Tag: campus climate

The Gantt Multicultural Center and Campus Activities and Events are accepting applications for the fall 2017 GOODTalk sessions. GOODTalk is a 10-week sustained dialogue for staff and faculty across the campus.

GOODTalk will engage eight-12 participants in topics that influence the student and staff communities and are relevant to understanding differences. This experience will offer an opportunity for personal reflection and growth, conversations across and about differences, and a social justice knowledge base that will assist in facilitating dialogue with Clemson students. Participants can expect to explore topics that include but are not limited to ability status, gender expression, national origin, race and ethnicity, religion and spirituality, sexual orientation and socio-economic status.

Sessions will be from 1 to 3 p.m. each Tuesday from Oct. 3 to Dec. 12 (excluding the fall break week of Oct. 17).

Program outcomes

GOODTalk participants will be able to:

• Develop efficacy in facilitating dialogue
• Observe and analyze the experiences of those different from themselves
• Observe and analyze the systems that affect the experiences of others
• Effectively communicate with people different from themselves
• Recognize personal beliefs and values
• Understand how personal beliefs and values impact others
• Critically analyze job roles and responsibilities as they relate to diverse groups
• Effectively define social justice concepts

All faculty, staff and graduate assistants are encouraged to apply online to participate in GOODTalk by Friday, Sept. 29. Participants selected will represent a diverse group from a variety of social identities and university roles.

For more information, contact Kate Radford, associate director for Student Leadership and Community Engagement, Campus Activities and Events (radford@clemson.edu), or Kendra Stewart-Tillman, director for Diversity and Inclusion, The Harvey and Lucinda Gantt Multicultural Center (stewar5@clemson.edu).

A new Clemson initiative to coordinate campus climate improvement programs is bringing together organizations across campus to make Clemson as inclusive as possible. Spearheaded by Clemson Professor Melissa Vogel, this effort intends to raise awareness and educate the Clemson community on diversity and inclusion programs, efforts and resources.

By Alexa Emerson, Class of 2017

Many campus clubs and organizations offer services and programs to support an inclusive campus environment. But you don’t hear about them because there’s no central coordination.

Enter Melissa Vogel, an associate professor of anthropology in the College of Business and Behavioral Science. Vogel did what no one has done so far. She brought the organizations together.

The associate professor created what she calls Campus Climate Coordination, an initiative to organize campus inclusiveness efforts. Vogel thinks Clemson is at a pivotal point in enhancing diverse and inclusive campus climate. This program aims to take advantage of this transitional movement and consequently make Clemson a more diverse and inclusive community. And that’s exactly what the organizations taking part in this coordination effort strive to do.

As one of several efforts spurred from the Faculty Leadership Development program, Vogel organized a meeting of student, staff and faculty groups so that each group could share its upcoming events. The goal is to create a centralized space where everyone can easily access information about events that offer diversity and inclusion programming. These events range from entertainment and speakers to workshops and training. And what better place to do that then in the university calendar. By consolidating events in the calendar, organizations can avoid double-booking and can even form partnerships to collaborate or cross-promote events.

Currently, there are more than 45 organizations involved with Campus Climate Coordination, and those numbers may grow. For Vogel, it is encouraging that so many people are willing to devote their time and energy to such an important issue.

“Diversity is something that is relevant to everyone,” she said. “There are so many people at Clemson who care enough about this issue to make a difference. They believe there is a need to redefine the Clemson family.” This opportunity, said Vogel, must be taken to centralize efforts and work toward changing the way everyone thinks about diversity and campus inclusiveness.

While Vogel’s meeting took place in the fall semester, the associate professor believes that the dialogue should continue. She’s already thinking about hosting another meeting in the spring.

Campus Climate Coordination is a long-term initiative and is now linked to efforts from the Provost’s office. Anyone can get involved by submitting their diversity and inclusion events to the university calendar and using the “Diversity and Inclusion” tag when entering the event.

To read more about diversity and inclusion at Clemson, click here.

We are continuing our search for a Chief Diversity Officer, who will have a key role in implementing the diversity plan I outlined for the Board of Trustees in July.

The plan was developed after dozens of meetings with faculty, staff, students and alumni about how to improve the climate for diversity and inclusion at Clemson.

I will charge the CDO with developing and implementing a strategic plan to increase the diversity of the student body, staff, faculty and administration, with measurable goals.

The CDO search committee, chaired by Provost Bob Jones, already has interviewed two well-regarded candidates and will be seeking additional candidates as soon as possible.

I want your continued involvement in this process. Here’s how you can help:

1. Visit the CDO job posting and share it with your professional networks.
2. Attend the on-campus forums so that you can get to know the candidates. These forums are also live streamed on ClemsonTV.
3. Continue to share your feedback.

When additional candidate forums are scheduled you will be notified via Inside Clemson.

– President Jim Clements

By Bob Jones
Executive Vice president for Academic Affairs and Provost

The search for Clemson’s new Chief Diversity Officer (CDO) continues.

Two well-regarded candidates recently participated in on-campus interviews and forums. After receiving great feedback from the campus community, we will be seeking additional candidates who have the knowledge, talent and enthusiasm to drive Clemson forward with our diversity and inclusiveness efforts.

The CDO search committee, which I am chairing, will work with Human Resources to begin reviewing additional candidates as soon as possible.

We want your continued involvement in this process. Here’s how you can help:

1. Visit the CDO job posting and share it with your professional networks.
2. Attend the on-campus forums so that you can get to know the candidates. These forums are also live streamed on ClemsonTV.
3. Continue to share your feedback.

Thank you for your involvement in this process. We will announce when we will have additional candidates visiting campus and encourage your participation.