Values Commitment Steering Team
Values Commitment Report 2016-2017
After a fruitful spring and summer, the Values Committee Steering Team (VCST) is beginning the Fall 2016 semester with renewed focus and exciting events. First and foremost, VCST is preparing for Stetson's annual Values Day, taking place on Tuesday, September 20, 2016. Organized by the Values Day Planning Committee, Values Day showcases panels and workshops that reflect the university's commitment to its core values – personal growth, intellectual development, and global citizenship. The discussions organized on this day are led by and involve faculty, staff, and students. In light of the numerous tragedies, conflicts, and crises that have occurred around the world this year, Values Day is also introducing a series of Current Event Dialogues. The goal of these dialogues is to discuss current events that are affecting our community, country, and world. Topics that will be explored this Values Day are:
- Zika Virus and Global Health Crisis
- #Lives: Black, Blue, All: where we are and how we move towards unity and justice
- Global Economy: Venezuela in Crisis
- America's Political Climate
On top of this special dialogue series, Values Day 2016 will also include a keynote address delivered by Kenyan Senator Peter Anyang' Nyong'o, a Stetson READ session focusing on the award-winning book Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, and a tribute to honor those lost in the Pulse Nightclub shooting in Orlando. Take a look at the full schedule of workshops and events taking place on Values Day this year.
Solidarity for Orlando shown on the door of a bar in Bergen, Norway (Photo by Christopher Bell)
Beginning this academic year, the VCST is also reorienting its focus to promote a larger series of year-round engagements in reflection, discussion, and learning about diversity and inclusive excellence at Stetson. This series is entitled Many Voices, One Stetson (MVOS) and it is organized by the Diversity and Inclusive Excellence Task Force, but it aims to involve all corners of the university community in order to encourage and advance an engaged learning environment of open dialogue. Values Day itself is part of this expanding series. With this new focus, VCST will continue working on the following team projects that we established in the spring 2016 semester:
Intellectual Development – Increase book feasts across campus; work with the Diversity & Inclusion Task Force to develop workshops on diversifying department curricula
Global Citizenship – Advance Study Abroad opportunities for students; request a shuttle bus for classes to explore Deland and Central Florida for the purposes of cultural and social engagement
Personal Growth – Finish remaining work on Employee Wellness and shift to a new project. As it stands, in partnership with United Healthcare, Stetson's Human Resource Department will be releasing an employee wellness program (“Rally”) including health screenings, educational information, resources, and incentives to the Stetson community this spring. Wellness and Recreation will be supporting this initiative through supplemental programming, creating awareness, and marketing.
Sincerely,
Christopher Bell
Chair, Values Commitment Steering Team
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