Bringing Civility Back to the College Campus DR. BARBARA A. COPENHAVER BAILEY WVASPA / WVAEOPP NOVEMBER 2015

What is Civility? Polite, reasonable, and respectful behavior - Merriam Webster Dictionary

Lack of Civility Today  Respect Issues  Road Rage  Politics

Campus Civility Campaign  Buy in and support of administration  Organized plan  Campus-wide planning o Must include students / student government o Must include faculty/academic affairs  Kickoff Event

Create a Civility Plan  Develop a “civility statement” for the Institution  Establish goals & objectives  Establish expectations o Departments o Offices o Personal

Communication  Press Release  Kickoff celebration  Make visible  Establish way to keep campaign energized - consider monthly themes - regular civility events - office/organizations/dept sponsoring booth/tents

Make Visible  Institution’s website  Civility Campaign website  New student Orientation  New employee Orientation  Syllabi – have “civility statement” required to be on each syllabus  Print materials – recruitment, development, etc.  Posters, flyers, flags, pictures, postcards

Challenges Consequences  Must have  Must be communicated  Fit the offense  Be consistent Infringing on Rights  Sometimes seen as violating 1 st amendment Freedom of Speech  Civility campaign should never violate the basic intent of our Bill of Rights  Make sure legal counsel has been consulted regarding any consequences or actions that have been included in the campus campaign plan

It’s a Cultural Shift!!!  Full-blown commitment by administration, starting with President  Well-thought out plan that is:  Communicated  Visible  Consistent

Individual Contributions With or without Institutional Campaign  Set standards in office, units, classrooms  Set clear expectations for respectful and polite behavior  Integrate civility “lessons” into course curriculum, staff meetings, trainings and student programs  Make it visible  Be a role model by displaying compassionate, kind and Loving actions

References & Resources incivility-has-reached-crisis-levels incivility-has-reached-crisis-levels immediate-steps-to-promote-campus-civility / immediate-steps-to-promote-campus-civility / college-campus-civility.htm college-campus-civility.htm Rookstool, J (2007). Fostering Civility on Campus. Community College Press, Washington, DC. University of Missouri, Show Me Respect Project;

Dr. Barbara A. Copenhaver Bailey Assistant Vice President for Student Success Division of Student Life West Virginia University 206 E Moore Hall, PO Box 6411 Morgantown, WV c) Comments, Thoughts or Questions Thank you. ©2015 Barbara A. Copenhaver Bailey