April 13, 2023

Conversation on reporting bias across SIU campuses is April 18

A Conversation of Understanding on Tuesday, April 18, will examine how to disclose concerns about bias on SIU campuses and the efforts that will follow those reports. Faculty, staff, students, alumni and community members are invited to join the live virtual discussion at noon. 

The conversation will address findings from the 2022 Viewfinder Campus Climate survey that revealed some students, staff and faculty members did not report bias incidents because they feared retaliation or believed nothing would happen after an incident was reported. SIU campuses are committed to cultivating classroom and workplace environments free from harm and harassment, and all bias incident reports are taken seriously.

Participants will include: 

  • Dan Mahony, SIU System president.
  • Sheila Caldwell, SIU System vice president for antiracism, diversity, equity and inclusion, and chief diversity officer, who will facilitate the conversation.
  • Jamie Ball, director for equal opportunity, access and Title IX coordination, SIU Edwardsville.
  • Phyleccia Reed Cole, senior system counsel, SIU Edwardsville.
  • Rony Die (Dee-AY), associate vice chancellor for student affairs/dean of students, SIU Edwardsville.
  • Richard Dyer, rights and responsibilities specialist, Office of Equity and Compliance, SIU Carbondale.
  • Lindy Wagner, assistant vice chancellor for inclusive excellence, education and development, SIU Edwardsville. 

A Q&A session will follow, where participants can use the YouTube comment section. Questions may be submitted before or during the event to doris.williams@siu.edu.  

The meeting will be available on the SIU System’s YouTube channel. To add the event to your Outlook calendar, view it on the campus calendar, click the plus sign at the bottom, then click download iCal.  

This is the last session of a six-part series for the 2022-23 academic year. The Conversation of Understanding series began in June 2020 and features virtual exchanges where students, alumni, faculty, staff and community members can share their experiences and thoughts on a variety of themes related to diversity, inclusion and equity.   

The SIU System President’s Office and the SIU System Diversity Advisory Council are discussion sponsors.