Monday, November 27, 2017

Brophy Elementary Students Visit FSU


Students from Brophy Elementary, a school in Framingham, made their annual visit to Framingham State University last week to experience a college campus first hand.
The 5th grade students took part in a Planetarium Show at the McAuliffe Center, toured campus, met with staff from the MetroWest College Planning Center, and read books with FSU Education students.
Three interns from the College Planning Center answered questions from the 5th graders.

Tuesday, October 31, 2017

Response

Framingham State University draws strength from its diversity. Central to our institution’s core values is the belief that individuals of differing cultures, perspectives, and experiences are welcomed, respected, valued and supported. When our core values are violated by those with hate in their hearts, we must reinforce our commitment to our core values, denounce the acts of racism on our campus, quell our hurt and anger, and ultimately, unite as a community. We must be intentional to produce results to the goals we set.

Each Office offered their response to produce safe, respectful, and inclusive FSU community.



Academic Affairs

Academic affairs: College of Education


The Interim Dean of the College of Education is participating in high school college fairs being held in the region during the fall and spring semesters. The purpose is to attract more students of color in teacher education programs. In addition, he is planning to meet with VPAAs and deans at several MA community colleges to recruit transfer students of color to FSU’s teacher preparation programs.

Academic affairs: Curriculum


A short-term grant for quick curricular change in Spring 2018 is being submitted to the AASCU to support the reworking of 10 courses to be offered in the Spring Semester 2018 that will include High-Impact Educational Practices (HIPs).  Each course will include two required elements, with other optional elements to be included.  The two required elements are 1) diversity/global learning, and (2) collaborative assignments and projects OR service learning/community-based learning.  If funded, courses will be proposed and chosen from a competitive process and announced in early December.  The courses chosen and supported by this grant will be among those already offered for spring 2018, but they will be adapted to fit the criteria of the HIPs.

Departments are introducing new courses in AY 17/18 that address issues of diversity and inclusion. These include Introduction to Deaf Studies, Contemporary Latinx Literature, and Sociology of Disabilities.

Academic affairs: CELTSS


On Friday, November 3 at 2:30 pm in the CELTSS Center (HH 208), CELTSS is sponsoring a faculty round table discussion focusing on how to talk to our classes about the acts of racism that occurred on campus recently. It was clear from the all-university meeting last week that students wish to talk about these issues, even though the conversations are hard, challenging, and often uncomfortable to have. The goal of this meeting is to start a conversation about how to discuss these divisive issues in a constructive way with our students.

CELTSS added a session to the New Faculty Welcome Day on diversity and is beginning a book circle on teaching in the diverse classroom. CELTSS also plans to establish a roundtable with faculty and students to discuss campus climate, diversity and inclusion.

CELTSS met with Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer Millie Gonzalez to plan joint programming on diversity and inclusion in teaching and advising, including a regular series of workshops.

Academic affairs: Response to Gatepost regarding Hiring Practices of faculty of color


Provost Linda Vaden-Goad met with The Gatepost on Wednesday, October 25th about faculty hiring practices related to underrepresented groups. We have moved from 8.1% in Fall 2012 to 19.8% in Fall 2017.

Academic affairs: HHMI Inclusive Excellence Grant


A grant proposal was submitted for a Howard Hughes Medical Institute grant to create a faculty institute for STEM faculty to provide professional development to develop pedagogies and assignments that support students from underrepresented groups. If funded, this grant will provide $1,000,000 over five years.

Academic affairs: Letter to Faculty


A letter to all faculty was sent last Tuesday, October 17 regarding the incidents and provided guidance on helping students during this difficult time.

Academic affairs: Mary Miles Bibb Fellow


Our Mary Miles Bibb Fellow, Dr. Martel Pipkins, has a course release each semester to work on training and programming related to diversity and inclusion in collaboration with the Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Engagement. Dr. Pipkins will be leading a staff reading group on intersectionality and guiding the group to apply what they have learned to FSU.

A 2018 search for the Mary Miles Bibb Fellow is underway.

