The Mosaic Project has announced a number of important updates as part of its efforts toward improving diversity and inclusion for students at Washington University in St. Louis.
Because of the hard work and leadership of a dedicated group of students, faculty and staff, the Bias Report and Support System is live, and the Center for Diversity and Inclusion is expected to open in 2014.
In addition, a campus climate survey will be sent to all Danforth Campus students on Sunday, Feb. 16, and a new stand-alone community values program for undergraduate student orientation will launch this fall.
Bias Report and Support System
Students, faculty, staff and community members who have experienced or witnessed incidents of bias, prejudice or discrimination involving a student now can report their experiences to the university’s Bias Report and Support System (BRSS) team.
The BRSS team, made up of students, faculty and staff committed to issues of diversity, inclusion and social justice, will:
- support students who have witnessed or been the target of bias-related incidents;
- refer community members to appropriate university resources and educate community members on what to expect from each resource; and
- inform the university community about the frequency and nature of bias incidents through quarterly summary reports to drive discussion around making WUSTL more diverse and inclusive. In addition to providing regular reports, the BRSS coordinator will meet with the vice chancellor for students and the vice provost to discuss the community’s climate and areas for potential improvement.
There are four ways to submit a report:
- Online: Use the form available at brss.wustl.edu.
- Phone: Call 314-935-8118 during business hours (8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday). After-hours calls will be returned during the next business day.
- Campus mail: Submit the printable form PDF to Campus Box 1167.
- In person: Schedule a meeting with a BRSS team member at brss@wustl.edu.
Reports can be submitted “For Information Only” or “For Support and Referral.” If “For Information Only” is selected, the WUSTL community member will remain anonymous.
If “For Support and Referral” is selected, a BRSS team member will contact the community member to schedule an in-person meeting. During the meeting, a BRSS team member will listen to and support the community member and offer referrals to campus resources. BRSS team members will follow up after each in-person meeting.
If you would like to report a bias incident that does not involve a student, please contact Human Resources.
For more in-depth information about the BRSS, visit brss.wustl.edu or call Jessica Wilen, Mosaic Project coordinator, at 314-935-3566.
Center for Diversity and Inclusion
The Mosaic Project’s Task Force for the Center for Diversity and Inclusion submitted its final report to Sharon Stahl, vice chancellor for students. The report identifies four primary pillars for the center: advocacy, support, collaboration and education/outreach. The center is on track to open in 2014.
As a part of the process, the task force invited Lori Patton Davis, PhD, to campus in November to provide feedback about the opportunities and challenges associated with the development of a new center. Patton Davis, associate professor at the Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis School of Education, is a well-known researcher and scholar in the area of culture centers. During her visit, Patton Davis met with representatives from the Mosaic Project and many others in the university community. Her report is also available on the Mosaic Project website.
A search committee comprised of students, faculty and staff has been formed to find the inaugural center director. The center’s advisory board is forming and will work to finalize the center’s location.
For more information, contact Rob Wild, associate vice chancellor for students, at 314-935-8081.
Campus Climate Survey
Between Feb. 16 and March 10, all students on the Danforth Campus will have the opportunity to participate in a survey that assesses the campus environment in terms of diversity and inclusion.
Results from the survey will be made public in a report that will be available on the Mosaic Project website and discussed in a community forum later this spring.
For more information, contact Wilen at 314-935-3566.
Community Values Program
The First Year Center will offer a new program focused on community values and expectations as a part of the university’s orientation for new students in August.
Current students and the First Year Center team are developing this new program in time for the arrival of the Class of 2018. The key themes will mirror those in development by the Mosaic Project’s Community Values and Expectations working group.
Visit diversity.wustl.edu to learn more about the Mosaic Project.