Common Ground Corner
Committee to continue work on action plan
The Common Ground Action Committee (CGAC) is working during the 2005-06 academic year to process and implement the recommendations in the CGAC action plan, written last year.
Membership on this year's committee includes: June Aprille, provost and vice president for academic affairs (chair); Clint Anderson, student; Daphne Burt, chaplain to the University; John Douglass, professor of law; Joanna Drell, associate professor of history; Jasmine Fryer, student; Jorge Haddock, dean, Robins School of Business; Deborah Holland, employment manager; Mehrab Malek, student; Carol Parish, associate professor of chemistry; Martha Pittaway, administrative assistant; Steve RiCharde, director of institutional research; Shirley Woods, director of the Professional Development Program; and Bill Cooper, University president (ex-officio).
The action plan may be viewed at http://commonground.richmond.edu/action/plan.htm. Hardcopies are on reserve at Boatwright Library and also are available from the Office of the Provost. The CGAC will provide a year-end summary of actions taken and progress made toward the goals.
Common Ground action plan
Six steps toward a more inclusive campus
In late August, the Common Ground Action Committee recommended that the University take six steps toward a more "intentionally inclusive" campus. Here is a brief summary of those recommendations:
Recruit students, faculty and staff who bring both talent and diversity
"To prepare students for lives in a pluralistic society, the University should mirror that society. More generally, learning and creativity increase when differences trump sameness. . More diversity among staff, especially in managerial and senior-level positions, is critical for a positive representation of University values to prospective students, faculty and staff."
Hire a director of common ground
"The challenge to create a climate of inclusive diversity must be met by everyone, not just one or two [administrators]." The common ground director, however, will "create opportunities for students and faculty of all demographic and ideological identities to come together around common interests for social events and formal programming that will transform campus culture to embrace inclusive diversity."
Teach "multicultural competence"
Students should learn to interact effectively and respectfully in a culturally diverse environment. "This has to entail more than studying diversity at arm's length. It should involve learning and conscious 'practice' in real interactions-in the classroom, in residential life and in other structured opportunities for experiential learning."
Change external perceptions that the University does not value diversity
As the University becomes more inclusively diverse, it must communicate that good news to the outside world. "The resulting increase in demographic, socioeconomic and ideological diversity can become self-sustaining when the question, 'Will I be welcome and valued there?' always can be answered, 'Yes.'"
Make an explicit commitment to inclusive diversity
The University should feature the common ground mission statement or similar language in publications, policy statements and other highly visible places across campus. The University also should "remove institutional barriers (perceived and real) to inclusive diversity," including barriers to physically handicapped people.
Measure the progress of common ground initiatives
"A new iteration of the Common Ground Action Committee should be established to monitor implementation and outcomes. . Given the major investment in resources that is likely, the inevitable question, 'What did we get for the investment?' must be answered with rigorous assessment." (The University established the ongoing Common Ground Action Committee in October.)
The complete report of the Common Ground Action Committee is available online at http://commonground.richmond.edu/action/plan.htm
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