[ad_1]<\/p>\n
Virginia Commonwealth University is one of 19 colleges and universities selected by the American Association of Colleges and Universities to serve as thought partners to develop a Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation Campus Climate Assessment Toolkit. Core teams from each institution will provide feedback on the toolkit\u2019s relevance, content and structure.<\/p>\n
The goal is to promote a deeper understanding of campus environments \u2013 including the lived experiences of faculty, staff, students and communities and historical racial narratives \u2013 and provide a road map for healing and nurturing diversity, equity and inclusion.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe ability of an institution to address systemic inequities effectively depends on a clear-eyed, ongoing assessment of the many factors that influence its unique campus climate,\u201d said Lynn Pasquerella, president of the American Association of Colleges and Universities. \u201cWe are thrilled to partner with these 19 colleges and universities on the development of a new and much-needed resource to support such assessments.\u201d<\/p>\n
VCU\u2019s core team for the Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation Campus Climate Assessment Toolkit includes:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n<\/ul>\n
VCU\u2019s team will participate in structured methodologies (including but not limited to structured interviews, feedback sessions, focus groups, project meetings, document collection and online surveys) throughout the development and review processes; participate in virtual or in-person campus visits; and provide feedback on the toolkit\u2019s assessment practices.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe worked diligently to ensure a core team with expertise and unfettered passion in advancing the continuation of a VCU where everyone feels that they belong, are valued here, are seen here and are wanted here,\u201d said Smith, one of two co-leads for the project. \u201cOur team includes faculty and staff across genres, disciplines and scholarly interests as well as representational diversity along demographic lines.\u201d<\/p>\n
The TRHT\u2013Focused Campus Climate Assessment Toolkit will complement existing campus climate surveys. The toolkit differs from other diversity, equity and inclusion frameworks by highlighting the concept of racial healing. The W.K. Kellogg Foundation, which developed the framework of the toolkit, describes racial healing as \u201c[recognizing] the need to acknowledge and tell the truth about past wrongs created by individual and systemic racism and address the present consequences.\u201d The framework is especially poignant for institutions of higher education, many of which may have challenging historic racial narratives, according to Smith.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe continue to endure the horrific effects of such strong and looming societal racial divides. We must acknowledge the wrongs of the past and address the consequences of those wrongs, in a deep and meaningful way, in an effort to move away from human value hierarchy into a shared rich and wholesome human experience,\u201d Smith said.<\/p>\n
VCU\u2019s involvement in the toolkit\u2019s development is a significant step toward identifying actionable strategies for racial healing, Burnett said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe essence of transformation starts with the acknowledgement of truth followed by just action,\u201d said Burnett, team co-lead for the project. \u201cThe toolkit supports and guides institutions toward this sort of transformation as the foundation for institutional and community healing. It is both an opportunity and a solution.\u201d<\/p>\n
VCU\u2019s team will serve as thought partners on the toolkit until June 2023.<\/p>\n
Subscribe to VCU News at newsletter.vcu.edu<\/a> and receive a selection of stories, videos, photos, news clips and event listings in your inbox.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n