning)
- If you create a stain, you might be liable to pay for cleaning services.
- Take any leftover food with you or store it in the fridge (date and label any items with your name).
- Stay within the scheduled time(s) of your gathering.
- Please keep in mind there is the Geosciences office surrounding the room and to keep noise levels respectable during regular business hours.
Created in 2021, the EMS Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Awards honor undergraduate students, graduate students, postdocs, staff and faculty who have demonstrated exemplary leadership that manifests the ideals of diversity, equity and inclusion into practical action. These awards will be awarded annually by the college's Diversity Council.
These awards are given in recognition of students (graduate and undergraduate), postdocs, faculty and staff who have gone above and beyond in demonstrating awareness, leadership, or commitment to promoting and fostering diversity, equity and inclusion in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences.
The student awards are named after Dr. Catherine Lyons, the first associate dean for educational equity in EMS. The postdoc, staff and faculty awards are named after Dr. Charles Hosler, a former dean of the college and a strong proponent of diversity, equity and inclusion. Award information and nomination forms may be accessed using the below links
- Catherine Lyons Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Undergraduate Student Award
- Catherine Lyons Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Graduate Student Award
- Charles Hosler Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Staff Award
- Charles Hosler Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Faculty Award
- Charles Hosler Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Postdoc Award
Diversity among students and faculty is a top priority for the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences and the college's Diversity Council helps the Office of Educational Equity in promoting respect and embracing diversity and inclusion in the college.
View members of the Diversity Council >>
The College of Earth and Mineral Sciences believes that the best science emerges when our researchers can bring their whole selves to the team. Patterned after the Eberly College of Sciences' network, the created the Rainbow Science Network (RSN) to foster a fully inclusive environment in our research groups.
Visit the EMS Rainbow Network webpage >>
As part of efforts to build a welcoming culture supportive of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, the college's Educational Equity Office host EMS Reads. This program features readings and discussion on books that foster indepth thoughts on diversity topics.
To learn more, visit the EMS Reads webpage >>
Learn more about Environmental Justice >>
Undergraduate Student Resources:
Below is a curated list of resources specifically designed to support first-generation undergraduate and graduate students in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences (EMS) at Penn State. These resources address academic, financial, and personal development needs to help you succeed.
- Chaiken Center for Student Success - Offers mentorship, community-building, and tailored resources for first-gen students to help them thrive academically and personally at Penn State.
- Ryan Family Student Center - Provides academic advising and personalized support for EMS students, ensuring first-gen undergraduates have a go-to resource for help.
- Financial Aid Services - Helps students access grants, scholarships, and financial aid guidance, addressing the financial barriers many first-gen students face.
- Lion Pantry - Provides free food and personal care items to students facing food insecurity, ensuring they can focus on academics.
- EMS Library Services - Provides specialized resources, workshops, and one-on-one assistance tailored to the unique needs of EMS students.
Graduate Student Resources:
- Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) - Provides mental health and wellness support for graduate students, helping them manage stress, imposter syndrome, and other challenges unique to graduate studies.
- EMS Ombuds Program - Provides neutral guidance to address conflicts or concerns related to academic and research experiences for graduate students in EMS.
- Graduate Writing Center - Offers support for writing theses, dissertations, and grants, helping graduate students develop their academic writing skills.
- Health Insurance Services - Helps graduate students navigate Penn State’s health insurance plans to ensure access to affordable and comprehensive healthcare.
- Graduate School Professional Development Program - Offers workshops, mentoring, and career preparation resources to help graduate students succeed in academia, industry, or public service.
