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Hello DSC'rs! </div>
<div style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;color:black;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">
<br>
</div>
<div style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;color:black;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">
The semester is half-way over and we've been enjoying such beautiful autumn weather even in the midst of all the turmoil our communities and nation have been facing. </div>
<div style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;color:black;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">
<br>
</div>
<div style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;color:black;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">
Please bear with this longer email but it has some important news about changes to the Diversity Studies Certificate (DSC) program that may impact you. </div>
<div style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;color:black;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">
<br>
</div>
<div style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;color:black;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">
I officially took the university's offer for retirement and retired at the end of May 2020. For those of you who have emailed me, I have been acting as a type of "informal" advisor for the program. Unfortunately, when my plans to retire were made known, my
college decided to withdraw funding that supported providing instructors for your two required classes,<span> </span><i>EDCS 1011 Intro to Diversity Studies<span> </span></i>and<span> </span><i>EDCS 4001 Democracy & Diversity</i>. I was dumbfounded at this
and have been fighting to preserve the program ever since April when I found out about the drop of funding. <br>
<br>
Please know I was never allowed to be part of those discussions about what to do with the program even though I developed this academic certificate ten years ago and have directed it ever since. I have been fighting to keep this program alive since April until
now. While I can't share all the details because of professional expectations, please know I tried to have a conversation with our dean's office who would not do so, then I have contacted various faculty, the deans in two other colleges here on campus, the
Faculty Senate leadership, and even the Provost. All but my own college said they valued the DSC, yet it has been kicked around and is still not "re-homed" to a place where there is support, continuity, and even knowledge of how the program runs and how to
support you all as students. </div>
<div style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;color:black;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">
<br>
</div>
<div style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;color:black;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">
My last communication with others in order to try to save the program (and plan for Spring semester) was about two weeks ago. I found out again that the DSC doesn't really have an academic home and the plans that were described to me sounded fairly convoluted
involving a set of several different colleges and offices. The DSC still exists and I hope continues to exist for a long time, growing and improving as well. </div>
<div style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;color:black;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">
<br>
</div>
<div style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;color:black;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">
I have informed many of the people I contacted that they at least needed to provide a director so I could let students who have questions know who to turn to since I am retired. You wouldn't think it would take over 6 months to try to figure that out--but it
has, and is still not adequate. I will give you this latest information that I was given about to whom you should direct your questions.</div>
<div style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;color:black;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">
<br>
</div>
<div style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;color:black;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">
<b>Currently, the point person is Ms. Marlene De La Cruz who is the Director of OMSAR (Office of Minority Student Access and Retention).<span> </span></b>Ms. De La Cruz is a wonderful person but, through no fault of her own, does not have the historical and
current background about the DSC to answer all of your questions as well as continue its growth. This was simply another task (for an already dedicated busy colleague).</div>
<div style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;color:black;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">
<br>
</div>
<div style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;color:black;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">
<b>You can reach Ms. De La Cruz via email at delacr@ohio.edu. and her office phone is 740-593-9376. </b></div>
<div style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;color:black;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">
<br>
</div>
<div style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;color:black;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">
Here are some of the things students have been asking, or should ask:</div>
<div style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;color:black;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">
<br>
</div>
<div style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;color:black;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">
<i>(1) Graduation Check if you are planning to graduate this Fall and if you plan to graduate in the Spring, it is a good idea to have a DARS review before you plan your spring semester classes to be sure you will have fulfilled all the requirements.</i></div>
<div style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;color:black;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">
<i><br>
</i></div>
<div style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;color:black;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">
<i>(2) Graduation Cords: For those of you planning to graduate this Fall and who would like to have the DSC graduation cord, please contact Ms. De La Cruz to find out how to receive those.</i></div>
<div style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;color:black;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">
<i><br>
</i></div>
<div style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;color:black;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">
<i>(3) General advising for any student going through the program to be sure you are still fulfilling requirements.</i></div>
<div style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;color:black;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">
<i><br>
</i></div>
<div style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;color:black;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">
<i>(4) Information on how to officially enroll in the program. Most of you probably have, but feel free to pass this information on to other students since I have not been there to continue our work on outreach to students.</i></div>
<div style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;color:black;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">
<br>
</div>
<div style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;color:black;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">
Let me finish with a few comments. For those of you who have been in classes I have taught or who have met with me for advising, I hope you know that I make every effort to share "truth" with students, along with keeping the appropriate confidentialities. I
think there are several things to take away from what is happening with the DSC and if I were in class with you now, we would engage this type of critical analysis together. I'll leave it to you to apply the concepts we learned about to this very real situation
at your institution. Among other things, there are issues with power and privilege, authentic meaningful inclusion, and having "voice". </div>
<div style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;color:black;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">
<br>
</div>
<div style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;color:black;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">At this point in time, I believe I have done all I can over these past six months post retirement to preserve this program so I am handing it over to you if you want to advocate and follow-up on your program here. </span><br>
</div>
<div style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;color:black;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">
<br>
</div>
<div style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;color:black;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">
I have trust and respect for you and have ended every semester here buoyed up with the commitments I see each of you make to work towards a more just and equitable society. You give me hope--but hope takes work as well. </div>
<div style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;color:black;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">
<br>
</div>
<div style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;color:black;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">
If you do have a critical need or question related to the DSC, I am still happy to hear from you and would help as I might be able to. I have told every administrator and faculty colleague I have spoken with that I am here to help with any transition of the
