Published: Jan. 8, 2020

Sometimes it is difficult to slow down in our busy day and check ourselves: Doour actions align with our values?

Think about the times you might have witnessed a microaggression: a thinly-veiled derogatory comment against yourself or someone else regarding innate factors of personal identity. Did this happen in a store or restaurant, or in a classroom or office on campus? When it happened, did you speak up? Did you feel equipped to respond in the situation? Do you ever get to debrief with someone about these kinds of interactions, or discuss what might have gone differently? What if you could?

Individuals across our 񱦵 community who are interested in making excellence inclusive are invited to attend open Inclusive Communities of Practice (ICoP) sessions. Co-hosted by the Office of Diversity, Equity and Community Engagement (ODECE) and the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL), these are 90-minute meetings organized around a topic related to diversity, inclusion, equity, social justice and human interaction. The sessions are meant to be “brave spaces” where faculty, staff and students can talk honestly about areas of concern and practice techniques for making excellence inclusive in your everyday lived experiences.

Spring 2020 schedule

Eight sessions across alternating Mondays: Jan. 13, Jan. 27, Feb. 10, Feb. 24, March 9, March 30, April 13, April 27

10:30 a.m. to noon(except 10:30–11:45 a.m. on March 9)

CASE E351

ICoP are organized to focus on topics that help participants learn and practice inclusivity in actionable ways, specifically related to teaching and learning (pedagogy) practicesand workplace practices.

The first session for the semester is Monday, Jan. 13: “Policy on Workplace Bullying—implications of the policy that came into effect June 1st, 2019.” Facilitated by Clara Smith of the Academic Technology Design Team, this session will explore the 񱦵 campus policy adopted last summer to prohibit bullying in the workplace. Jointo learn more about the campus definition of workplace bullying;the implications of this policy;and a discussion about the interplay of this new policy, academic freedom and freedom of expression.

If you have any questions about the ICoP, or if you would like to join our mailing list, please reach out toAlaina Beaver, initiatives director of social climate strategy in ODECE.