Communication Associate: Public Relations | Lori Melton | lmelton@d.umn.edu | (218) 726-8830
October 5, 2012 Christiana Kapsner | UMD Public Relations Associate | 218 726-8830 | ckapsner@d.umn.edu
Susana Pelayo-Woodward | Director of Office of Cultural Diversity | 218 726-8444 | swoodwar@d.umn.edu
Fostering a Climate of Inclusion, Safety and Respect:
New Reporting Webpage and the Development of a Campus Climate Response Team
At the University of Minnesota Duluth, fostering a climate of inclusion, safety, and respect is a critical campus priority. Creating a clear, responsive, and well-communicated process on how to report incidents that undermine and degrade the campus climate is part of that priority.
This fall, the Reporting Incidents webpage was revised and placed on the UMD Homepage under Quick Links. In addition, a Campus Climate Response Protocol was developed along with a Campus Climate Response Team (CCRT) to carry out the Protocol.
On Monday, October 8, 2012 at 5 pm in Griggs Center, a student forum will be held to provide an update on the Strategic Plan Goal 2 including changes in the Reporting Incidents webpage and the creation of the Campus Climate Response Protocol Team (CCRT)
The student forum will be facilitated by the Campus Change Team Co-Chairs Susana Pelayo Woodward and Bilin Tsai. It is co-sponsored by three student organizations: the American Indian Science and Engineering Society, the Multicultural Student Leaders Council, and the UMD Student Association.
How to Report an Incident that Undermines and Degrades the Campus Climate
The website allows reports of incidents to be filed electronically by students, staff, faculty, and campus visitors. These reports go to the Office of Student Conduct or the Office of Human Resources and Equal Opportunity for investigation and follow up, unless the report is filed anonymously. The website links describe what happens when a report is filed.
In addition, for individuals who are not ready to file a report, an option to speak to a campus resource person is provided. This webpage includes a complete list of contacts with phone numbers and office locations.
About the CCRT
In addition to the UMD campus-wide protocol for reporting an incident, the CCRT has been formed. The CCRT reports directly to Chancellor Lendley C. Black and includes high-level campus administrators who will convene and develop a timely and comprehensive plan for responding to issues or incidents which degrade or threaten the campus climate and that require a response beyond that provided by established processes.
"UMD has a method of action that directly deals with situations that undermine a positive campus climate," said Susana Pelayo-Woodward, co-chair of the Campus Climate Initiative and director of the UMD Office of Cultural Diversity. "The CCRT is in place to efficiently and effectively review issues as quickly as possible in a cohesive, organized manner."
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