Welcome to the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion corner of the Siebel Institute of Technology
The Siebel Institute strives to operate in an ethical manner, and we are committed to creating a safe and inclusive learning environment for all students. As a leader in education for the global beverage industry, we take our responsibility to set relevant standards and policies concerning expected behavior and conduct of our students, instructors, staff, and management seriously.
We work to ensure an exceptional experience for all our students. As part of our commitment to maintaining high standards, we provide students and guests with anonymous reporting tools to address any issue that doesn’t meet these expectations, and we welcome suggested improvements to the student experience and to our operations.
Our commitment to these standards also extends beyond our walls, with Siebel Institute offering support for scholarships, events and industry initiatives that foster the best values of our community. We welcome all into our campus and online classrooms, and we trust your Siebel Institute experience will exceed your expectations.
For any questions, you can reach out to Sylvie Van Zandycke, Director of Ethics
Mission and on-campus support
Our school has always set a standard of excellence regarding brewing education, but we also represent high ethical standards for our company and our industry.
At Siebel Institute, an important part of our mission is to:
- Ensure that policies and procedures regarding all aspects of diversity, equality and inclusivity are maintained, published and in accord with current laws and/or best practices.
- Promote a culture where high ethical standards, integrity and respect are highly valued.
- Create an environment where all students, irrespective of background or gender, feel welcome, supported, and respected, and be given equal opportunities for their future in the brewing world.
- Cultivate and maintain a supportive community within our school that values differences and encourages students and faculty to recognize and rejoice in such differences.
- Empower our school’s underrepresented students by listening to their voices and acknowledging that some historical inequalities persist to this day.
The staff and management of Siebel Institute strive to always work and act in a professional manner, and we expect the same of our students, guests and instructors. Our Standards of Conduct apply to all the above people, and we take the application of these standards seriously. Like any school or company, occasions arise when conduct becomes an issue. For these situations, Siebel Institute has established a “reporting hotline” where any issue can be addressed with total anonymity. All incoming students are bound by our standards of conduct, including those in online classes, which helps ensure accountabilities for all. You can read the most current version of the Siebel Institute “Standards of Conduct” as well as details regarding our anonymous reporting system, by clicking here.
The whistleblowing procedure is intended to be used for serious and sensitive issues. Serious concerns relating to financial reporting, unethical or illegal conduct, should be reported in any of the following ways to the Institute’s anonymous reporting hotline, (the “Hotline”):
- Website: https://www.lighthouse-services.com/siebel
- English-speaking USA and Canada: 833-205-7849
- Spanish-speaking USA and Canada: 800-216-1288
- Spanish-speaking Mexico: 01-800-681-5340
Siebel Institute of Technology | 322 South Green Street | Suite 100 | Chicago, IL 60607 | +1 (312) 255-0705 | siebelinstitute.com
- French-speaking Canada: 855-725-0002
- E-mail: reports@lighthouse-services.com (must include company name with report)
- Fax: 215-689-3885 (must include company name with report)
Reporters to the Hotline will have the ability to remain anonymous if they choose. Please note that the information provided by a Reporter may be the basis of an internal and/or external investigation into the issue the Reporter is reporting, and its anonymity will be protected to the extent possible by law. However, a Reporter’s identity may become known during the investigation because of the information that it has provided. Reports are submitted by the Hotline to Institute or its designee and may or may not be investigated at the sole discretion of the Institute.
A suggestion box is also available at all times: https://www.lighthouse-services.com/siebel
For more information, read the Standards of Conduct
Community support
Over our history, Siebel Institute has partnered with a wide variety of organizations to offer scholarships for our campus and online courses. Many of these organizations have focused on providing funding for people who are traditionally underrepresented in commercial brewing, providing opportunities for them to build careers in our amazing industry. Just a few of the past and current scholarships offered to Siebel Institute and World Brewing Academy courses and programs include:
Pride in Brewing Scholarship
In 2018, Beer Dabbler decided to take positive action by establishing a scholarship for a brewing program with the mission to help members of the LGBTQ+ community break into the brewing industry. Starting in 2022, they began offering a full-ride scholarship plus a $1,000 travel stipend for the Chicago campus Siebel Institute “WBA Concise Course in Brewing Technology”.
