Building Equity: Projects & Initiatives
The Legacy of Slavery @ F&M Study Group hosted a panel exhibit presenting the findings
from the Legacy of Slavery at F&M Report.The F&M Legacy Project
Taking time to research and learn about F&M’s history in America helps the community understand where the institution has come from and where it ought to go in the future. The board of trustees and senior staff felt that the college was primed to do more research on the slavery era after multiple articles were published about the enslavement practices of founders John Marshall and Benjamin Franklin.
Following a series of programs designed by faculty and staff on these issues, the College began intentionally and critically looking at its history, including fact finding the history of its namesakes. The campus met the initial Legacy of Slavery @F&M Study Group with enthusiasm. More than 50 people volunteered to help conduct research, determine how other colleges were addressing the slavery era at their institutions, and find out what resources would be needed to educate the college campus, alumni, and Lancaster community on the findings. The Legacy of Slavery report, written by over 20 of its original volunteers, was presented to the campus, alumni, board of trustees and the community at large in fall 2022. The report is a living document that students, faculty and staff are encouraged to add to as they discover new information.
In spring 2023, the study group shifted its research focus to other time periods in campus history. Strongly encouraged by Hilary Green, Ph.D., ’99 (James B. Duke Professor of Africana Students at Davidson College and expert on histories of race, slavery, and memory on college campuses), the Legacy Project group now conducts ongoing oral histories with alumni from the 1960s and 1970s. This project aims to explore the experiences of African-American students at F&M during the Civil rights movement — a time on campus when Black students were asking for more space, acknowledgement, and opportunity. With this work so centered on research and preservation, the Legacy Project works closely with the F&M College Library to support these projects and ensure access to all of the group’s findings.
The I.D.E.A. (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility) Certification Course
for professional staff was designed to meet one of the recurring concerns for staff
in the climate study: a yearning for more professional development opportunitiesI.D.E.A. Certification Course
The I.D.E.A. (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility) Certification Course for professional staff was designed to meet one of the recurring concerns for staff in the climate study: a yearning for more professional development opportunities. Initiated in 2022, the yearlong course covers topics such as:
-
- The Intersection of Our Identities
- Neurodiversity at F&M
- Embracing a More Inclusive History of F&M
- Religion, Spiritual, and Secular Diversity at F&M
- Understanding Anti-Semitism on College Campuses; Cultural Competence and Awareness: Navigating Our Own Biases
- DEI and Global Inclusivity
- Xenophobia and International Student Experiences in the US/F&M
- Building a Linguistically and Culturally Inclusive Environment
- Cultivating a Holistic Student Perspective
- Working with Low Income and First-Generation College Students
- Sports Media and Society
- Sexual and Romantic Orientation and Heteronormativity
- Accessibility Awareness and Competence
At the end of the course, participants are responsible for a capstone project focused on designing and implementing a project that allows their department to be more inclusive and equity for employees and students. To date, 33 professional staff members have participated over the course of two years.
In fall 2019, F&M embarked on a major Campus Climate Survey for all employees and
students. Campus Climate Surveys
In fall 2019, F&M embarked on a major Campus Climate Survey for all employees and students. This was a major undertaking as one of President Altmann’s first glimpse into the world that is F&M. Due to the pandemic, results of the survey did not arrive until fall 2020, coinciding with the arrival of the first VP for DEI. Results were shared with the campus community and President Altman charged a committee to take the results and determine desired outcomes and initiatives based on the data.
Although many initiatives were designed to ensure a more inclusive campus, two fundamental initiatives came directly from the 2020 survey results and the Strategic Plan Initiatives:
-
- The campus needed more professional development opportunities for professional staff. In response, the DEI Team designed the Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility Certification Course. This yearlong course has been offered for two years, and participant responsibilities include: class participation, readings, lectures, and a capstone project. Thirty-three staff members have completed the course so far.
- Students needed more opportunities to engage in deeper conversations. We have expanded Day of Dialogue (which formerly occurred every other year) to an annual Inclusion Week, which includes a yearly Day of Dialogue.
The College conducted its second Campus Climate Survey in spring 2024. The College’s partner agency is currently parsing the results. Once the committee has reviewed the findings and shared them with the wider campus community, the next step will be to build new paradigms and strengthen existing initiatives and programs to continue building a stronger sense of community and belonging on campus.
Accessible and Inclusive Academic Support for students was the motivating force behind
The Student Support Hub, a common ground for multiple student-centered support services.
The Student Support Hub
Accessible and Inclusive Academic Support for students was the motivating force behind The Student Support Hub, a common ground for multiple student-centered support services. The Hub, based on the ground floor of Patricia E. Harris Center for Business, Government, and Public Policy, centralizes academic coaching, writing support, peer advising, subject-specific tutoring, and much more. Students can partner with professionals and student peers to develop skills as purpose-driven learners and build habits for success.
This initiative co-located existing academic support programs for students, including the Writing Center, the Quantitative & Science Center, First Year Advising Mentors, our Learning Support Specialist, Peer Academic Coaching, International & Multilingual academic support services and Student Accessibility Services. F&M’s approach to student needs is holistic in nature, therefore the Director of Care Coordination and Violence Prevention as well as the Peer Health Educators are also based out of the Student Support Hub.
Our DipCares team is dedicated to fostering inclusivity and equity to meet the diverse
needs of our student body.DipCares
Our DipCares team is dedicated to fostering inclusivity and equity to meet the diverse needs of our student body. Through a range of initiatives and practices, we strive to ensure that every student feels supported and valued. We have conducted regular data checks to analyze reporting numbers by key demographics, allowing us to tailor our support accordingly.
Our team has participated in training on implicit bias, strengthening our ability to provide fair and impartial assistance to all students. We recognize that students have varying access to resources at home and our Care Coordinator offers personalized assistance to connect students with affordable and accessible services in their communities. Having representatives from Accessibility Services and International Student Services on the DipCares team ensures that the unique needs of students are fully considered and accommodated.