Guest Blogger: James Wadley
WE DID IT!
The faculty panel this past week was very special to many of the folks who attended. It had been a long time since it felt like our university family "got it" and really tried to listen and understand each person's perspective. It wasn't so much that during our discussion that everyone maintained the same opinion about the direction that the university should go in or that the faculty shared the same perspective about our history. What made the afternoon symposium remarkable was that everyone shared without blaming and everyone had a chance to listen and grow in a manner that enabled folks to walk out feeling like, "This is pretty nice."
I must confess that over the past eight years that I have been a faculty member at Lincoln, there have been a number of occasions that our discussions have felt bogged down in our monthly meetings. Moreover, some of our email exchanges on the list serve have been nothing short of dysfunctional (if not toxic). Some of my colleagues have asserted how they they have felt invisible and discouraged over the years. The faculty panel last Tuesday afternoon was different because not only did the individuals on the panel offer their perspective, but there was time and space allotted for the audience to share their sentiments about the direction of the university. We definitely owe ourselves a pat on the back for being able to initiate conversations about complex issues AND being able to maintain a sense of openness with others who had opposing ideas. Can you believe it? When I walked out of the symposium, I felt pretty warm, fuzzy, and proud about being a faculty member here at Lincoln (Am I allowed to say "warm, fuzzy, and proud" in an academic environment? lol) In any case, it was a really cool experience and I hope that we can have another faculty panel discussion soon that involves a healthy exchange of ideas.
From the heart,
James
Questions to ponder:
1. If you attended the afternoon faculty panel, do you think that we can have this kind of discussion again soon? If so, what are some items that you would like to address?
2. If you did not attend the Tuesday afternoon faculty panel, please share one experience that you have had during your time at Lincoln University that you felt warm, fuzzy, and proud to be a faculty member during a department, college, or university meeting. :-)
Thanks, James! I too "hope that we can have another faculty panel discussion soon that involves a healthy exchange of ideas." However, I think it was a function of the topic, the format, and the attendance (i.e. those in attendance). If we were discussing changing the bylaws, for example, and the panel and audience were more diverse or inclusive, and the attendance was better, I think the result would have been different. Before we have another one, we should critically evaluate this one and draw appropriate lessons.
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