Summer Newsletter 2011: Institutional Diversity 2011-12

Summer Scholars

The Office of Special Assistant for Institutional Diversity will expand efforts to advance diversity and inclusion at Bates and to address the needs of the entire campus community. Continuing the work begun in the spring with the Bates Coalition Against Discrimination, Special Assistant Heather Lindkvist will explore avenues to enhance support services for the GLBTQ community, provide training opportunities on gender and sexuality and promote resources that foster intercultural learning for all.

One initiative connected with the office is the year-long Faculty Learning Community (FLC) initiative Crossing Borders: Engaging Difference, Educating for Change, which brings together a small group of faculty (tenured within the last six years) to consider ways that students learn about and experience difference in the classroom and to generate strategies to use diversity as a resource for teaching and learning. Beginning with a kickoff retreat in August, the FLC will meet throughout the academic year.

Throughout the fall semester, Heather will meet with administrative and academic departments and student organizations to brainstorm ways to build capacity for and enhance practices that enrich intercultural learning, communication and inclusion in the academic program and in campus life. She will also set aside 9 to 11 a.m. Tuesdays as open office hours for students, staff and faculty. Her office is located on the second floor of Lane Hall, Room 202-A.

Learn more.

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