STEPHANIE BRINK | features editor
Campus conversations about diversity did not end after the workshops for faculty and staff on Jan. 21, but continued when forty staff members who facilitated the table discussions for the January workshop gathered together Tuesday, Feb. 3 to share feedback from their experiences.
“This is part of an ongoing conversation,” Senior Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students Terry Franson said.
Staff who attended shared their reflections about key learning moments and difficulties that occurred at their tables.
The staff also gave suggestions for next steps on how the university can build upon the workshop.
“We are on an important journey,” Vice President for People and Organizational Development Gary Lemaster said. “We want to get this right.”
Staff comments about the diversity training were both positive and negative.
Many felt that initiating discussion in a small-group setting with guided questions was successful and allowed for open conversation in a safe environment.
Staff members also applauded the leadership of APU for taking this step and setting a positive example for other institutions of higher education.
Constructive criticism focused on the need for a base of common knowledge to be established before depth of conversation can occur.
Some suggested that staff and faculty should meet together instead of separately.
“Hearing feedback from others is helpful for moving forward,” associate director of Undergraduate Admissions Kimberley Wiedefeld said. “Personally, I think it’s interesting to hear about others’ experiences.”
In addition to Tuesday’s discussion, an online follow-up survey was sent to all staff members asking for their responses to the workshop. All the information gathered will be summarized and compiled by Human Resources into one report.
Faculty members who attended the Jan. 21 workshop were also asked to report feedback.
A brief summary of their responses was compiled by the Jan. 21 workshop’s organizing committee.
Positive comments were made about the stories shared in student presentations and faculty dialogue. Many appreciated discussing with faculty from different disciplines and sharing strategies for diversity in the classroom.
Suggestions for improvement included more time to discuss, opportunities to hear student voices and consideration of issues of gender and faith.
An online survey will soon be sent to faculty to receive more feedback about the training.
Faculty members can access the information presented at the workshop through a recently created website. This site will also include strategies for demonstrating the importance of diversity in the classroom and becoming approachable to students. Information about upcoming events promoting diversity on campus is also available through the new website.
Such events include student Town Hall meetings focusing on diversity hosted by President Jon Wallace for both undergraduate and graduate students, and the development of a diversity program for adjunct faculty.
“These workshops were part of a larger plan to address diversity issues on our campus,” dean of the School of Behavioral and Applied Sciences Mark Stanton said. “[We] are taking diversity issues seriously, as part of our Christian commitment to love our neighbor.”
