Creating a Culture of Care at The New School
A Message from Dr. Renée T. White, Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
Dear members of The New School community,
Each of us contribute to creating and upholding a supportive, safe, and inclusive learning environment here at The New School. I want to recognize that across the university, our students, faculty, and staff are navigating personal, professional, and moral obligations in a deeply divisive geopolitical landscape.
In October, I wrote that centering our humanity is the primary lens through which we can attempt to come together as a university. As members of our community have experienced incidents of harassment and harm on campus, it is vital that we address what has happened from a framework of care, assess and improve our policies and protocols, identify and implement resources for anti-bias, de-escalation, and bystander intervention training, and actively come together in open dialogue.
Since the fall semester, we have heard from students, faculty, and staff looking for support networks and spaces to engage in dialogue, active listening, and mutual understanding. Members of our community have been working diligently to create more resources and opportunities designed to navigate complex discussions, build empathy, and bridge gaps of understanding.
Continue reading to learn more about these offerings, the reformation of the university’s Equity, Inclusion, and Social Justice Committee, and the Culture of Care hub, a website that collects events and resources grounded in creating a culture of care, equity, and belonging here at The New School.
Creating a Culture of Care Hub
The Provost’s Office has created a hub to bring together events, initiatives, and university resources grounded in creating a culture of care, equity, and belonging. Visit the hub to learn more about upcoming opportunities and resources designed to support your experience here at The New School. Everyone is invited to participate in ways you find meaningful.
Do you have an event, gathering, or dialogue that aligns with this effort? Our goal is to ensure this reflects work taking place across the university and serves as an informational hub for related events and resources. Reach out to us at provost@newschool.edu to contribute.
More events and resources will be added throughout the semester. Check back for updates and to learn how you can take part in this work.
The Belonging Journey
This semester, the Office of Equity & Belonging in Student Success and Engagement invites our students to The Belonging Journey, a conversation series that will explore how our desire to connect and how our need to belong is grounded in our understanding of relationships, structures, and community.
This dialogue series kicks off with our Beloved Community Initiative, a series of pop-up, interactive conversations about what community means and what it means to be in community with each other.
Equity, Inclusion, and Social Justice (EISJ) Praxis Fund
Across the university, students, faculty, and staff contribute their time and energy to grounding their teaching, learning, and service in social justice practices and praxis.
This semester, the Provost’s Office will pilot funding for faculty and staff to organize cross-departmental groups of colleagues to attend professional development conferences and activities that support their work to advance equity, inclusion, and social justice (EISJ) here at The New School.
Colleagues who have identified opportunities and are interested in applying for funds should contact provost@newschool.edu with a description of the opportunity and a brief proposal for engaging a group of university constituents and how they will bring learnings back to the wider community.