Civility on CampusCivility on Campus

Susan HarrisonSusan HarrisonJuly 14, 2006July 14, 2006

ASLCASLC

Gaining a BackgroundGaining a BackgroundDecember, 2005December, 2005• Civility discussed – A&S chairsCivility discussed – A&S chairs• Committee members solicitedCommittee members solicitedJanuary, 2006January, 2006• Civility Conference attendedCivility Conference attended

– Flipping the Switch: Encouraging Civility on Flipping the Switch: Encouraging Civility on Campus at American UniversityCampus at American University

– PaperClip CommunicationsPaperClip Communications

Forming a TeamForming a Team• 10 Faculty and 1 Instructional Academic Staff 10 Faculty and 1 Instructional Academic Staff

– 6 College of Arts & Sciences6 College of Arts & Sciences– 1 College of Business1 College of Business– 2 College of Education & Human Sciences2 College of Education & Human Sciences– 2 College of Nursing & Health Sciences2 College of Nursing & Health Sciences

• 1 Associate Dean: Arts & Sciences1 Associate Dean: Arts & Sciences• 2 Academic Staff 2 Academic Staff

– HousingHousing– Orientation/AdvisingOrientation/Advising

• 2 Students2 Students• 1 Team Leader1 Team Leader

– Interim Associate Dean of Student DevelopmentInterim Associate Dean of Student Development

Preparing for MeetingsPreparing for MeetingsOnly 6 meetings heldOnly 6 meetings heldKEY - KEY - • Prepare and distribute materials in Prepare and distribute materials in

advanceadvance• Use a detailed agendaUse a detailed agenda

– Include questionsInclude questions– Include timed eventsInclude timed events

Charging the CommitteeCharging the CommitteeCharged by Associate Vice ChancellorCharged by Associate Vice Chancellor• Develop goals and action planDevelop goals and action plan• Develop an understandingDevelop an understanding• Make recommendationsMake recommendations• Develop a plan for continuationDevelop a plan for continuation

Starting the ProcessStarting the ProcessFebruary 17February 17thth • Charge givenCharge given• Goals reviewedGoals reviewed• Approaches consideredApproaches considered• Questions answeredQuestions answered• Timeline distributedTimeline distributed

Continuing the Continuing the MeetingsMeetings

February 28February 28thth • Video discussedVideo discussed• Ideas sharedIdeas shared• Goals & Goals & ““CivilityCivility”” concept reviewed concept reviewed• Method for being inclusive Method for being inclusive

determineddetermined– Students to be surveyedStudents to be surveyed

• In the classroomIn the classroom• On the webOn the web

Collecting the DataCollecting the Data• Script developedScript developed• Web Survey designedWeb Survey designed• Classes interviewedClasses interviewed• Web data collectedWeb data collected

Making the PointMaking the Point• Awareness raisedAwareness raised• Ideas welcomedIdeas welcomed• Data gatheredData gathered

Answering the Answering the QuestionsQuestions

1.1. What words or phrases come to mind when you think about What words or phrases come to mind when you think about civility?civility?

2.2. What characteristics of civil behavior should be exhibited by What characteristics of civil behavior should be exhibited by both students and instructors in a classroom learning both students and instructors in a classroom learning environment?environment?

3.3. What characteristics of civil behavior should be exhibited by What characteristics of civil behavior should be exhibited by participants in other learning environments such as casual participants in other learning environments such as casual conversations, group deliberations, Desire-2-Learn conversations, group deliberations, Desire-2-Learn discussions, performance events, email exchanges, and discussions, performance events, email exchanges, and athletic events?athletic events?

4.4. What characteristics of civil behavior should be exhibited in What characteristics of civil behavior should be exhibited in residence halls by students, RAs, and hall directors or by residence halls by students, RAs, and hall directors or by neighbors in the community?neighbors in the community?

5.5. What do you think of the idea of considering civility as a part What do you think of the idea of considering civility as a part of a liberal education?of a liberal education?

Organizing the ResultsOrganizing the Results

• Respecting studentsRespecting students• Respecting teachersRespecting teachers• Respecting one anotherRespecting one another• Respecting roommatesRespecting roommates• Tabulated resultsTabulated results• Incivility examplesIncivility examples

Respecting StudentsRespecting Students

Teachers – Showing respect for the Teachers – Showing respect for the students …students …

• start on timestart on time• speak clearly and loudlyspeak clearly and loudly• establish an atmosphere where…establish an atmosphere where…• show interest by actually listeningshow interest by actually listening• react in a positive way react in a positive way • adapt for varying learning rates/stylesadapt for varying learning rates/styles

Holding March MeetingsHolding March Meetings

March 14March 14thth • Civility statements reviewedCivility statements reviewed• Classroom responses discussedClassroom responses discussed• Input sources determinedInput sources determined• Slogan ideas sharedSlogan ideas shared• Name decidedName decided

– Campus Civility TeamCampus Civility Team

Holding another OneHolding another One

March 28March 28thth • Update givenUpdate given• Survey finalizedSurvey finalized• Slogan decidedSlogan decided

– Excellence through CivilityExcellence through Civility• Roll out discussedRoll out discussed• Team dividedTeam divided

Dividing the WorkDividing the Work• Educational brochureEducational brochure• Liberal Arts connectionsLiberal Arts connections• Syllabus informationSyllabus information• Orientation skitOrientation skit• Web site and linksWeb site and links

Reviewing the WorkReviewing the WorkApril 18April 18thth – Group updates – Group updates• Group updates givenGroup updates given

– Educational brochure readyEducational brochure ready– Syllabus information readySyllabus information ready– Web site under constructionWeb site under construction

Presenting the ResultsPresenting the ResultsApril 25April 25thth • Survey results discussedSurvey results discussed• Reports heardReports heard• Presentation decidedPresentation decided• Assessment methods determinedAssessment methods determined

Wrapping up the Wrapping up the SemesterSemester

May 9May 9thth • Celebration heldCelebration held• Web site revealedWeb site revealed• Survey takenSurvey taken• Future plans discussedFuture plans discussed

– SpeakersSpeakers– Brown bagsBrown bags– ContestsContests– Civility day or weekCivility day or week

SHOW ORIENTATION SHOW ORIENTATION SKITSKIT

SEE WEB SITESEE WEB SITE

SURVEY RESULTSSURVEY RESULTS

THANKSTHANKS