Graduate and Undergraduate Resources:
- First-generation Honor Society Accepting Applications – Tri-Alpha at University Park, a first-generation honor society, is accepting applications from faculty, staff, alumni, graduate students, and undergraduate students who are eligible. Applications are due October 1. If as an undergraduate student, your immediate parents or legal guardians had not completed a bachelor's degree, please consider applying. Also, please encourage your graduate and undergraduate students who meet the eligibility criteria to apply, and share the information with your alumni who may be eligible. Learn more at Apply now to Tri-Alpha at University Park, a first-generation honor society | Penn State University
Penn State Resources for immigration uncertainty
Penn State Community updates related to federal actions: Community Updates | Government and Community Relations
Penn State Global International Students, Scholars, and Faculty Immigration Resources: International Students, Scholars, and Faculty Immigration Resources
Penn State University Park Undergraduate Association (UPUA) Resources for Students Amidst Immigration Uncertainty: Immigration Uncertainty Resources — UPUA — Your Student Government
Penn State Global Reference Guide: Interacting With Federal Law Enforcement Authorities on Campuses and Travel Information for International Students, Faculty and Staff: Reference guide federal law enforcement.pdf
University Police should be informed of any immigration-related law enforcement activity at a Penn State location – 814-863-1111.
Register all university-affiliated international travel with Penn State’s Global Safety Network to ensure you receive the latest guidance available for your planned travel. Additional information about travel abroad is also available on the GSN website.
Resources from Penn State Dickinson Law Center for Immigrant’s Rights Clinic: Resources - Penn State Dickinson Law
Visit American Immigration Lawyers Association for information on contacting an immigration attorney. If you are a student contact Student Legal Services Student Legal Services | Penn State Student Affairs
Message from Penn State Global, shared with the University Community, April 3, 2025:
ISSA Comm 04.03.2025_0.pdf
Students, Scholars, and Faculty on University Sponsored Visas
International Student & Scholar Advising (ISSA) in Penn State Global highly recommends that you keep documentation regarding your visa status up-to-date and always carry copies of proof of status, such as a photocopy or scan/digital copy of your primary immigration documents. ISSA provides guidance, which is updated periodically, about which documents you should carry based on your visa type.
As a reminder, for students on F-1 or J-1 student visa status, your documents would include:
• Your main passport page
• Your current I-94 Record
• Your most recent I-20/DS-2019
• Your most recent visa
• It may also be helpful to have a copy of your class schedule and a copy of the AILA’s Know Your Rights document.
Federal Law Enforcement Efforts
Our Penn State campuses are comprised of public and private spaces. Federal law enforcement officers can enter public spaces on our campuses without permission; however, they cannot enter private spaces, such as residence halls, locked offices, or other secured University spaces, without a valid judicial warrant. Please note that Penn State classrooms are not private spaces.
If you are approached by ICE or other federal law enforcement officers on campus, please alert University Police at 814-863-1111. You should remain calm and ask for identification. If the officer produces identification and a signed warrant, you must comply with their orders. You do, however, have the right to remain silent. Bystanders should not attempt to interfere with the actions of the federal law enforcement officers.
A quick reference guide for engaging with federal law enforcement officers is available online.
Travel Guidance
Last week, the U.S. Secretary of State announced that the Department of State is revoking visas, including F-1 and J-1 visas of individuals who have criminal records or otherwise fail to adhere to court orders. In addition, in January, the President issued an Executive Order asking agencies to identify countries for which full or partial suspension of new visas may be appropriate and existing visas should be suspended or revoked.
Those making international travel plans should closely monitor these and any future developments and use caution when deciding when to travel outside of the U.S. Rules regarding travel may change suddenly and without warning.
If you are travelling outside the U.S., please review travel information for your visa type on the Penn State Global website.
If you will be traveling within the United States – driving on major highways, or riding on buses, trains, or planes – you should carry your key documents documenting your legal status in the U.S.
Additional Resources
For more information, Penn State Global maintains a web page with relevant information.
If you are on a visa sponsored by Penn State and have any questions about your immigration status, please don’t hesitate to contact International Student & Scholar Advising. If you are not in the U.S. on a Penn State sponsored visa or if you have specific questions or concerns related to your immigration status, you may also contact an immigration attorney, including (if you are a student) Student Legal Services.
Penn State sponsored students, scholars, and faculty are encouraged to stay connected with ISSA. They are always available to assist and connect you with resources for support.
