All WKAR Family Workshop participants are required to read and follow these WorkshopGuidelines. Completion of the Acknowledge Form below is required.

Program Description

The At-Home Learning Virtual workshop sessions are produced by WKAR Family.

These sessions can include: Curious Crew Workshops, Partnership Book Clubs and Ready to Learn Family Community Learning (FCL) events. Each workshop is produced to engage children and families in learning with the use of multimedia and virtual technology tools designed for interaction.

Family Community Learning events and workshops introduce and explore STEM concepts as families engage in a fun, creative and interest-driven learning environment. Workshops help families explore, create and learn together as they develop new skills, habits and perspectives that will serve them as they continue to grow and support one another as lifelong learners. They also extend reading supports in the home by fostering a love and appreciation of literature through community building activities.

Ready to Learn FCL events are created for both caregiver and child to learn together. Please expect to participate with your child(ren) throughout the duration of the workshop.

This program will take place using one or more of the following platforms:

Zoom, Google Classroom, OVEE, wkar.org

Links and passwords to be used for this program:

The classroom administrator will send out invites to participantswith links and passwords appropriate to the platform.

In the interest of safety, do not share links, passwords, or other program login information with anyone outside of the program.

The following program staff and volunteers will be involved with the program:

If any changes or updates to the program links, passwords, or platforms need to be made, official communication will be sent to participants and parents/guardians by:

• Robin Pizzo: stittrob@msu.edu, robin@wkar.org
• Dave Collins: colli242@msu.edu, davec@wkar.org
• Madeline Shanahan: Madeline.Shanahan@lansingschools.net
• Hannah Byrd: hannah@wkar.org
• Jen Preslar: jpreslar@wkar.org

In the interest of safety, pay attention to the email addresses and names of people who send you invitations to connect, and do not accept invitations sent by anyone other than the official persons listed above.

Online Safety Information and Resources for Participants and Parents/Guardians

We encourage parents, guardians, and participants to educate themselves on safety and security tips when engaging in online learning activities. Below are some resources that may be helpful:

Protecting Kids Online- Federal Trade Commission, Consumer Information

Link: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/topics/protecting-kids-online

Description: This website provides information about promoting safe and responsible decisions to help reduce online risks for children.

Keeping Children Safe Online- The United States Department of Justice

Link: https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus/keeping-children-safe-online

Description: This website provides tips for protecting children during online activities, informational videos for parents and children, and additional informational resources related to online child safety.

Prevent Cyberbullying- Stopbullying.gov

Link: https://www.stopbullying.gov/cyberbullying/prevention

Description: This website provides information about preventing, identifying, and responding to cyberbullying.

Michigan State University Anti-Discrimination Policy

The University Anti-Discrimination Policy (ADP) states expectations for institutional and individual conduct. A detailed description of the ADP can be found at: https://hr.msu.edu/policies-procedures/university-wide/ADP_policy.html.

The ADP User’s Manual provides further discussion of the definitions of behaviors prohibited by the ADP as well as the relationship between the First Amendment and complaints of harassment/discrimination; the ADP User’s Manual can be found at:

https://oie.msu.edu/_assets/documents/ADP%20Users%20Manual%20%20Updated%202020.02.17.pdf

Protocol for addressing Bias Incidents, Acts of Prohibited Discrimination/Harassment, and Hate Crimes can be found at:

https://civilrights.msu.edu/_assets/documents/bias-incident-reporting-protocols-17.08.01.pdf

Inclusion

Statement for Disability Inclusion

Michigan State University is committed to providing equal opportunity for participation in all programs, services and activities. Accommodations for persons with disabilities may be requested by contacting Robin Pizzo, Director of Education/WKAR, robin@wkar.org.

If desired, parents, guardians and participants may read the model statements describing how requests for accommodation may be made for participants with disabilities.

The statements are available at https://www.rcpd.msu.edu/services/accommodations/

Process for removal from project for policy violation

If a participant is alleged to have violated University policies or guidelines of WKAR Family Workshops, WKAR will allow the participant to respond to the allegation, gather any other facts we believe necessary, and then make a determination regarding whether the participant should be removed from the program. If they are removed, the parent/guardian will be contacted.

