Alison Munsch, Ph.D.’s Post

For those following DEI in universities, The Johns Hopkins University has been in the news recently for how it has defined "privilege" and redefined the word "lesbian" in relation to "man" (not "woman"--it is tortured language). https://lnkd.in/gEnm-Mgw I would expect a lot more of these incidents, not just at JHU, but broadly. Stanford University was in the news a while back for similar language redefinition and coaching of faculty on what was acceptable language. It comes back to the theme of governance. JHU has a DEI leader, and a policy and a plan. But they are clearly form over substance, as every school within JHU has its own plan and there are no specific deliverables around almost anything--except for time frames to promulgate statements. It is a fantastic example of bureaucracy run amok, with no one accountable for results. You can read it below. How is that supposed to achieve diversity, inclusion, and equity? This goes straight to the JHU Board of Trustees, who, as is typical for a college board, have delegated their governance responsibilities to a combination of the Administration (whom the board should be governing), consultants, and lawyers. Proponents of DEI should be upset with this performative approach. Donors should be appalled at the waste of resources (headcount, paperwork, time) to no effective outcome. #dei #governance #universities The Chronicle of Higher Education Brandon Busteed Heidi Bruhn Trina Foster #diversityequityandinclusion Louis J Forster Jeffrey Barber Carmine Petrone Chris Hoehn-Saric Rajeev Goel Wen Shi, DPhil, CFA Don Kurz Alfred Berkeley Susan Daimler Jay Lenrow J.Mario Molina M.D. Lee Hendler Chuck Clarvit https://lnkd.in/gBSStMHt

🌟 Learn more about the benefits of HSIs! Did you know there are 10 TIMES as many Latinx high school graduates not attending college compared to all other racially minoritized groups in California? In their latest article, Dr. Gina Ann Garcia and Dr. Nicholas Vargas explore how Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) can play a crucial role in closing these racial gaps. Discover policy recommendations, effective outreach strategies, and the importance of community engagement to ensure Latino students thrive in higher education. 🔗 Read the full report: https://bit.ly/3KuDhsN #HigherEd #LatinxStudents #EquityInEducation

Check out Tim's blog!

This week I am attending the International Association of Research on Service-Learning and Community Engagement in New Orleans, at Tulane University. Thanks to all the organizers for bringing us together in person. I am so excited to hear about all the great work my international colleagues are doing and to present on our office's Community-University Engagement Support (CUES) and Partnership Recognition and Exploration (PRE) funds tomorrow morning. As I finish up each day, I will share a handful of takeaways that I hear from presenters and keynotes to spread the word beyond the walls of our beautiful conference setting at Tulane! #iarscle2023 Day 1 Takeaways: Elevating new approaches to community engagement must be a transformative journey, one that continually honours and recognizes community for their expertise and role in catalyzing change. As faculty and administrators at institutions of higher education, we need to earnestly and intentionally listen to community partners, and not simply feel satisfied by creating a space for talk to happen. "Proximity without presence should not happen"--faculty, students, and staff from academic institutions need to be deeply present in all aspects of the process to build trusting relationships. Acts of responsive listening and demonstrated cultural understanding are keys to showing that we want to build relationships with intention. It is vital that we seek out the fault lines in our approaches to engagement and collaboration and co-construct ways to resolve them. Community-driven and culturally-responsive community engagement is the key to achieving strategies and actions at institutes of higher ed to be diverse, equitable, inclusive and accessible institutions; this means acknowledging and challenging assumptions, both personal and institutional, and meeting these with reflexivity and shared purpose. The Carnegie Foundation and its international partners, including the IARSLCE Alliance and Engagement Australia, are bringing a research strategy to life that will open access to years and years of data collected through the Elective Community Engagement Classification. Lots more to come, so stay tuned for ways to engage in this work!

I have spent the last eight weeks conducting research as well as developing a plan for how to make graduate education more accessible for underrepresented communities. The top issues we see are lack of support, fear that prospective students are going to get taken advantage of financially, as well as a lack of outreach for both prospective and current students. Please comment any thoughts you may have. 

