This is a new collaborative process developed by OCR to allow local community involvement in identifying effective solutions to high-priority civil rights issues. At the conclusion of the review, the University was commended for the notable level of commitment and resources put forth to address racial climate and harassment issues on the campus. Community Many have suggested that the UVM student experience would be stronger if it emphasized community spirit and a shared community experience. Meaningful relationships with a group of people and a sense of place, as well as a sense of common purpose and some shared intellectual endeavors, are critical elements in this experience. By developing campus environments in which the positive effects of community dominate, we have the potential to diminish the impact of other areas of concern such as binge drinking, off-campus behavior of students, lack of respect for diversity, and the ubiquitous lack of communication among students, faculty, staff, and administration.
Communication needs to be strengthened in many dimensions.
They expect us to care about their success and to reach out to them. We have many communities at the university, and we need to find ways to increase communication and interaction among them. As technology has been introduced into society and into the campus environment, the question of communication has acquired new complexity. It is possible to have frequent electronic contact, but we must explore ways to engage in meaningful and sustaining communications that provide emotional and social support as well as the exchange of ideas, information, and intellectual stimulation. One feature of the desire for community may be a slow but pervasive decline in the social structures supporting the student experience.