Culture of Care
The Culture of Care initiatives work to sustain inclusive practices as part of the core work of the College across all areas of endeavor, including teaching, scholarship, service, governance, leadership, professional development, and administration. Its goal is to support full participation in the activities of the college by a diverse cohort of faculty, staff, and students, where diversity encompasses, but is not limited to: rank or appointment type; area of artistic or scholarly endeavor with the arts and letters; identity and individual characteristics noted in the MSU Anti-Discrimination Policy.
News
Guidance to Support Faculty, Staff, and Students Targeted by Online Attacks
Michigan State University encompasses a diverse community of scholars. The nature of scholarship is often collaborative, sometimes controversial, and occasionally public. Social media and faculty online presence (e.g. personal blogs, websites, etc.) further tends to elevate the visibility of scholars and their work. As employees of a high-profile public institution subject to public disclosure laws, MSU employees might also expect to be subject to a higher level of public scrutiny and comment than others.
Culture of Care in COVID-19
In uncertain times, what we value most helps to guide us. Our top priority remains the health and safety of all members of the College of Arts & Letters. For two years, faculty and staff also have been working hard to establish a Culture of Care in the College. Multiple initiatives focus on implementing inclusive practices…
2020 Contingency Planning Letter
In the face of the many unknown factors brought on by COVID-19, contingency planning helps to more clearly define the challenges to be addressed. The planning process empowers participants to proactively think through ways to frame and strategically respond to shifting circumstances or over time. While our core values remain our essential guides…
DEI Resources and Programs Available to the Spartan Community
It is easy to deploy diversity rhetoric; by contrast, helping create an inclusive and just society is a monumental task, even more so, during tumultuous times. This is why, however well-intentioned, so many institutions and companies choose rhetoric…
Anti-Racist Action Plan from the Department of English
As we continue to process the abhorrent killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and Rayshard Brooks, and witness the largest protests in the U.S. since 1968, the leadership of…
An Open Letter from the MSU Department of Theatre
The Michigan State University Department of Theatre stands in solidarity with BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) and commits to actively support the destruction of systemic racism. While this issue has received unprecedented global attention following…
Open Letter to Our Community
Dear College of Arts & Letters community,
“Anger,” Audre Lorde¹ insists, “is an appropriate reaction to racist attitudes, as is fury when the actions arising from those attitudes do not change.” The racist killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery…
Black Lives Matter
OUR STANCE
The Department of Writing, Rhetoric, and American Cultures (WRAC) stands against state-sponsored anti-Black violence and racism, and in solidarity with protestors around the world who seek justice. We also call for action against systemic and structural racism in the U.S. broadly and in our local communities…
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program
Michigan State University welcomes and supports students without regard to their immigration status. We will continue to admit students in a manner consistent with our non-discrimination policy. Once students are admitted, MSU is committed to fostering an environment in which every student can learn, thrive, and graduate.
RVSM Briefing Report July 2019
This report was prepared by the RVSM Expert Advisory Workgroup for the incoming President of Michigan State University, Samuel L. Stanley, Jr., M.D. The Workgroup includes faculty, administrators, staff, and students who have extensive content expertise in relationship violence and sexual misconduct (RVSM).
Culture of Care Task Force Report April 2019
During the Fall 2018 College of Arts & Letters faculty meetings, attendees voiced a desire for identifying and developing a culture of care. A committee was tasked with this challenge and in this report, the committee shares their recommendations for enacting a culture of care.
Toward a Culture of Care
As the College of Arts & Letters and MSU work towards cultural change, Dean Christopher P. Long share what the College has been doing and will continue to do to enact a more inclusive and caring culture.
Failures to Listen
Dean Christopher P. Long discusses the importance of not forgetting the sexual abuse scandal and the difficulties that MSU faces in enacting cultural change at the institutional level.
Open Letter Regarding MSU Interim President Transition
In this letter, Dean Christopher P. Long reflects on the past year and the action taken by the MSU Board of Trustees to appoint Satish Udpa as Acting President of Michigan State University.
Living Values
In this post, Dean Christopher P. Long explains the process behind identifying the core values that drive the College of Arts & Letters, as well as how the College will be ensuring those values are enacted.
Open Letter to College of Arts & Letters Alumni and Friends
After a tough semester that initiated a period of change in both the College of Arts & Letters and MSU, Dean Christoper P. Long updates alumni and friends on the changes being put into action.
Cultivating a Culture of Trust
Read Dean Christopher P. Long’s blog post on creating a culture of trust through care, accountability, and equity during this challenging time of reflection and change at MSU.
Dear MSU, Remember The Survivors
Associate Dean Sonja Fritzsche writes a letter to the Arts & Letters community urging everyone to take advantage of this opportunity to shape MSU into a community of safety, openness, and care.
Open Letter to the College
Following the resignation of President Simon, read the open letter from Dean Christopher P. Long on this time of transition and change at MSU and the need to build a culture of responsibility.
Open Letter on the Executive Order on Immigration
In the wake of the executive order on immigration, Dean Christopher P. Long discusses how it impedes on the mission of both the College of Arts & Letters and MSU.
Open Letter to the College of Arts & Letters
An open letter from Christopher Long discusses how “the capacity of an education in the liberal arts to enrich our relationships with one another is unparalleled.”
Critical Diversity in a Digital Age
Dean Christopher Long discusses ‘Critical Diversity in a Digital Age’ on his latest blog. Join the public conversation as we attempt to further flesh out the College of Arts & Letters’ approach.
Learning to Play in a More Inclusive Key
Read Dean Long’s blog post, “Learning to Play in a More Inclusive Key,” which highlights Diversity, Inclusion & Community Engagement programs.
Practicing Inclusion as a Matter of Institutional Habit
Dean Long explains, “to cultivate the practices of inclusion as a matter of institutional habit needs an ongoing attempt to weave a commitment to justice into our encounters.”