Unconscious Bias Training for UK Students Begins

LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 2, 2018) — The University of Kentucky has created unconscious bias instruction for all its students, and the first sessions begin Tuesday.

Why does the University of Kentucky consider unconscious bias critical to explore and understand?

First, the goal of UK leaders is to foster a sense of belonging: for the university’s students, faculty, staff and for the community at large. Second, UK strives to be an inclusive environment that encourages diverse perspectives. Lastly, UK recognizes that individual and institutional biases can unconsciously stand in the way of achieving both of these goals.

“If we are looking to be a sustainable institution that adequately prepares our students to be successful in our rapidly changing world, we have to develop new awareness of our unconscious frames of reference, and actively pursue shifting our perceptions and preferences to become more inclusive and equitable,” said Marietta Watts, executive diversity liaison, Unconscious Bias Initiative, UK Office for Institutional Diversity.

The unconscious bias undertaking is deeply connected to the university’s institutional mission that states that UK plays a critical leadership role by promoting diversity, inclusion, economic development and human well-being for the Commonwealth of Kentucky and beyond.

The first phase of UK’s Unconscious Bias Initiative began in 2016 with unconscious bias awareness sessions presented to administrators, faculty and staff. 

“Approximately 10,000 UK staff and faculty have been exposed to unconscious bias training, so it’s very gratifying to now include our students in this initiative,” Watts said. “Although we recently incorporated unconscious bias in the UK101/201 curriculum, it is exciting to now offer the one-hour workshop to all students. We are hopeful that all of our students will see benefit to developing an understanding of what bias is and how it impacts all of our interactions.”

After holding pilot sessions with several student groups and including unconscious bias training in the UK101/201 curriculum during the 2017 fall semester, the Unconscious Bias Initiative Office will premiere unconscious bias training specifically for students.

This new one-hour workshop, intended for all UK students, was named and voted on by student pilot groups. The System 2 Thinking: Understanding Unconscious Bias workshops will be held:

• 1:30-2:30 p.m., April 3, Room 202 The 90
• 3-4 p.m., April 3, Room 202 The 90
• 9-10 a.m., April 4, Room 202 The 90
• 11 a.m.-noon, April 4, Room 202 The 90
• 3-4 p.m., April 5, Room 204 Whitehall Classroom Building
• 4:15-5:15 p.m., April 5, Room 204 Whitehall Classroom Building