Equity and Inclusion Leadership Toolkit: Improving Communication and Climate

As asserted by Buller and Cipriano (2015), good communication skills are among the most important for a chair. This is not just because chairs are intermediaries of the deans and other more senior academic leaders, they also have a role in listening to and trying to understand the perspectives of faculty, students, and staff. Poor communication habits facilitate suspicion. But healthy communication practices engender trust and are foundational for achieving a welcoming and inclusive work environment.

• How do you cultivate intellectual community and supportive communication? (Virginia Tech ADVANCE)
• How do you facilitate inclusive department climates? (West Virginia University)
• How do you co-create new or revise existing annual merit review criteria and processes with inclusive engagement? (University of Colorado Colorado Springs)
• How do you make faculty evaluation and promotion & tenure criteria transparent? (University of Colorado Colorado Springs)
• How do you cultivate internal networks? (Equity in STEM Community Convening)
• Schein, E. H., & Schein, P. A. (2021). Humble inquiry: The gentle art of asking instead of telling. Berrett-Koehler Publishers.