When Penn State Global becomes aware that a student has had their lawful status in the U.S. terminated, a staff member reaches out directly to the student to make them aware of the situation, if they aren’t already. Penn State also has other support teams in place who are available to you, including:
• International Student and Scholar Services
• University Community Updates Regarding Executive Actions
• Penn State Law Center for Immigrants’ Rights Clinic—2025 Resources
• Student Care & Advocacy
• Counseling & Psychological Services
• Student Legal Services
Reach out to the International Student and Scholar Advising Office in Penn State Global at 814-865-7681
External Information and Resources
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services – Alien Registration Requirement Alien Registration Requirement | USCIS
USCIS – Alien Registration Requirement for Non-Citizens: What Colleges and Universities Need to Know FAQs-USCIS-Registration-Requirement-March-2025-2.pdf
American Immigration Lawyers Association Know Your Rights: If ICE Visits Your Home Know-Your-Rights-2025-Update-2.pdf
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU): Immigrants’ Rights Immigrants' Rights | American Civil Liberties Union
National Immigration Law Center: Know Your Rights Under the U.S. Constitution Know Your Rights No Matter Who is President - NILC
Feb. 6 - 16: Picture a Scientist Week
Picture a Scientist Week, jointly sponsored by the Eberly College of Science and College of Earth and Mineral Sciences, will feature events focused on celebrating diversity and equity in the STEM fields in conjunction with Black History Month.
- Feb. 6-11: “Picture a Scientist” documentary free-viewing sessions
- Feb. 6: Empower Conference: Building Connections Through Community
- Feb. 10: Picture a Scientist Q&A with Jane Willenbring
- Feb. 10: Jane Willenbring, SAGF Lecture
- Feb. 11: Diversity in STEM Trivia Night
- Feb. 16: EMS Women Faculty Panel Discussion
The Safer People Safer Places network seeks to create a safer and more inclusive environment for sexual and gender diversity.
Learn more about the college's participation in the Safer People Safer Places >>
One of the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences' strategic initiates is the status of women faculty in the college.
In the fall of 2016, Dean William Easterling charged a committee of nine faculty from the college to assess the status of women employees with faculty appointments. The dean requested that the committee consider the following questions on the professional opportunities and climate related to gender for EMS faculty:
- What special challenges do women face in the college in achieving their professional goals and balancing those goals with their personal lives?
- How much progress has the collegle made in the past ten years toward increasing the impact of women on achieving the college’s mission?
- What are the college’s strengths in promoting a healthy and productive environment for women to thrive? What are its weaknesses?
- What are some practical and potentially effective ways the College can improve the working condition for women?
Read the report: Status of Women Academics Report - College of Earth and Mineral Sciences (June 2017)
Read the Implementation Plan
Diversity, equity, and inclusive excellence play a central role in our college’s core mission to prepare our students to live, work, and lead in a global environment. The College of Earth and Mineral Sciences’ broad and multifaceted diversity efforts are inclusive of nationality, ethnicity, race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ability, veteran status, socio economic status, first generation to college status, and religion and apply to students, faculty, staff.
- View Undergraduate Belonging Resources >>
- View Graduate Belonging Resources >>
- Science advocacy group 'WE ARE for Science' to meet Jan. 31
- 'WE ARE for Science' advocates for science policy, communications and diversity
- Penn Staters' voices heard at science march in Washington, D.C.
- WE ARE for Science fields questions from inquiring kids, adults at Grange Fair
- WE ARE for Science takes advocacy message to Washington, D.C.
- Ask a Scientist, visual displays, educational trails set for Earth Day event
- The next generation: Students learn about opportunities for women in geosciences
- New graduate, undergraduate student groups strive to increase museum involvement
- Inaugural fellows reflect on experiences
- Picture a Scientist Week to highlight diversity, equity in STEM beginning Feb. 6
- EMS graduate student on a mission through research, sustainability
- College of EMS to participate in State College Pride Parade and Festival
- Earth and Mineral Sciences graduate fellow builds belonging safety net for peers
- College of EMS participates in State College Pride Parade and Festival
- Health and Wellness webpage, maintained by Penn State Student Affairs, details the many wellness and mental health resources available to support and empower Penn State students.
