Minnesota State - Employee Resource Groups (ERGs)

Group of employees in front of office window

The Minnesota State Office of Equity & Inclusion is supporting the creation of ERGs across Minnesota State to provide employees with an enhanced sense of community, support opportunities to network with peers, to gain a stronger sense of belonging, and to experience mentorship opportunities. Moving forward, our office will provide the support and guidance necessary to ensure ERGs are able to meet the needs of our vibrant and increasingly diverse workforce.

Current statewide ERGs which are available include:

Employees of Color ERG
LGBTQIA+ ERG
Womxn in Higher Education ERG
Indigenous Men and Men of Color Workgroup

Benefits of Participating in ERGs

ERGs provide a space for employees to gather and work collaboratively toward common goals. These groups often co-sponsor events for professional development for employees of color or other underrepresented groups, including bringing in speakers, conducting trainings, and delivering workshops. The ERGs also can provide less structured opportunities for employee socialization and engagement. It’s critical to allow the ERG to decide its focus while adhering to the organization’s principles, and mission for equity and inclusion.

Campus ERGs versus Minnesota State ERGs

Some campuses across Minnesota State already have ERGs in place, so you may be wondering how the statewide ERGs are different. The Minnesota State ERGs are not meant to take the place of individual groups which may already exist on any particular campus. Some campuses, however, do not have enough employees to form a group or they may have a limited number of groups available to participate in. Participation in ERGs is completely voluntary and employees can choose to participate in any campus or statewide group, or consider forming their own group consistent with the parameters contained within the ERG Guidelines.

The Minnesota State Office of Equity and Inclusion has approved statewide Employee Resource Groups that can form under any one of the following identities/backgrounds:

Race/Ethnicity
LGBTQIA+
Gender
Veteran Status
Disability Communities
Generational (i.e. millennials, young professionals, etc.)

Joining an ERG

If you would like to sign up to participate in an Employee Resource Group, please fill out the following SURVEY.

Forming an ERG

For information on forming a statewide ERG, please reference the below ERG guidelines or reach out to the Office of Equity and Inclusion at OEI@minnstate.edu.