Marshelia Harris, program director for the bachelor of social work program and an assistant professor in the Division of Social Work at Indiana University Northwest, is proud to be a member of IU’s Pandemic Health Disparities Fund Committee.
The committee was formed in June by IU President Michael A. McRobbie, when it came to light that the COVID-19 pandemic was causing disproportionate burdens to people of color in terms of hospitalization and death rates.
Headed by James Wimbush, IU’s vice president for diversity, equity and multicultural affairs, the group of 11 who represent all IU campuses, was given $1 million and charged with addressing these burdens and developing recommendations intended to ensure each campus delivers resources for the most vulnerable segments of the IU community.
Inside IUN sat down with Harris to talk about the committee, its role, and the privilege of being involved in such an important task on behalf of IU:
Q: How do you feel about being chosen for this role? What do you bring to the table?
A: I am extremely honored to have been selected for this important work. As an African American female, who is also a social worker, I have experienced my share of racial disparities and have dealt with many folks in the IU Northwest community who have also struggled. At the recent town hall on public safety, race, and racial inequity in June, I spoke about my personal experiences of racial inequities as a graduate student and a faculty member. This drew the attention of those assembling this committee and I was asked to contribute my views and suggestions on this important topic.
Q: What is your role on the committee and what do you aim to accomplish?
A: Over the past few months, the committee and I have sought to explore the various needs for students of color, and specifically African American and Latinx students. We uncovered a surprising array of financial and emotional hardships brought on by the pandemic. Many students were struggling to pay rent and to feed their families as a result of losing their jobs. There was also evidence that some students were experiencing mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and isolation, due to the pandemic. The committee wanted to reduce these hardships by providing resources on the campus and within the community.
Q: What has been accomplished so far?
A: The committee identified the needs of the students and recommended ideas for providing funds to students on each campus to address their food insecurity, inability to pay rent, inadequate transportation, and mental health services. This will occur by expanding services on each campus and partnering with community organizations for additional services.
The committee’s detailed recommendations include:
- Actively recruiting, training and retaining a diverse and culturally competent counseling staff.
- Partnering with regional agencies and service providers to offer alternative counseling options.
- Promoting mental health and well-being for students of color as a university-wide priority.
- Providing funding for the fundamental necessities of vulnerable students, such as access to food, housing, utilities, technology, child care, and employment.
Q: Why is this committee and its charge so important?
A: Too often, students’ needs are either unknown or overlooked. And when something like COVID-19 happens, these needs can quickly ascend to a crisis level. By taking a hard look at some of these burdens, we have been able to uncover and address the most pressing challenges facing our students. It is very important for any campus to view their students as part of the academic family and to provide assistance when and where needed. This need is elevated for African American and Latinx students who tend to experience more hardship. Our ability to nurture our students now will benefit the campus later. I believe successful students become successful professionals that give back to the university and the community.
Q: Is this opportunity personal for you in any way?
A: Yes, it is very personal for me. As an African American female and graduate of the master of social work (MSW) program at IU Northwest, I have experienced racial inequities as a student and as a faculty member. I have learned how to navigate those waters and I try to provide strategies to those students experiencing similar problems and situations that I encountered on this campus. Some students are exposed to a new world when they walk onto IUN’s campus and struggle with the expectations of academia. These students need academic, financial, and mental health assistance to deal with the many changes. As a campus with a diverse student body, we need to recognize and acknowledge the rich cultural heritage that African American and Latinx students bring to this campus. As a campus, we are stronger when we embrace our similarities and differences in a positive way. Everyone should believe in possibilities and options that are free of biases and assumptions.
Q: What do students of color need in order to be successful during COVID-19 and beyond?
A: It is crucial that these students receive support that is culturally appropriate and relevant to their needs. To succeed on campus, students definitely need tangible resources such as financial assistance and access to resources but they also need intangible resources such as feeling wanted and valued, a voice and recognition, support groups, and a sense of community. They need nurturing hands, open minds, and a safe place to grow and learn. They need all of us to help them to successfully graduate.