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A Definition of Multiculturalism from the Student Services Profession
“Multiculturalism is a state of being in which an individual feels comfortable and communicates effectively with people from any culture, in any situation, because she or he has developed the necessary knowledge and skills to do so. In other words, the multicultural person has mastered the process of continually learning about culture, quickly and effectively, so that he or she can adapt to a variety of different cultural settings with minimal discomfort.”
— (Talbot, D.M., p. 381 in Komives, S.R. and Woodard, D.B. (1996) Student services: A handbook for the profession, 3rd Edition. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass)
Bard College’s Statement of Commitment to Diversity
Bard College reaffirms its historical commitment to the maintenance of an educational community in which diversity is an essential and valued component. To that end, we believe that considerations for race, ethnicity, religious belief, sexual orientation, gender, class, physical ability, national origin, and age should enrich intellectual engagement and development. In every aspect of the College’s operations, therefore – in admissions, in student services, in faculty and staff appointments, in student life, in public events, and in the curriculum – our responsibility to diversity is expressed. Our students, faculty, staff and administration stand united in support of an inclusive environment in which freedom of expression is balanced with a respectful standard of dialogue.
About the Office of Multicultural Affairs
The mission of the Associate Dean of Students for Multicultural Affairs is to enhance the academic, social and personal lives of students by fortifying a campus environment inclusive of human diversity in all its forms. The Associate Dean facilitates lectures, workshops, discussion groups, residence hall programs, and outreach programs through The Institute for Media, Culture, and Difference that help the community explore the complexities of issues involving race, ethnicity, and culture. The Associate Dean advocates for the equitable treatment and inclusion of students belonging to historically marginalized social groups, and also serves as a resource for students involved in racial, ethnic, or cultural conflict in any aspect of their lives at Bard College.
The Institute for Media, Culture, and Difference
The Institute for Media, Culture, and Difference will be an interdisciplinary, extra-departmental space for students, faculty, staff, and visitors. Inspired by the interdisciplinary, problem-focused nature of the MIT Media Lab, which MIT describes as an “atelier” environment, the Institute for Media, Culture, and Difference will create a multi-media laboratory space for “difference.” Difference, broadly speaking, includes race, sexuality, religion, national origin, class, or other ability, but is not restricted to those categories. Difference, of course, is not necessarily an idea that can be captured within these categories, which can only be preliminary and provisional. Media will include written texts, live performance, plays, digital artworks, conversation, art installations, or site-specific interactions with the landscape. The laboratory format will allow for rigorous play, spontaneous interactions, and creative analysis.
The Institute will feature collaborative learning, tutorials, workshops, seminars, and conferences. Bard College community members will be welcomed into the space of the Institute to develop projects. The Institute is designed to be a welcoming and open space. While this space will be intended primarily as a space for and about “difference,” a non-exclusionary word that implies a certain relationship to the dominant culture (but with obvious room for fluidity), the intent will be inclusive. A focus on difference will be balanced with a strategic investment in inter-connectedness, both in terms of building relationships to the world outside Bard--which can produce connections to graduate schools, jobs, and internships—and also within Bard. Questions: email the Institute Director, Dr. Annie Seaton, aseaton@bard.edu.
Resources
- DEFINITION OF SEXUAL HARASSMMENT
What constitutes sexual harassment may vary based on particular facts and circumstances. Generally, unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal, visual, or physical conduct of a sexual nature may be considered to constitute unlawful sexual harassment when either: - Submission to or rejection of such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a tem or condition of instruction or employment decisions or evaluations or participation in Bard College activates.
- The conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s performance by creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment.
- NONDISCRIMINATION POLICY
The Bard College community comes from many different backgrounds and includes different religions, races, ethnic ancestries, and sexual orientations. At Bard College we celebrate this diversity and recognize that persons are entitled to be treated with tolerance, respect, dignity, and understanding.
Bard College is committed to freedom of thought, speech, and discourse in an atmosphere uncorrupted by unlawful discrimination. Bard College, therefore, prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, age, ethnic origin, physical ability, or military veteran status. Any behavior that violates this policy will be thoroughly investigated, and the violators of such policy will be subject to disciplinary actions. - HARASSMENT/DISCRIMINATION POLICY
HARASSMENT HOTLINE: 888.323.4198
Discrimination and harassment of any kind, including sexual harassment, will not be tolerated. Those believing that they have been unlawfully harassed or discriminated against on the basis of their race, religion, color, national or ethnic origins, alienage, age, military status, sexual orientation, and/or gender or sex, including sexual harassment can contact the Dean of Students Office, Bard’s Response to Rape and Associated Violence Education (B.R.A.V.E.), the Safety and Security Office, the Office of Multicultural Affairs, any College official or an external investigator via the Harassment Hotline listed above.
Programs and Services
- MULTICULTURAL AWARENESS PEERS (MAP)
A student group dedicated to promoting campus dialogue on issues of difference, prejudice, privilege, and discrimination. - CAMPUS-WIDE DISCUSSIONS
Large and small groups dialogues facilitated by the Multicultural Awareness Peers aimed at increasing awareness of race, ethnicity, and cultural issues impacting the society at large and the campus community. Open communication about these often-difficult issues within a safe environment is supported and encouraged. - FACULTY COMMITTEE FOR DIVERSITY
For more information contact:
Ann Seaton, Associate Dean of Students/Director of Multicultural Affairs
Office of Multicultural Affairs, Bard College, Annandale House 109,
Annandale-on-Hudson, NY 12504-5000; Phone: 845-758-7047;
Fax: 845-758-7646; E-mail: aseaton@bard.edu - DIVERSITY REPORT
The Diversity Report is a self-study performed to assess the perspectives, strengths, and challenges of the Bard community concerning diversity and inclusion issues.
Click here to read the report.
Click here to download a PDf of the report.
Contact the Office of Multicultural Affairs
Ann Seaton, Associate Dean of Students/Director of Multicultural Affairs
Office of Multicultural Affairs, Bard College, Annandale House 109
Annandale-on-Hudson, NY 12504-5000; Telephone: 845-758-7047;
Fax: 845-758-7646; E-mail: aseaton@bard.edu
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