Campus Climate Team announces new measures strengthening campus community
On behalf of the Campus Climate Implementation Team, this message was emailed to students, faculty and staff on Oct. 13:
Dear Wake Forest Community,
It is with great enthusiasm that the Campus Climate Implementation Team reports several community improvements. Commissioned by Provost Rogan Kersh in the fall of 2015, the team is responsible for coordinating action items that resulted from the advocacy of student leaders and a series of campus dialogues to foster a more inclusive campus environment.
The team’s efforts, in partnership with campus departments across the university, have produced some promising outcomes including:
- Scholarships from the Wake Will campaign totaling more than $55 million that will help reduce indebtedness of students receiving financial aid and support LGBTQ students;
- Enhanced intercultural education offerings, including a faculty summer institute and first-year experience with sessions focused on diversity and inclusion, and a pilot first-year course with a major component on how to live in community;
- Expanded and renovated spaces for students, including lounges and our Intercultural, Women’s, and LGBTQ Centers;
- Innovative and ongoing training on unconscious bias and diversity for law enforcement on campus;
- A comprehensive assessment plan is being developed to ensure accountability for advancing diversity and inclusion across the university
These are only a few of the changes that have happened as a result of the engagement and collective efforts of leaders in our community. Members of the community are invited to ask questions and learn more over a meal with team members at one of the community meetings sponsored by the Campus Climate Implementation team. Registration is available under the Events tab at community.wfu.edu, in addition to a full list of campus improvements on the site.
Thank you for your support and commitment.
In partnership,
Dr. Barbee Oakes, Chief Diversity Officer
Dr. Lynn Sutton, Vice Provost
Co-Chairs of Campus Climate Implementation Team
Categories: University Announcement
Update from Campus Climate Implementation Team
This message was e-mailed to students, staff and faculty May 5 on behalf of Chief Diversity Officer Barbee Oakes and Vice Provost Lynn Sutton:
Dear Campus Community,
With the end of the semester officially coming to a close with the conclusion of final exams, it seems fitting to update students, faculty and staff about Wake Forest’s ongoing efforts to strengthen our community and commitment to inclusion.
Over the past two years, several groups comprised of students, faculty, and staff met to provide recommendations on how to do so.
Through the work of our Campus Climate Implementation Team, a collaborative network of University leaders, faculty, staff and students commissioned by Provost Rogan Kersh, we have several notable updates to share:
- By the time students return to campus this fall, we will have renovated and expanded Intercultural, LGBTQ, and Women’s centers, in addition to making more gender neutral facilities available, continuing the transformation of our community into a place that meets the needs of our increasingly diverse student body.
- Our efforts to enhance the intercultural skills of students, faculty, and staff and improve our abilities to communicate and manage across differences will continue with the introduction of a new pilot course for first-year students, inclusive teaching workshops for faculty, and more social justice and cultural competence offerings for staff professional development.
- Under the direction of Vice President for Campus Life Penny Rue and the Police Accountability Task Force, the University Police hired new staff and modified policies to ensure better relationships with community members. Significant changes include ongoing unconscious bias training, a new student patrol program, and continued dialogue between students and officers.
These improvements and many more are available at community.wfu.edu, our redesigned “Community-in-Progress” website that features updates about campus climate and sources feedback from members of the community to share with faculty, staff, and students driving change around diversity and inclusion.
We welcome any questions or comments and plan to provide details about forthcoming changes with community engagement opportunities this fall.
Thank you for your role in our collective and sustained efforts. We move forward only when we all remain committed to the promising work of making Wake Forest a place that truly feels like home to all university members.
Sincerely,
Barbee Oakes, Chief Diversity Officer and Lynn Sutton, Vice Provost
Co-Chairs, Campus Climate Implementation Team
Categories: University Announcement
