Interim Chancellor Wayne Davis updated students on the actions taken by him and his leadership team both in response to recent incidents and to address underlying issues Wednesday afternoon.
Davis shared the actions with students, faculty and staff in an email, beginning, “I know you are tired of getting these emails, and we are all tired of racist events happening on our campus that make them necessary.”
Less than a week after the circulation of a blackface photo on social media, Davis shared the status of Ethan Feick, who is no longer enrolled at the university. Federal law prohibits the university from commenting on specific students beyond enrollment status.
Many actions were addressed including that all faculty, staff and administrators will be required immediate and ongoing cultural competency, inclusion and bias training, beginning with executive administration. Faculty experts will develop curriculum for the cabinet to implement immediately.
Student cultural competency training will be expanded, beginning with this summer’s orientation sessions and the fall Welcome Week. Campus experts will help incorporate this into First-Year Studies classes as well.
Global citizenship courses are included in a new General Education requirements set passed by the Faculty Senate on Monday. The courses provide more opportunities for students to “engage in dialogue about current issues involving campus climate, race, and inclusion,” Davis said.
Davis said that along with the courses, faculty members are working with the cabinet to create instructor workshops and student programming centered on intergroup dialogue.
“This initiative is intended to assist with critical conversations aimed at creating better understanding and acceptance of differences,” Davis said.
Davis added that he will form a committee of students, faculty and staff to review the Student Code of Conduct “in the context of peer university policies and applicable laws” in order to determine changes and clarifications regarding both content and implementation.
“It is important to say that my leadership team and I see these actions as a starting point. We will continue to listen, evaluate, gather feedback, and communicate with you in order to move forward together.”
A website, belong.utk.edu, will house the announced actions and other action and status updates for public view and is expected to be launched by the end of the week. The website will also curate resources, information, events and programming related to the support of the campus community.
“These actions are merely a beginning. We have received a number of excellent ideas and appreciate everyone who is engaged in this difficult and ongoing dialogue,” Davis said. “I am personally committed to listening to you, and I will ensure the leadership of the university takes the steps necessary to heal our community and rebuild your trust.”
