April 9, 2019 Minutes

The April meeting took place from 9:00 – 10:30am on Tuesday, April 9, 2019, in Benson 409. 

Guest Speaker:  Michael Lamb – Educating Leaders of Character

University Scholar in Residence and Fellow in the Office of Personal and Career Development, Director of the Program for Leadership and Character, Assistant Professor of Politics, Ethics, and Interdisciplinary Humanities

View the slides from Dr. Lamb’s presentation here.  

• Vision for the initiative was inspired by MLK in college newspaper – intellect + character/leadership
• 1834 – Samuel Wait looked for students of good character
• Motto, in our DNA- serve humanity, develop fully human, educating the whole person
• At WFU – we have some of the world’s leading scholars.  Two faculty members were invited to Oxford to help begin the Oxford Character Project.  Lots of centers for ethics, but few do work to shape the students. Research is done, but we are one of the only ones who do moral formation.  

Michael invites ideas on how to collaborate with SAC.

Thought: Consider collaborating with graduate schools.

Question from the audience: How are religious ideas intertwined in your work?  Character is less prevalent because of the polarity of religions.  What do we share that’s neutral? Shared reason as human beings… is this a blindspot, our religions and how they shape us?  Rather than ignoring them or sharing something minimal, we engage in different readings to learn from other traditions, how our traditions interact, expand who we are and who our colleagues are.  

Michael teaches a First Year Seminar. The FYS syllabus includes:  

• Aristotle’s – Iniquity and Ethics
• Film – Philosopher kings (custodians on campus)
• Local heroes
• Speeches by Toni Morrison, Brian Stevenson, and more, all across the political spectrum
• George Saunders – speech on kindness (coming to speak Wednesday night)
• Art
• Homer’s Odyssey
• Myth of Icarus – danger of timidity/ambition (water would weigh him down, sun melted his wings)
• Assignments – gratitude journal for 2 weeks
• Friendship – thank-you notes to friends, tearful expression of friendship
• 5 page essay on role models, what they learn from them
• How to take lessons and apply them to their own lives

Michael has done workshops with different departments – students leave every four years, but we need people on our staff and faculty who will stay here to create an environment.  We want to take these resources and make them meaningful.

Michael’s list of best commencement speeches:  

Personal stories with deep vulnerability

• George Saunders – Kindness
• Bryan Stevenson – Justice
• Toni Morrison’s – pursuit of meaningfulness, not happiness
• Sheryl Sandberg – grief of losing her partner unexpectedly
• Navy Admiral William McRaven – Make your bed
• Colbert

Anne Snyder, The Fabric of Character – WFU is featured in the book

What sets WFU apart?  

• Leadership skills + Character
• Character + Community (grit, resilience are individual – how do we expand our vision of what moral leadership should be to serve the community?)
• Empower everyday leaders, not just heroic leaders – mundane, everyday leaders… families, offices, not just on larger scale – be a leader and a follower, how to do that
• Draw on the liberal arts, not just in business politics.  Draw on history, philosophy, arts, religion – expand what we think leadership might be.  
• Rigorous academic research – how to cultivate these skills effectively.  

Seven Methods of Character Development

• Habituation through practice – repeat until it is a habit
• Reflection on personal experience
• Mentors, role models, exemplars of virtue – look at those who came before us.  We imitate (and our brains light up in neuroscience) those we admire.
• Dialogue and discussions
• Awareness of pressures/biases – cultural experiences; be aware and correct to be in a diverse community
• Moral reminders – honor code gives us rules of conduct but also reminds us of the virtues we value
• Friendship is a context; accountability – how to choose good friends, those who will hold us accountable to be our best selves?  
• Leadership & Discussion Groups
• How do you manage failure?
• Draw on traditions – readings
• What is good leadership?  
• What is your vocation?  

Leadership & Character in the Arts

• Discussion after plays
• Event at Reynolda House – how does art help us with empathy?  
• Co-sponsored speakers – Chris Paul, Robbie Bach, Krista Tippett, Renee Goldsberry
• How are leaders in various fields shaping our vision of character?  

Standing Committee Report-Outs

Communications – April newsletter had more content submitted than we were able to include.  Please continue to share, we’ll do our best to get it in. Drafted letter inviting leadership across campus to encourage employees to attend staff picnic.  With Melissa’s help, working to get a list together so all staff can attend appreciation picnic. Working with Events on fliers, posters, other marketing materials to promote picnic.  

Events – Picnic is June 4.  Save-the-date with calendar link will be sent soon.  Pro-Humanitate, Events, Communications will meet after this meeting.  Sign-up to make things for give-aways. If you have interest in making items at WakerSpace, these will be given out as door prizes, raffles.  

Fringe Benefits – has not met

Membership – Elections for everyone but one group was finalized last Friday.  Glitch in system couldn’t be fixed, so the election was redone and recounted in order to be fair.  116 people have voted, then it will close after another week. Great new members, excited about where we will go from here.  Several divisions did not have an election at all. The exact number needed to fill spots = the number of people nominated. They will be automatically invited to be on the SAC.  Lesson to do this earlier, be more transparent. Newest members will be invited to next month’s meeting.

Pro Humanitate – each month, 3rd thursday at Ronald McDonald House. Overwhelming response to volunteering – will be extended into the summer.  Wish list items will be collected at staff picnic.

Outside Committee Report-Outs:  SAC representatives on other committees

Capital Planning Advisory – meet this Thursday

Faculty Senate – Wed., March 27 – draft policy for conflict of interest for gifts & grants was approved; more work to come.  President Hatch answered pre-approved questions. Jose Villalba answered questions. Minutes will be available at next faculty senate meeting – Ellen will share with everyone.  Seemed historic. SAC submitted a question regarding school/daycare with church building purchased. The question did not make the cut.

Parking & Transportation – met last Thursday, reviewed 31 citations; new communication tools, looking at social media (Instagram seems to be the most likely).  Brian Piccolo reserved space – annual fundraiser for students. Raffled annually, get to choose on campus. (Space for students). ADA spaces and how they work with compliance – reviewed map from Alex’s team.  Appeals are more streamlined; handicap/fire lane violations. Ran out of time before additional business.

Tree Advisory – no updates

Council on Inclusion and Diversity – meet later

Finance Advisory – meeting next week

Campus Rec Advisory Board – not present

Professional Development Advisory Board – held last week; exploring options for replacing PDC back end to support faculty/staff.  We are looking at options to move forward, what implementation will look like.

General Announcements

Reminder: If you haven’t already, please be sure to complete the Great Colleges to Work For survey, and remind your colleagues as well!

Per HR, so far, we are at 40% completion rate – this is our last week, can complete through April 12.  

Ronald McDonald House – volunteers for next two months are filled; in the process of filling for summer. Monetary donations to fund meals are always welcome!

SAC trip to Old Wake Forest – May 22.  Email sent to Hof/Rogan requesting that SAC council members be allowed to go without PTO or penalty.  

Habitat for Humanity – build/reno on July 13 – let Sarah know if you’d still like to sign up.  Very specific instructions on how to volunteer.

Sarah – personal thank-you for reaching out after her husband’s heart attack.

May:  Guest Speaker – Dave Clawson, Wake Forest Football Coach

This will be SAC’s last meeting of the academic year, and we will welcome new members.