Faculty Senate supports cultural competency training

A resolution denouncing hate and bias and supporting comprehensive racial awareness and inclusion professional development for all faculty passed the Faculty Senate on Monday.

Chris Walker, associate professor of dance, introduced the resolution in response to the campus becoming more diverse and “challenges to sharing space” that have resulted.

“This will level the playing field so we are all tooled with the resources” to create a safe environment for teaching and learning for all, Walker said.

Walker said some schools and colleges, including Engineering and Letters & Science, are already engaged in talking about cultural competency and that the university can “leverage resources already available on campus.”

“This isn’t coming from the top down. There is a groundswell of faculty support,” Walker said.

Patrick Sims, vice provost for diversity and climate, said there is already tremendous scholarship on the issues presented in the resolution, and promised a collaborative process as the professional development is adopted by schools and colleges.

Chancellor Rebecca Blank said there are currently efforts to evaluate training resources at the university and to look at those at other campuses. Resources for schools and colleges should be available by the end of the summer, Blank said.

The full resolution can be read here.