Abstract
Purpose: Cross-collaboration across units furthers the SOM mission. Background With the increase in class size & curriculum changes, SOM has more specialized departments & roles. Cross-collaboration is needed to pursue the SOM mission of social change. Design Staff in MSWP, OHEDI, EQI, SA, & Admissions implemented Skendall’s Seven C’s of Social Change to enhance the effectiveness of interdisciplinary collaboration in reviewing & revising educational policies. This group Collaborated; agreed upon a Common Purpose of promoting student mental health & education, was Conscious of their words & actions in discussions, presented with Congruence, engaged in discourse with Civility, & maintained drive toward Change.
Outcomes: Together, the group advocated for Student Handbook review by all SOM directors, & accomplished change within individual departments, including revising the GPA-MCAT Matrix (Admissions); implementation of DEIPAR principles to policies (MSWP); creating equity in application criteria for AOA (SA) & reviewing Promotions decisions & course surveys for trends of bias (EQI & OHEDI).
Conclusions: In line with Skendall’s expectations, the group concluded cross-unit collaboration increases members’ abilities to see strengths, weaknesses, & unobserved potential within units; diversity of experience improves ability to identify gaps in policy; & multiple specialties working together provides the best chance to achieve “strategic recruitment, retention, & recognition of effort.”
References
- Skendall, K. C. (2017). An overview of the social change model of leadership development. In S. R. Komives & W. Wagner (Eds.), Leadership for a better world: Understanding the social change model of leadership development (2nd ed., pp. 17–40). Jossey-Bass.
Return to Table of Contents: 2024 Core Educator Education Scholarship Retreat
Moving the Mission Forward: Cross Collaboration within the Dean’s Office by Meghan Sullivan, LCSW, Kate Dixon, LCSW, Rachel Bonnett, Emma Barcenas, CSW & Jessica Hurtado, MPA