Focus on Social Justice Issues

Dean Carol Long's Letter to CLA Faculty

November 22, 2006

Dear Colleagues:

I want to thank all of you for your thoughtful and respectful engagement in the issues that have preoccupied our campus over the past several weeks. We have an opportunity in the months ahead to inquire further into the complex issues of diversity that confront us on campus and in the larger world. As President Pelton rightly points out in his letter to the community of November 18th, "Faculty are committed to sustaining a learning environment that enhances the intellectual and moral growth of our students." I therefore propose a number of steps to enhance our work in pedagogy and curriculum:

1. On the fourth Tuesday of each month, a Teaching Roundtable will be held as one of the interest tables at the Tuesday "Working Lunch." The first of these will take place on Tuesday, November 28th. At this first table, I invite folks to come with suggestions of topics and books that we might share concerning inclusive pedagogy. Once we establish a list of potential readings and issues, the Dean's Office will provide books and resources for future roundtables.
2. I will ask the Multicultural Affairs Committee to work with students, faculty and the Office of Multicultural Affairs to coordinate one or more faculty workshops during the year to provide resources and address issues of inclusive education.
3. The Academic Council, including its student members, will assist the Council on Diversity and Social Justice in surveying the resources in our curriculum on issues of diversity and will work with faculty and students to generate ideas and incentives for curricular enrichment in this area.
4. The Dean's Office will continue to work with the Positions Committee, the Multicultural Affairs Committee, the Office of Human Resources and academic departments to improve and enhance our hiring policies and practices, including the development of additional "best practices" materials for search committees.

As President Pelton has indicated, the core documents of our institution, including our mission statement and our long range plan, assert our commitment to the "dignity and worth of all individuals." Our CLA Faculty Handbook also speaks to a chief commitment of our institution, and that is academic freedom and its attendant responsibilities: "Academic freedom imposes a discipline that is dedicated to intellectual honesty, that respects the dignity of others and that acknowledges the right of expression for all." I believe it is helpful in times of impassioned inquiry to remind ourselves of this discipline which is unique to academic communities. The Faculty Handbook, in a policy adopted by the Board of Trustees, continues:

"The University shall be a forum for the exploration of knowledge, concepts and ideas. The testing of concepts for validity and relevance is expected. Diversity of opinion within a common commitment to the pursuit of truth will be sustained."

"The University shall remain free from the advocacy of any particular ideas save those of free inquiry and a respect for the rights and dignity of others. The University may not speak with one voice for there is no member who can speak for the institution as a whole."

This context of free inquiry is vital to our existence as an institution of learning, and I thank you for modeling it for our community. I believe the joy and challenge of the academy rest in the atmosphere of open dialogue and mutual respect, in the discipline of academic freedom and responsibility.

As always, please feel free to contact me or other members of the Dean's Office with suggestions or concerns at any time. I wish you all a warm and peaceful Thanksgiving holiday.

Best regards,
Carol