Management Programs

Institutional racism is a form of racism that occurs in institutions such as public bodies, corporations, and universities. Institutional racism is distinguished from the bigotry or racial bias of individuals by the existence of systematic, structural policies and practices that have the unintended effect of disadvantaging certain racial or ethnic groups.

Many organizations have done a significant amount of work in addressing issues of diversity at the individual and interpersonal level but have yet to address how policies, practices, and procedures have been institutionalized along race, class, gender, and other lines, thereby resulting in institutionally discriminatory behaviors.

This intensive program will provide an in-depth understanding of the forms of institutional racism inherent in many organizations. Participants will focus on ways to dismantle discriminatory behaviors, policies, practices, and on how to design and implement systems that create an inclusive, open, and transparent discrimination-free culture.

Key Topics

• Understanding the Nature of Racism in the Institutional Context
• What is racism?
• How does it operate?
• Why racism still exists
• Identifying racism at the institutional levels
• Discussion and analysis
• Conceptual and Practical Tools
• Operationalizing institutional racism
• Eurocentrism
• What is whiteness?
• Critical boundaries
• Deconstructing institutionally discriminatory polices, practices, and procedures
• Legal and Organizational Tools
• Legislative requirements
• Federal, state, and local law
• Direct/indirect discrimination and victimization
• Harassment
• Positive action
• Dealing with/deconstructing stereotypes in policies, practices, and procedures
• Indicators of best practices
• Indicators of bad practices
• Training
• Anti-Racist Strategies
• Oppression Matrix
• The organizational areas
• Developing a strategic plan to remove institutional discrimination
• Employment
• Anti-subordination
• Policies, practices, and procedure
• Research
• Contracts and purchasing
• Building healthy communities
• Reviewing Your Institution
• Eliminating institutionally discriminatory polices, practices, and procedures
• The value proposition for eliminating institutionally discriminatory policies, practices, and procedures
• Analyzing your data - what does it say about your institution?

Who Will Benefit

HR, EEO/AA, diversity managers, consultants, employee relations specialists, and those who are interested in dismantling institutional discrimination.

Participating in the Program

Registration is limited to 12 students. To enroll in this program, please contact Sherrie Morales, Program Coordinator, at 212-340-2868, or by e-mail at sm92@cornell.edu.