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.
