Campus Climate

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Message from Chancellor Black

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Message from Chancellor Black

November 2012

Welcome to the Campus Climate Web Page,

When I joined the UMD community in August of 2010, I announced a major campus initiative to create an inclusive campus climate for all who learn and work at UMD. I also launched a comprehensive strategic planning process that culminated in the adoption of UMD’s Strategic Plan in May 2011. These two efforts align and intersect in Goal #2 of the Strategic Plan: “Create a positive and inclusive campus climate for all by advancing equity, diversity, and social justice.”

Accomplishing this goal is not easy. We recently learned of horrible individual behaviors that undermine our goal of creating an inclusive campus environment. Creating a positive climate is an ongoing process, and we are committed to helping the campus heal from disappointing actions while at the same time not letting these setbacks overshadow all of the many accomplishments.

I would like to recognize the extraordinary commitment by the students, faculty and staff who are taking the words of Goal #2 and transforming them into actions. We take pride in the achievements that have been developed and implemented by the various campus change teams. These accomplishments include:

• Putting in place an institutional infrastructure to support and sustain campus climate change. The infrastructure includes creating the Campus Change Team, Leadership Team, and 18 Unit Change teams.
  
  
• Increasing numbers of students, faculty, and staff engaged in changing the campus climate. Nearly 300 individuals serve on the various change teams.
  
  
• Establishing a Multicultural Living Learning Program in residence halls for new freshman students.
  
  
• Initiating a campus-wide effort to integrate equity, diversity and social justice into the curriculum across disciplines. A website has been created to provide print and electronic resources, as well as materials from UMD colleagues and from other campuses to create an inclusive classroom climate.
  
  
• Engaging the UMD community in a growing number of workshops to increase awareness and skills related to equity and diversity.
  
  
• Sponsoring a Train the Trainer workshop that provides diversity and equity awareness and concrete training tools for UMD staff to use in training and orientation programs. These skills are applied to training RAs in the residence halls, UMD Seminar faculty, new faculty, Rec Sports students, and staff in Athletics.
  
  
• Collaborating with other community partners on United Way’s Delegation on Educational Outcomes to narrow the achievement gap of students of color.
  
  
• Assessing the campus climate by conducting student focus groups and developing comprehensive climate surveys.
  
  
• Co-sponsoring a workshop with the College of St. Scholastica on Promising Practices to Recruit and Hire a More Culturally Competent, Racially Diverse Faculty and Staff.
  
  
• Creating an Intercultural Leadership Proficiency development program in which 30 campus administrators are engaged.
  
  
• Creating this Campus Climate webpage that provides numerous links about this important campus initiative.

People have taken notice of our work for equity, diversity, and social justice. In November of 2011, UMD received the 2011 Equity and Diversity Outstanding Unit Award from the University of Minnesota’s Office of Equity and Diversity, located on the Twin Cities campus.

Advancing equity, diversity, and social justice requires persistence and long-term difficult work at all levels of our campus community. Remember, “Equity and diversity efforts must be led not only by people with formal authority, but also by faculty, staff, students, and administrators at every level of operation and responsibility.” (Reimagining Equity and Diversity: A Framework for Transforming the University of Minnesota)

Thank you for your commitment and ongoing efforts to create a more inclusive campus. I am committed to staying the course and to working with you and the UMD campus community to reach our goals.

Your ideas, comments and feedback are welcome at uchange@d.umn.edu

Important message affirming our commitment to inclusiveness

Chancellor Lendley "Lynn" Black