Course to be offered July 19-21 on Hodges’ Fort Myers campus

FORT MYERS, FLORIDA, UNITED STATES, June 22, 2017 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Chief diversity officers and individuals working in the field of diversity and inclusion are invited to participate in a three-day Certified Diversity Professional (CDP)™ classroom prep course hosted by Gail B. Williams, chief diversity officer at Hodges University.

The three-day prep course will be held July 19-21 on Hodges University’s Fort Myers campus, in the Center for Diversity, Inclusion and Cultural Competency, which is located at 4501 Colonial Boulevard, Fort Myers, FL 33966.

Donald W. Wortham, Ph.D., President of Hodges University says, “At our core, Hodges University supports four values--excellence, respect, integrity, and inclusion. To be excellent, one has to be an integrated person—a whole person, one with integrity. To be in community, one must respect others, and one cannot be respectful without being inclusive. We at Hodges strongly believe that our community is strongest when it is diverse, and when our students, faculty, and staff bring a multiplicity of viewpoints to our shared endeavors.”

Dr. Wortham adds, “The Hodges University Center for Diversity, Inclusion and Cultural Competency (HUCDICC) operates out of these same values. And so the HUCDIC is committed to building a culture that is at once welcoming, safe, and respectful, but that also challenges us individually and collectively to uphold these four values."

According to Leah Smiley, President of the Society for Diversity’s Institute for Diversity Certification (IDC)™, the CDP track allows participants “to demonstrate competence and increase their credibility in the field of equity, diversity and inclusion. It goes beyond Black and White, or political correctness, toward identifying real value for the organization through inclusive business practices. The credential is an industry standard for identifying professional excellence and leadership.”

Some of the CDP topic areas participants will learn about include handling difficult conversations, diversity recruiting and retention, empowering women, religion, disability and special needs accommodations, and measuring the impact of diversity and inclusion.

“It is vital for chief diversity officers as well as individuals working in that capacity or in the field of diversity and inclusion to stay up to date on current trends and laws. We must understand the complexity of the field and be prepared to overcome overwhelming objections and obstacles,” said Williams.

IDC designates the following requirements for the CDP credential:

• At least two years of work experience in the field of diversity, HR or law/EEO
• A passing score of at least 80 percent on the CDP exam
• Completion of a Candidate Project

“There is much work to be done in the field of diversity and inclusion, and there is an urgency to have qualified and certified diversity professionals and certified diversity executives to fulfill this need, therefore, I will be hosting the Certified Diversity Professional Workshop for the Society for Diversity,” Williams explained.

The cost to attend is $3,699. Current Society for Diversity members, or those who wish to become members, may receive a 20 percent discount when enrolling. If three or more participants register for the program, a 30 percent discount will applied at registration. Participants must register online at http://conta.cc/2kLzH03 by July 14.


ABOUT THE OFFICE OF DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION:
Hodges University’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion is dedicated to increasing diversity and promoting cultural competency among its students, faculty, staff and administration through education and activities. It builds bridges to the larger community by serving as the catalyst for social change and transformation as it relates to diversity and inclusion.

Nicole Roe
Hodges University
(239) 598-6178
email us here

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