Aloha Yellow Jackets,

Welcome back from Spring Break! I hope you had an opportunity to rest and enjoy some time away from the classroom or lab and your academic responsibilities – taking a break from work is important for your emotional and intellectual wellness.

During Spring Break, I had the chance to travel to New Orleans, LA, and attend the NASPA Annual Meeting – one of the largest gatherings of student affairs professionals in the US. It was a great opportunity to connect with colleagues doing similar work and hearing how others are navigating the ever-changing landscape of federal directives. I was reminded of the importance of leading with critical hope (rather than toxic positivity) in these times of uncertainty, as well as sticking to our North Star: prioritizing Georgia Tech student learning and success.

Since the last newsletter, I’ve continued to have conversations with students about the closing our identity-based resource centers and the opening of Belonging & Student Support.  I’m grateful for your willingness to share your suggestions and thoughts, with care and honesty. SEWB is hosting an additional Town Hall on Thursday, April 3rd from 11am - noon in Ehmer Theater in the John Lewis Student Center, and I invite you to continue the conversation!

As a reminder, Student Engagement & Well-Being and other student services across the campus remain available to assist and support you throughout the semester; visit this Student Resource Guide to know who to contact.  

In this issue of our monthly newsletter, we will cover:

• Title VI Protections and Resources
• Perspectives: Helping You Communicate Through Conflict

Title VI Protections and Resources

In a Dear Colleague Letter released in May 2024, the US Department of Education’s (USDOE) Office of Civil Rights shared guidance with all institutions of higher education on proactively combatting discrimination and harassment, with a specific focus on mitigating hostile environments on the basis of race, color, or national origin (including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics). Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is a federal law that prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin in any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance. This includes but is not limited to, students who are Jewish, Israeli, Muslim, Arab, Sikh, South Asian, Hindu, or Palestinian. This law ensures that all students have equal access to educational opportunities and resources while attending colleges and universities. (Additional information can be found on the USDOE’s site.)

A hostile environment occurs when campus faculty or staff, students, or guests engage in unwelcome conduct based on race, color, or national origin and when the totality of the behaviors, conditions, and/or communications is subjectively and objectively offensive, and so severe or pervasive, that it restricts or denies a student’s ability to participate in or benefit from the campus’ educational programs and activities. In these situations, the hostile environment that results can be considered a form of discrimination.

Institutions of higher education have a responsibility to end harassment or eliminate hostile environments once they know about them (or should have known). They should also work to ameliorate any negative effects as a result and reduce the likelihood of recurrence. Note that freedom of expression and inquiry remain an important strategic value at Georgia Tech; and while many examples of hate speech are protected, speech that in its totality creates a hostile environment is not protected.

Please take the time to familiarize yourself with Georgia Tech’s Equal Opportunity, Nondiscrimination, and Anti-Harassment Policy to help understand both your rights and responsibilities. If you believe you or your peers are experiencing discrimination, including a hostile environment, at Georgia Tech, there are several reporting options available to you, including:
 

• Equal Opportunity, Compliance and Conflict Management (EOCCM): students can file a report directly with this office through this reporting form. The EOCCM handles complaints related to discrimination, harassment, and sexual misconduct, and can provide interim remedies to address any negative impacts a student may be experiencing.
• Dean of Students Office (DOS): Students can also contact the Dean of Students Office within the Division of Student Life for advocacy or assistance. DOS professionals provide guidance, information, and support when helping students navigate Georgia Tech’s administrative processes, including reporting discrimination. If you need to report an incident outside of regular business hours, you can contact the Georgia Tech Police Department at (404) 894-2500 and request that the "Dean on Call" be contacted. There is always an emergency "Dean on Call" available to assist students in need.
• University System of Georgia EthicsPoint: If you are unsure where to report,  any complaints may also be filed with Georgia Tech’s EthicsPoint website.
• US Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR): this federal agency enforces federal civil rights laws in schools and other recipients of Department of Education funding throughout the nation
• Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC): this federal office is responsible for enforcing federal laws that make it illegal to discriminate against a job applicant or an employee because of the person's race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related conditions, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information. Graduate students employed by Georgia Tech may find this resource particularly helpful.

Offices like the Center for Mental Health Care and Resources and Belonging and Student Support continue to be available to support students who believe they are experiencing discrimination and need emotional and/or social support to navigate what they are going through. Additional offices that can assist students can be found on the Student Resource Guide.

All members of the Georgia Tech community have a shared responsibility to ensure compliance with Title VI. We also want to focus on care for our community – when complaints arise, our goal is to respond with compassion, empathy and a desire to improve our campus climate for all. We strongly affirm Georgia Tech’s commitment to supporting the holistic success of all students - regardless of their backgrounds, identities or perspectives.

Perspectives: Enhancing Your Communication Capacity

Last October, all students received an invitation to participate in the Constructive Dialogue Institute (CDI) course Perspectives.  This asynchronous online course is being offered at no charge to all undergraduate and graduate students as a part of efforts to advance Georgia Tech’s strategic value, “We safeguard freedom of inquiry and expression.”

The broad diversity of opinions, viewpoints and ideas is what makes us stronger as a community and distinguishes us as a marketplace of ideas, intellectual creativity, and courageous conversations. This course provides all Georgia Tech students with a shared language for engaging in dialogues that reflect care and compassion. We believe the knowledge and capacities you will gain from this course will be immeasurably helpful – not only in your academic journey here at Georgia Tech, but also in your personal relationships and career opportunities, now and in the future.

I again encourage you to find the time to take advantage of this valuable resource. All six modules are now available and open until the end of the semester. All students who complete the program will earn a LinkedIn badge and have the chance to receive a $50 gift card from Barnes & Noble!  If you cannot find your original email invitation from vp_sewb@gatech.edu, please go to this page and submit your info. Directions for accessing Perspectives will then be sent to you. 

Thank you for your assistance in helping to make Georgia Tech a place where both fierce debate and dialogue can take place. Taking Perspectives is how each of us can ensure that rights to freedom of inquiry and expression are practiced responsibly. For more information about Freedom of Expression @ Georgia Tech, please bookmark and visit students.gatech.edu/freedom_of_expression.

Closing Thoughts
The signs of spring – and a sense of renewal – are all around campus. As we enter the final weeks of the Spring term, I wish you all the best in your endeavors. Please continue to take care of yourself and each other and reach out to us as needed.

In progress and service,