EDAC '22-23 began work on drafting a Code of Conduct toolkit
Whereas, A safe and welcoming academic environment in the classroom and learning spaces is essential for student engagement, dialogue, and success;
Whereas, The politically-charged climate in California and across the nation as a whole has encouraged subjective and often aggressive responses, especially to conversations and efforts around anti-racism and equity, including in classrooms where such responses are more often targeted at women of color, disrupt teaching, and threaten safe classroom environments and learning spaces;
Whereas, Many colleges may currently have procedures in place to address disruptions, such as racelighting [1] and discriminatory behavior, but faculty may not be familiar with those policies, and in some cases those procedures have not been revisited or revised in a way to address issues related to racelighting and discriminatory behavior exacerbated by the current political climate; and
Whereas, College administrators can demonstrate strong support for safe and welcoming classrooms as well as for faculty’s efforts to engage in difficult conversations around advancing anti-racism and mitigating discrimination by ensuring that a well-developed and well-publicized policy addressing disruptions in classroom and learning spaces is in place;
Resolved, That the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges urge local academic senates to work with their college administrators and student governments to revisit, and, if necessary, revise or update their code of conduct policies to protect all constituents against racelighting and discriminatory behavior as well as revise or update procedures dealing with disruptions in the classroom and other learning spaces, and develop a plan to ensure that faculty are aware of them; and
Resolved, That the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges develop resources beginning in spring of 2023, such as a toolkit or a position paper in order to support the efforts of local academic senates to maintain safe, welcoming classroom environments and learning spaces to promote up-to-date and well-publicized codes of conduct and procedures for dealing with discriminatory disruptions and racelighting.
M/S/U
[1] Wood, L. and Harris, F. (February 12, 2021). Racelighting: a prevalent version of gaslighting facing people of color. Diverse Issues in Higher Education. https://www.diverseeducation.com/opinion/article/15108651/racelighting-a-prevalent-version-of-gaslighting-facing-people-of-color.