Well all my blogs are coming out in the same week! This one is on the role of universities to support democratic renewal and rebuild trust in their immediate communities. Thanks to John Fell and colleagues at the National Civic Impact Accelerator for the opportunity to contribute to this blog. Citizens UK #HigherEducation #CommunityOrganising #DemocraticRenewal

What does Alan Dettlaff's removal tell us about the tolerance for the tolerance for social change in higher education? Can social work truly embody social justice if advocating for it risks professional repercussions? Alan Dettlaff on his Removal as Dean of University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work In this segment from The Critical Social Worker: A Revolutionary Storytelling Podcast, Christian Ace Stettler asks Alan Dettlaff about his controversial removal as dean from the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work. This discussion illuminates the struggles within academic institutions when confronting systemic issues and the pressures that can arise from advocating for transformative change. Background on the Controversy: Alan Dettlaff shares his journey from his appointment as Dean in 2015, through the pivotal moments that sharpened his focus on racial justice and abolitionist work within social work. His leadership, influenced by major social movements and critical thinkers like Angela Davis, steered the college towards a strong racial justice agenda. This shift, however, was met with resistance from some faculty members concerned about the impact on grant funding and the college's reputation, ultimately leading to his removal. View an article from Inside Higher Ed: https://lnkd.in/gQa3jK43 Alan Dettlaff's Perspective: "I was removed from my position due to the direction I was taking the college, particularly our focus on racial justice and abolition, which some believed threatened our funding and community standing." About This Episode: Episode #48, titled Abolition Social Work | Challenging the Status Quo, explores the tensions that arise when academic leaders push for systemic change within their institutions. It look sinto the personal and professional consequences faced by those who challenge entrenched systems and the impact of such actions on academic freedom and advocacy in social work. Join the Conversation: How can social work live up to it's ethical obligation to fight for social justice? What can be done to protect educators who face backlash for advocating for justice and abolition within their fields? Discover more about the ongoing conversation and listen to the full discussion here: https://lnkd.in/gV3dc-qG #SocialJusticeInAcademia #AcademicFreedom #RacialJustice #AbolitionistSocialWork #SystemicChange

Yesterday I had the opportunity to defend my prospectus for my dissertation "What Towns Want From Gowns: An Investigation Into Community Perspectives of University-Driven Community Development." I'm happy to share that I am officially a doctoral candidate and will be moving forward with my research proposal! I am so appreciatitive to my amazing chair and committee members who came together to help me conduct the best research I possibly could. I'm excited to delve into the question of how universities and other anchor institutions can better support the economic development of their neighboring communities. For my dissertation, which I hope to be a first step in a long line of inquiry, I will be gathering community members perspectives on various commonly used economic development strategies that universities across the United States use. This is an area that is fraught with many examples of universities reinforcing the hegemonic status quo. But universities, as bastions of education and democracy, have the ability and duty to use their resources in a more positive way. It is my goal to generate insight that can inform how university leaders, policy makers, and community advocates approach collaboration for the purpose of equitable community development. #doctoralstudent #doctorate #dissertation #dissertationlife #prospectus #economicdevelopment #policy #policymaking #communitycare #communitydevelopment #communityimpact #university #college #communitycollege #multipliers

A degree from a Tennessee public university is a powerful tool for personal growth, community development, and economic empowerment. From higher salaries to greater job security to a more connected network now and in the future, public universities are a mechanism for social mobility and social connection. Learn more about Tennessee’s public universities. #FourTheFuture Austin Peay State University East Tennessee State University Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) Tennessee State University Tennessee Technological University The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga The University of Tennessee Health Science Center University of Tennessee, Knoxville University of Tennessee at Martin The University of Tennessee Southern

A “non-linear career path” due to a career break should not be a barrier preventing qualified researchers from returning to their career and fulfilling their potential. A number of points must still be addressed in order for an organization to be truly inclusive. This post by Daphne Jackson highlights many of these points. Let’s work together to make this a reality for those restarting their careers now and in the future!