Academic affairs: Strategic Planning


On Thursday, October 19, 2017, 6:00-7:30 pm, a strategic planning listening forum was offered to students an informal opportunity to come talk about academic programming that they would like to see developed and offered over the next five years, including new majors, minors, certificates and other programs. This opportunity will be offered again.

Academic affairs: inclusive Student Advisory Board


Academic Affairs is recruiting students (one first-year student and one junior-year student from each college) to serve as student advisors to the Provost. The position announcements will be posted next week.

Academic affairs: Widening the Circle Institute


Center for Diversity and Inclusion and Academic Affairs have co-hosted this workshop for the past 4 years, with about 15 faculty participating each year.  We now are up to about 60 faculty having been through the training and engagement.  Drs. Deborah McMakin co-ordinates the program. This year’s faculty cohort is developing assignments to infuse diversity and inclusion into their courses.

Administration, Finance and Technology

Administration, finance and technology: Athletics

Response to Residence Hall Incidents

The Athletics staff is reading the MASCAC and NCAA sportsmanship statement multiple times during each home game, as well as a statement created by Interim Dean of Students David Baldwin. Athletics is also working with Campus Police to ensure there are appropriate details for home football games. The yellow #hateisnotafRAMilyvalue bracelets are available at games.

Administration, finance and technology: Campus Police


Campus Police have reached out to two different facilitators (ADL and RITE Academy) to arrange for officer training. In the meantime, officers have been spoken to regarding student concerns.
Campus Police is also working with Athletics to make sure there is appropriate detail for the home football games.

Diversity, Inclusion & Community Engagement

Diversity, inclusion & community engagement: Professional development for students, faculty, staff, administration and Board of Trustees


The Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Community Engagement is evaluating training and developing programs for students, faculty, staff, administration and the Board of Trustees. This training and programming will include:
  • ·        Online training
  • ·        Intercultural training provided by the CIE
  • ·        Programs: Widening the Circle for Faculty, Widening the Circle for Staff, Intersectionality Reading Group, Widening the Circle Book Group
  • ·        Residence Hall support activities

A consultant was hired to help us build awareness and understanding in the role of power and privilege, and to develop a concrete plan to maintain a safe and respectful community.

Diversity, inclusion & community engagement: Keeping the community informed


An open forum was held to hear the concerns of students. A second community meeting is scheduled for November 13th at 1:30pm to form working groups.

Members of the administration meet regularly with student, faculty and staff organizations to discuss the recent incidents.

Updates are posted on email blasts to our campus, social media, and the website.

Diversity, inclusion & community engagement: Strengthening Bias Education Response Team


B.E.R.T. evaluated statements from students who were interested in serving on the committee. Three students were added to the team. The committee will be reconstituted to add a faculty member.

Diversity, inclusion & community engagement: Building community


The Center for Inclusive Excellence hosts programming to promote understanding around cultural diversity – Voice of Color speaker series in the spring, CIE Community Conversations, and Heritage month activities.

The Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Community Engagement supports Affinity Groups for faculty and staff. Two new Affinity groups have been established this year for a total of five Affinity Groups: Faculty and Staff, Women, Disabilities, LGBTQ, Parents with Small Children. Each group will host one event each semester.

In the spring semester, we will survey students, faculty and staff on campus climate. Preliminary results from the survey will be released at the end of spring.

Enrollment & Student Development

Enrollment & student development: Enrollment Management


Dean of Enrollment Jeremy Spencer suggested the university craft a statement regarding inclusive excellence that students would have to acknowledge throughout the entire Admissions and Financial Aid process, so students understand what is important to the FSU community.

Enrollment & student development: Marketing & Communications


The “Racism Response: Timeline & Updates” page is now live on the university website. The goal is to keep it updated. https://www.framingham.edu/the-fsu-difference/inclusive-excellence/bias-education-response-team/racism-response

Director of Communications Dan Magazu is working with Human Resources on “No Room for Hate” posters for across campus. He is also working with Assistant Dean for Campus Engagement Rachel Lucking on t-shirts for the Club Unity Project.

