Organizational Studies aims to be a program that attracts, values, and respects people of all backgrounds. Research on organizations demonstrates that diverse teams have stronger performance because they anticipate differences of opinion, resulting in more deliberation.1 While healthy conflict leads to success, it also requires psychological safety so that people can disagree without feeling personally disrespected.2 Creating an environment where all kinds of people can bring their whole selves to the organization helps them understand that they belong and that their contributions are valued, with positive results.3-5
The OS Climate Committee ensures that OS is proactively working to create such an environment in order to make our unit stronger in its scholarship, teaching, and service to the campus and communities beyond. It builds communication between faculty, staff and students to create a climate in which all can thrive, and climate issues can be addressed as they arise. The committee focuses on the following areas:
- OS curriculum and classroom inclusion
- OS programming and broader climate
- Student recruitment and admission, and faculty/staff recruitment and hiring
The committee is comprised of faculty, staff, and students who are devoted to the betterment of the department.
References:
1. Phillips, K. W.,, Kim-Jun, S. Y., & Shim, S-H. (2011). The value of diversity in organizations: A social psychological perspective. Ch. 1 in Social Psychology and Organizations. Routledge.
2. Duhigg, C. What Google learned from its quest to build the perfect team. (2016) New York Times, February 25.
3. Walton, G. M., Murphy, M. C., & Ryan, A. M. (2015). Stereotype threat in organizations: Implications for equity and performance. Annual review of organizational psychology and organizational behavior, 2(1), 523-550.
4. Spencer, S. J., Logel, C., & Davies, P. G. (2016). Stereotype threat. Annual review of psychology, 67(1), 415-437.
5. Roberson, L., & Kulik, C. T. (2007). Stereotype threat at work. Academy of Management Perspectives, 21(2), 24-40.
OS Climate Committee Members
Student Committee Members
The student team works directly with the faculty and staff on climate initiatives including classroom inclusion, curriculum, and positive systemic changes within the program.
