Creating a Truly Diverse and Inclusive

University: FCTL

David PilgrimVice President for Diversity and Inclusion

311 Timme Center591-3946

www.ferris.edu/diversity

Diversity Definitions in the Urban Dictionary

• “…a deathblow to an existing environment.”• “It's what's killing American culture and letting Islam be taught as fact in our schools, because it's a recognition of other faiths.”• “Yet another code word for gay rights.”• “Diversity is an office at your local university/workplace staffed entirely by black people wearing traditional African garb. The Office of Diversity is there to appease the local black community in order to prevent riots and looting.”• “A bullshit theory that somehow tries to convince us that quality no longer matters.”•A liberal euphemism used to justify hiring people who lack the skill and experience to do a job or task, because they are members of a group favored by liberals. White males, Christians, rural people, NASCAR fans, and people with strong moral standards are excluded from consideration.” • “A word use by blacks and Mexicans to justify the need for hiring their own even when qualifications are not met. Their reasoning is that diversity is more important than quality.”

Ferris Definition of Diversity“Diversity is the range of human differences, including but not limited to race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, social class, physical ability or attributes, religious or ethical values system, national origin, and political beliefs.”

Ferris Definition of Inclusion

“Inclusion is involvement and empowerment, where the inherent worth and dignity of all people are recognized. An inclusive university promotes and sustains a sense of belonging; it values and practices respect for the talents, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of living of its members.”

Goals of the Diversity Plan• Create a university that is welcoming to diverse populations.

• Recruit, retain, and graduate a diverse student population.

• Hire and retain a diverse workforce.

• Create environments for student learning that are inclusive of and sensitive to a diverse student population.

Creating Inclusive Classrooms: Internet Resources

Diversity and Complexity in the Classroom: Considerations of Race, Ethnicity, and Genderhttp://teaching.berkeley.edu/bgd/diversity.html

An Approach for Teaching Diversityhttp://www.uww.edu/learn/diversity/dozensuggestions.php

Strategies for Inclusive Teachinghttp://depts.washington.edu/cidrweb/inclusive/diversify.html

The Chilly Climate: How Men and Women are Treated Differently in Classrooms and at Workhttp://www.bernicesandler.com/id4.htm

Creating Inclusive Classrooms

• Choose a textbook that uses diverse perspectives.

• Include a statement in your syllabus about the need to encourage and respect diversity and inclusion.

• Recognize any biases or stereotypes you may have absorbed.

• Learn students’ names.

• Strive for as much consistency as possible in the way you address each person in the class.

• Early in the semester make sure students learn the difference between values and beliefs.

Creating Inclusive Classrooms

• Analyze your examples and anecdotes.

• Stress that while each person has a right to his or her opinion, offensive statements and behaviors are simply inappropriate in the classroom environment.

• Don't try to "protect" any group of students. Don't refrain from criticizing the performance of individual students in your class on account of their ethnicity or gender. And be evenhanded in how you acknowledge students' good work. Be wrong sometimes.

• Never crush (humiliate) a student.

Creating Inclusive Classrooms

• Refrain from remarks that make students feel dumb or inferior because of their religious or political views.

• Refrain from remarks that make assumptions about the nature of your students' families, such as, "Are you going to visit your parents over spring break?"

• Avoid comments about students' social activities that assume that all students are heterosexual.

• Try to draw case studies, examples, and anecdotes from a variety of cultural and social contexts.

Creating Inclusive Classrooms

Get a sense of how students feel about the cultural climate in your classroom. Let students know that you want to hear from them if any aspect of the course is making them feel unsafe. During the term, invite them to write you a note (signed or unsigned) or ask on mid- semester course evaluation forms one or more of the following questions:

• Does the course instructor treat students equally and evenhandedly?

• How safe do you feel participating in this class? What makes it easy or difficult for you?

• In what ways, if any, does your ethnicity, race, or gender, sexual orientation or other trait affect your interactions with the teacher in this class? With fellow students?

Ferris Resources

Ferris State University Fact Bookhttp://www.ferris.edu/admissions/testing/factbook/Factbook2010.pdf

Ferris State University Student Climate Survey Resultshttp://www.ferris.edu/diversity/measurements/ClimateSurvey.htm

Diversity at Ferris 2010http://www.ferris.edu/htmls/administration/president/DiversityOffice/pdf/2010report.pdf

Employee Dignity/Harassment/Discriminationhttp://www.ferris.edu/diversity/OnCampus/Employee.htm

Student Dignity and Harassmenthttp://www.ferris.edu/diversity/OnCampus/Student.htm

Final Notes From LuluThose schoolgirl days,of telling tales and biting nails are gone,But in my mind,I know they will still live on and on,But how do you thank someone,Who has taken you from crayons to perfume?It isn't easy, but I'll try... If you wanted the skyI would write across the sky in letters,That would soar a thousand feet high,To Sir, with Love The time has come,For closing books and long last looks must end,And as I leave,I know that I am leaving my best friend,A friend who taught me right from wrong,And weak from strong,That's a lot to learn,What, what can I give you in return? If you wanted the moonI would try to make a start,But I would rather you let me give my heart,To Sir, with Love

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCeJhoUohmo