BIT by BIT - July 12, 2022
July 12, 2022
Dear Student Life team,
The summer is always an exciting time for creating, collaborating and planning for the future, and this one is no exception!
As we look ahead to best position ourselves for success in the coming school year and beyond, I am pleased to broadly share that we are embarking on a realignment process that will leverage our strengths, amplify our collaborations and bring greater opportunities for innovation and service to students. To do this, we will bring together Student Life’s Multicultural Center (MCC) and the Social Change program under the Center for Belonging and Social Change (CBSC).
The Center for Belonging and Social Change will unite and ignite our team along a defined mission and portfolio of strategic priorities, while upholding and advancing those of the Office of Student Life and the university. This new structure will allow us to activate the clear synergies that already exist between the MCC and the Social Change program, while better positioning our operation to provide new and relevant support services to the campus community. At the center of this transition is growing our collective ability to influence and drive a sense of belonging and the outcomes achieved through social change, on campus and in the communities we serve.
In a recent Higher Ed Dive article, Dr. Lori White, president of DePauw University, states: “Without including diverse people and perspectives, expression is potentially one-sided. One of our highest priorities should be to help students develop tools to debate ideas… It is also critically important that we focus on helping students and other community members develop the tools to dialogue across their differences.” This new structure will better enable us to help students explore freedom of expression, while developing “tools to dialogue across their differences,” and it will also provide us with the opportunity to focus on the whole student. This starts with a focus on belonging and student support, and extends to student education, identity development and empowerment, which then influences campus and local community outreach that aids in positive social change.
We have launched a national search for a Director of the Center for Belonging and Social Change, which is a reimagined position from our previous and vacant executive director for the MCC. This position will remain open until filled and you can learn more and refer candidates to the role on website, https://osu.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/OSUCareers/job/Columbus-Campus/Director--Center-for-Belonging---Social-Change_R48475.
We have also launched an internal search for a Director for Belonging and Education. This position will report directly to me and will provide leadership and oversight for our Student Life staff belonging and education initiatives. I envision this position serving as a thought-partner with Student Life colleagues on staff-focused belonging, inclusion and equity-minded initiatives, working to ensure that inclusion and equity are imbedded in our collective work. This position will also facilitate professional development and educational opportunities to increase the intercultural competence of Student Life team members while assisting Student Life managers and supervisors in advancing a culture in which students and staff feel included and are an integral part of the work we do at the university. Learn more at https://www.myworkday.com/osu/d/inst/15$392530/9925$99949.htmld.
I invite you to share both opportunities with those in your networks so that we can hear from a broad, diverse, robust and qualified group of candidates.
Thank you for your partnerships, collaboration and support of the work happening in Belonging and Inclusion. I remain excited about our work, and I trust that you will continue to join us in committing to doing – and learning – all that we can, BIT by BIT!
Tanisha L. Jenkins, PhD
Associate Vice President for Belonging and Inclusion
Office of Student Life
The Ohio State University
FEEDBACK NEEDED
Student Life Affinity Groups and Professional Networks
As we prepare to relaunch these staff-focused groups, we need your feedback. Please share with us, your thoughts about which groups and professional networks would be most beneficial and why you would be interested in participating.
https://osu.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3yJXOtyvLW788Zg
Our Student Life Affinity Groups and Professional Networks are designed to provide spaces of dialogue and connection for our staff members with marginalized identities to interact, network and develop a sense of community and belonging. Our goal is to create an environment where Student Life can enact the university value of inclusion to attract new staff and retain our extraordinary employees.
If you have trouble accessing this content, require accommodation, or would like to share any suggestions, contact Lade Gbolade.1@osu.edu.