Enrollment & student development: Student Affairs

Dean of Students

The Dean of Students office is looking to include an anti-bias module from EverFi with the AlcoholEDU and Haven trainings offered over the summer for incoming students. The anti-bias module would begin the week after orientation, with the other two continuing in August. The anti-bias training could be made available to employees as well. (The EverFi contract expires this year; Kim Dexter recommended that since we are not the only state university to use it, perhaps we can arrange for consortium pricing like with our health insurance).
The Student Affairs staff will be provided training in regards to cultural competence.

Residence Life

Director of Resident Life Glenn Cochran is looking at different neighborhood watch models with his staff.

SILD

CUP – Club Unity Project
Led by the Psychology Club, I am working with the group to not only coordinate t-shirts, but also organize a collective group from the club community.  I’m asking the club president to formalize the event by really establishing goals and framework for the committee of students.  Ideally it will be a series of educational programs, small events, etc., that leads us through the end of the year.

Leadership Training
Discuss what form of training should be embedded in our student leadership training programs that focuses on tolerance and general community standards.  This will be discussed the Common Leadership App team, as well as set as priority for the new director to review club officer training.

Review of Processes/Policies
With a goal of removing barriers for organizing community groups and events, I am going to review the processes and procedures for forming clubs/organizations, our definitions for organized groups, as well as the event planning process.

Black and Gold Beginnings
Taking the lead from Orientation programming efforts and the EverFi training, we can do a review of events and programs within BGB and determine where we can embed messaging, training, and/or programs to instill community standards and the culture of respect model with new students.



Monday, October 16, 2017

Framingham State Response to Racist Incident and Resources to Heal our Campus

Below is information that was distributed at the Open Forum 10/16/17 about the timeline of events and some ideas on how to move forward. More updates to come.


Friday
Racist incident occurred early afternoon.
Email from CDIO to the campus community about racist incident Friday late afternoon. Notified staff to be aware of situation to provide comfort to students. Planned to host a community forum this week.
Scheduled a floor meeting at the residence hall in the evening that Friday and Sunday

Saturday
Responded to emails from students.
Planned for Sunday meeting discussion.

Sunday
Second incident occurred early afternoon.
The President convened conference call mid-afternoon with executive staff, police, Dean of Students, Director of Communications, and Associate Dean of Students to discuss racist incidents.
Email statement from President Cevallos sent late afternoon.
Convened Bias Education Response Team for Monday morning.
Met with students before evening residence meeting.
Held residence hall meeting in the evening.

Monday

Bias Education Response Team met in the morning.
Community forum scheduled for the afternoon.

#hateisnotaFramilyvalue
Silence is not an option. We must condemn racism. Push through your fears to express yourself so you are able to have a cross-cultural dialogue with civility and bravery.
As a community we must come together to collectively stop this hatred. Feel empowered to create change.
We must share our stories so we can learn from each other. Educating ourselves and others is an essential process.
Focus on your small community of friends, peers – what can you do to fix what is in your control?

What will we, the administration, do?
We will continue to condemn racism.
We will be vigilant and protect our students.
We will foster civility and love through dialogue.
 We will heal and get through this. Today will be the first step in our journey to heal the campus. It will take time. We need your help. Today is the first step in our journey.
We are reminding everyone of the resources to help you during this difficult time:  the Counseling Center, Campus Police, Human Resources, the Campus Clergy and the Dean of Students Office.
 If you can provide us with information, text anonymously 67283 with “FSUTIP” in the body of the message.

Wednesday, September 6, 2017

Convocation 2017

Welcome to Framingham State University! 

You now belong to our fRAMily.










Thursday, August 31, 2017

DICE Update for "State of the University" 9.5.17


Welcome!

Welcome to the blog representing news and reflections from the Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Community Engagement (DICE) at Framingham State University. My name is Millie Gonzalez and I am the Interim Chief Officer of Diversity, Inclusion and Community Engagement.

While I will primarily post on this site, I would like to introduce you to the rest of my team: