ATSU announces plans for university-wide climate study
Posted: September 2, 2016On September 1, A.T. Still University President Craig Phelps, DO, ’84, announced plans to employ a university-wide cultural proficiency climate study during 2016-17.
Through this study, internal stakeholders will have an opportunity to help determine ATSU’s future, and an opportunity to make positive, lasting changes and help create a more inclusive environment.
“Striving to become a culturally proficient university is a cornerstone theme within ATSU’s 2016-20 strategic plan,” said Dr. Phelps. “Even more importantly, cultural proficiency is essential to becoming the very best student, graduate, faculty member, staff member, and healthcare professional.”
ATSU is committed to developing an sustaining an environment characterized by openness, fairness, and equal access for all students, staff, and faculty. A welcoming and inclusive climate is grounded in mutual respect, nurtured by dialogue, evidenced by a pattern of civil interaction, and is one of the foundations of the University’s educational model.
To ensure full transparency and provide a more complete perspective, ATSU has contracted with Rankin & Associates Consulting to help lead this effort. Rankin & Associates has conducted 170+ climate assessment projects over the last 20 years.
A Rankin & Associates team will visit ATSU campuses in spring 2017 to meet with small groups of faculty, staff, and students regarding experiences with the living, learning, and working environments at ATSU. These small group conversations will better enable the University to develop programs and policies to increase cultural proficiency. Rankin & Associates will engage with a working group of ATSU students, staff, and faculty to develop and populate the focus groups.
“Creating and maintaining a community environment respectful of individual needs, differences, abilities, and potential is critically important,” said Dr. Phelps.