Information is available at: https://beerdabbler.com/portfolio-items/prideinbrewing/
Pink Boots Society Scholarship
The Pink Boots Society was created to assist, inspire and encourage women and/or non-binary individuals in the fermented and alcoholic beverage industry to advance their careers through education. This scholarship provides the recipient with full tuition toward the WBA Concise Course in Brewing Technology, campus or online versions.
Information is available at: https://www.pinkbootssociety.org/current-scholarships/
Michael James Jackson Foundation - Sir Geoff Palmer Scholarship Award for Brewing
The Michael James Jackson Foundation is a grant-making organization that funds scholarship awards to Black, Indigenous, and People of Color within the brewing and distilling trades. The program is open to candidates at the beginning of their careers, as well as those looking to continue their education. The MJF awards present an opportunity for members and patrons of the brewing and distilling industries to directly fund a more just, equitable, and dynamic future. The Sir Geoff Palmer Scholarship Award for Brewing scholarship applies to a variety of Siebel Institute and WBA courses and programs.
Details are available at: https://www.themjf.org/
Siebel Institute supports the local brewing community in Chicago and elsewhere by sponsoring and engaging with organizations involved in creating a more equitable and diverse brewing scene. Some examples of our past activities include:
2022 DEI event at Siebel
Lallemand Brewing and Siebel Institute of Technology presented “Talking about Diversity - in a new way” at the Siebel Institute of Technology campus in Chicago. This entertaining and informative event featured Ren Navarro from Beer. Diversity., and Mickey Bryant from Black and Brew Chicago, with presentations on the true notion of DEI and how it applies to the brewing industry.
Sponsorship of the Beer Culture Summit
This 4-day event is held at the Brewmuseum in Chicago. The first event was held in 2019 and for 3 subsequent years. It brings together diverse people to talk about beer and its role in society.
https://www.chicagobrewseum.org/beer-culture-summit
Siebel Sensory training at Pink Boots events
Sensory events have been organized for various Pink Boots chapters, where Siebel team members guide participants through flavors and aromas common in beer.
At Siebel, we are conscious that studies are a journey. Selecting a school is also about selecting a community and a network that will be with you for the rest of your life. We work to facilitate the interactions between alumni and friends of Siebel from many different regions, backgrounds and experiences through our Siebel Alumni Group. With a diverse global base of alumni, we all have so much to learn from each other. The Siebel Alumni Group platform allows our alumni community to chat, find mentors and jobs, solve problems within their brewery, and help each other build thriving careers and personal lives.
For more information: https://www.siebelinstitute.com/alumni
Supporting Industry DEI Initiatives
Brewers Association
The America-based Brewers Association represents the craft brewing industry, and it provides resources for the homebrewing and craft beer enthusiast sectors. They offer an extensive library of resources regarding DEI and a host of other issues involving beer culture and commerce.
See the Brewers Association DEI Resource Hub at: https://www.brewersassociation.org/resource-hub/dei/
BRU Coalition
The American Society of Brewing Chemists, Brewers Association, Cicerone Certification Program, Master Brewers Association of the Americas, and the Pink Boots Society have come together as the BRU (Brewing Respect and Unity) Coalition with the objective to leverage the combined reach of the organizations to drive industry-wide adoption of evidence-based best practices for preventing discrimination, harassment, and violence within the brewing industry.
Information on this newly forming organization can be found at: https://www.mbaa.com/DEI/Pages/BRUCoalition.aspx
New Belgium Brewing “Poured for All” program
Poured for All is a free, first-of-its-kind inclusivity training created by New Belgium Brewing and DEI training provider HospitableMe with the goal of building more inclusive and welcoming environments in thousands of bars and restaurants across America. Their aim is to make these spaces more inviting to people with LGBTQ+, BIPOC and intersectional identities who are currently underrepresented in craft beer spaces and elsewhere.
Complete information on the program is at: https://www.newbelgium.com/company/poured-for-all/