- Forrester N. (2023) Fed up and burnt out: ‘quiet quitting’ hits academia. Many researchers dislike the term, but the practice of dialing back unrewarded duties is gaining traction
- Nicholls H, Nicholls M, Tekin S, Lamb D, Billings J. (2022) The impact of working in academia on researchers’ mental health and well-being: A systematic review and qualitative meta-synthesis. To improve researchers’ well-being at work, scientific/academic practice and the system’s concept of what a successful researcher should look like, needs to change.
- Hammoudi Halat D, Soltani A, Dalli R, Alsarraj L, Malki A. (2023) Understanding and Fostering Mental Health and Well-Being among University Faculty: A Narrative Review. This article summarizes the available evidence on factors influencing faculty mental health and shows the prevalence of anxiety, depression, stress, and burnout among faculty from various academic fields and along the whole academic ladder. Using a suggested framework that collates the efforts of leaders and faculty, the paper concludes by exploring strategies that promote work–life balance among academics and suggesting effective interventions to improve their mental health outcomes.
- Anxiety & Depression Association of America: Black and African American Communities Mental Health Resources for the Black Community | Anxiety and Depression Association of America, ADAA
- Graduate Student Well-being Resources
- Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) (serves undergraduate and graduate students)
- Black College Student Mental Health Video from CAPS
- The Red Folder - The Red Folder initiative is a guide to help faculty, staff, student leaders, and others who interact with students to recognize, respond effectively to, and refer Penn State students in distress.
- Employee Assistance Program - Resources are available to full-time, benefits-eligible Penn State employees, Post-doctoral Appointees, their spouse and dependents, as well as members of their household.
- See below in the "Where to get help" tab for further resources.
Penn State offers numerous resources specifically for underrepresented students seeking assistance with a variety of concerns. We also encourage you to contact staff in our Office for the Associate Dean for Educational Equity, who can work with you and may be able to point you to additional resources.
See Something and Want to Say Something, But You Are Afraid of Retaliation? - You can file an anonymous report through the University Hotline at 1-800-560-1637 or www.mycompliancereport.com/brand/psu . Other avenues for assistance include your supervisor, EMS Human Resources Strategic Partner (John Barlett), and our College Ombudspeople at https://www.ems.psu.edu/resources-faculty-and-staff Ombudspersons. All reports are treated with the high level of seriousness and sensitivity they deserve. However, please be aware that in most cases, any findings and subsequent action must remain confidential and won’t be shared with the person who reported the concern. That doesn’t mean nothing was done, just that the results of the review must be kept confidential for policy or legal reasons.
- University Police — Report a Crime
- Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)
501 Student Health Center
814-863-0395- CAPS- Crisis Services (24/7): Penn State Crisis Line
Telephone: 1-877-229-6400
Text Line: “LIONS” to 741741
- CAPS- Crisis Services (24/7): Penn State Crisis Line
- Victim & Survivor Support & Advocacy
204 Boucke Building
814-863-2027 - Vice Provost for Educational Equity (EE)
304 Old Main
814-865-5906 - EMS Human Resources
501 Barron Innovation Hub - Office of Equal Opportunity and Access
328 Boucke 814-863-0471 - Employee Assistance Program - (Supportlinc) : 1-888-501-3532
- Relationship Violence Outreach, Intervention and Community Education Center (R-VOICE)
204 Boucke Building
814-863-2027 - Office of Ethics and Compliance
Rider Building
814-867-5088 - Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity
LL011 HUB-Robeson Center
814-863-1248 - University Health Services
Student Health Center
814-865-4UHS (4847) - Paul Robeson Cultural Center
21 HUB-Robeson Center
814-865-3776 - Centre Safe
140 W Nittany Ave, State College, PA 16801
877-234-5050 - Supporting Students In Distress:
- Red Folder
- Reporting at Penn State (anonymous reporting): 1-800-560-1637
- Title IX Reporting