Michigan State University’s Procedure for Responding to Behaviors that Violate Policies

If a youth participant is involved with an incident that violates University and/or program policy, program staff will speak with everyone involved to gain understanding of what occurred and will contact listed parent(s), guardian(s), and/or other emergency contact(s) of both the participants responsible for the policy violation and the participants directly affected by the incident. In the instance that participants have violated University and program policies, program staff will connect with the appropriate MSU supervisors and/or authorities to determine the best course of action to resolve the situation, including whether the participant(s) responsible for the policy violation must be removed from the program. If it has been determined that a participant’s behavior violates University and/or program policies and requires early dismissal from the program, program staff will make contact with the participant’s approved adult contacts, and the parent(s), guardian(s), or emergency contact(s) and will be informed they are no longer allowed to attend workshops or comment in Google classroom.

If it is suspected that a crime may have occurred, program staff will immediately stop investigating, contact MSU Police, and follow the lead of MSU Police investigators. Should police or emergency response professionals need to make contact with a participant, program staff will make every reasonable attempt to notify the appropriate parent(s), guardian(s), and/or other emergency contact(s) as immediately as possible.

If an allegation of inappropriate conduct including but not limited to abuse, neglect, assault, harassment, sexual assault, sexual abuse, sexual harassment, child pornography, furnishing alcohol, drugs, and/or sexual materials to a minor, and violations of the University’s anti-discrimination policy is made against an adult participating in a youth program, including program staff/volunteers, the accused adult will be removed from any further participation in MSU youth programs and activities covered by the MSU Operational Requirements for Conducting University Youth Programs until such allegation has been satisfactorily resolved. Adults may not retaliate against minors, families, parents, guardians, and staff/volunteers who report allegations of inappropriate conduct.

Information about MSU Policies related to Title IX

The MSU Anti-Discrimination Policy and Relationship Violence and Sexual Misconduct Policy apply to all MSU students, employees, or third-party community members, including Youth Program participants.

Consistent with Title IX, MSU’s Relationship Violence and Sexual Misconduct Policy and Anti-Discrimination Policy expressly prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex. The Relationship Violence and Sexual Misconduct Policy provides a procedure for reporting and resolving complaints of sex discrimination (including sexual harassment and sexual assault), which applies to youth program participants.

What is Title IX?

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in any education program or activity that receives federal funding.

Discrimination on the basis of sex includes:

• Excluding, separating, denying benefits to, or otherwise treating a person differently on the basis of sex
• Sexual harassment
• Sexual assault

MSU Title IX Coordinator

MSU’s Title IX Coordinator oversees the University’s compliance with Title IX, including its complaint procedures, and is available to meet with youth program participants about matters involving sex discrimination.

Tanya Jachimiak
Associate Vice President
Office for Civil Rights and Title IX Education and Compliance
4 Olds Hall
East Lansing, MI 48824
Phone: (517) 884-0610
Website: civilrights.msu.edu

Reporting Procedures and Resources

All individuals are encouraged to promptly report possible violations of MSU’s Anti-Discrimination Policy and Relationship Violence and Sexual Misconduct Policy to MSU’s Office of Institutional Equity (OIE), law enforcement, or both. OIE is responsible for receiving and processing complaints of sex discrimination (including sexual harassment, sexual assault and sexual violence), which may involve an investigation. If a person is unsure about reporting and would like assistance in understanding the options, they may contact a Confidential Resource. A list of these resources is available at https://poe.msu.edu/resources/survivor-resources.html. A list of these resources specifically available for youth is available at https://youthprograms.msu.edu/reporting/index.html.

Report to the Office of Institutional Equity (OIE)by completing the online Public Incident Reporting Form or by calling, emailing, or visiting the OIE office.

Address: 408 W. Circle Dr., Suite 4, Olds Hall, East Lansing, MI 48824
Phone: 517-353-3922
E-mail: oie@msu.edu
Online reporting: Public Incident Reporting Form

Contact the MSU Police (or your local law enforcement) for assistance in filing a criminal complaint and preserving physical evidence

MSU Police Department

Address:1120 Red Cedar Rd., East Lansing, MI 48824
Emergencies: call 9-1-1
Non-Emergency Line: 517-355-2221