program, but again, no one has contacted me about that. In the meantime, please direct your questions/comments to Ms. De La Cruz. She will do her very best to respond and support you.</div>
<div style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;color:black;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">
<br>
</div>
<div style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;color:black;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">
In solidarity and peace, --Prof. Hutchinson</div>
<div style="margin:0px;font-size:15px;font-family:"Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, system-ui, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif;color:rgb(32, 31, 30);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">
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<div class="BodyFragment"><font size="2">
<div class="PlainText">*********************************************************</div>
<div class="PlainText">Theo Jansen Hutchinson, Ph.D., Associate Professor (retired) <br>
</div>
<div class="PlainText">Critical Studies in Educational Foundations, Former Program Coordinator<br>
Former Director, Undergraduate Diversity Studies Certificate<br>
Ohio University<br>
Athens, OH 45701<br>
Email: hutchint@ohio.edu</div>
<div class="PlainText"><br>
</div>
<div class="PlainText"><i>Pronouns: Preference to use name; or he, him, his</i></div>
<div class="PlainText">*********************************************************</div>
</font></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</body>
</html>
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1">
<style type="text/css" style="display:none;"> P {margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;} </style>
</head>
<body dir="ltr">
<div style="font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
<div style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;color:black;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">
Hello DSC'rs! </div>
<div style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;color:black;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">
<br>
</div>
<div style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;color:black;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">
The semester is half-way over and we've been enjoying such beautiful autumn weather even in the midst of all the turmoil our communities and nation have been facing. </div>
<div style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;color:black;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">
<br>
</div>
<div style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;color:black;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">
Please bear with this longer email but it has some important news about changes to the Diversity Studies Certificate (DSC) program that may impact you. </div>
<div style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;color:black;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">
<br>
</div>
<div style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;color:black;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">
I officially took the university's offer for retirement and retired at the end of May 2020. For those of you who have emailed me, I have been acting as a type of "informal" advisor for the program. Unfortunately, when my plans to retire were made known, my
college decided to withdraw funding that supported providing instructors for your two required classes,<span> </span><i>EDCS 1011 Intro to Diversity Studies<span> </span></i>and<span> </span><i>EDCS 4001 Democracy & Diversity</i>. I was dumbfounded at this
and have been fighting to preserve the program ever since April when I found out about the drop of funding. <br>
<br>
Please know I was never allowed to be part of those discussions about what to do with the program even though I developed this academic certificate ten years ago and have directed it ever since. I have been fighting to keep this program alive since April until
now. While I can't share all the details because of professional expectations, please know I tried to have a conversation with our dean's office who would not do so, then I have contacted various faculty, the deans in two other colleges here on campus, the
Faculty Senate leadership, and even the Provost. All but my own college said they valued the DSC, yet it has been kicked around and is still not "re-homed" to a place where there is support, continuity, and even knowledge of how the program runs and how to
support you all as students. </div>
<div style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;color:black;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">
<br>
</div>
<div style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;color:black;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">
My last communication with others in order to try to save the program (and plan for Spring semester) was about two weeks ago. I found out again that the DSC doesn't really have an academic home and the plans that were described to me sounded fairly convoluted
involving a set of several different colleges and offices. The DSC still exists and I hope continues to exist for a long time, growing and improving as well. </div>
<div style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;color:black;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">
<br>
</div>
<div style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;color:black;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">
I have informed many of the people I contacted that they at least needed to provide a director so I could let students who have questions know who to turn to since I am retired. You wouldn't think it would take over 6 months to try to figure that out--but it
has, and is still not adequate. I will give you this latest information that I was given about to whom you should direct your questions.</div>
<div style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;color:black;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">
<br>
</div>
<div style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;color:black;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">
<b>Currently, the point person is Ms. Marlene De La Cruz who is the Director of OMSAR (Office of Minority Student Access and Retention).<span> </span></b>Ms. De La Cruz is a wonderful person but, through no fault of her own, does not have the historical and
current background about the DSC to answer all of your questions as well as continue its growth. This was simply another task (for an already dedicated busy colleague).</div>
<div style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;color:black;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">
<br>
</div>
<div style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;color:black;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">
<b>You can reach Ms. De La Cruz via email at delacr@ohio.edu. and her office phone is 740-593-9376. </b></div>
<div style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;color:black;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">
<br>
</div>
<div style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;color:black;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">
Here are some of the things students have been asking, or should ask:</div>
<div style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;color:black;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">
<br>
</div>
<div style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;color:black;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">
<i>(1) Graduation Check if you are planning to graduate this Fall and if you plan to graduate in the Spring, it is a good idea to have a DARS review before you plan your spring semester classes to be sure you will have fulfilled all the requirements.</i></div>
<div style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;color:black;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">
<i><br>
</i></div>
<div style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;color:black;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">
<i>(2) Graduation Cords: For those of you planning to graduate this Fall and who would like to have the DSC graduation cord, please contact Ms. De La Cruz to find out how to receive those.</i></div>
<div style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;color:black;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">
<i><br>
</i></div>
<div style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;color:black;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">
<i>(3) General advising for any student going through the program to be sure you are still fulfilling requirements.</i></div>
<div style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;color:black;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">
<i><br>
</i></div>
<div style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;color:black;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">
<i>(4) Information on how to officially enroll in the program. Most of you probably have, but feel free to pass this information on to other students since I have not been there to continue our work on outreach to students.</i></div>
<div style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;color:black;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">
<br>
</div>
<div style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;color:black;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">
Let me finish with a few comments. For those of you who have been in classes I have taught or who have met with me for advising, I hope you know that I make every effort to share "truth" with students, along with keeping the appropriate confidentialities. I
think there are several things to take away from what is happening with the DSC and if I were in class with you now, we would engage this type of critical analysis together. I'll leave it to you to apply the concepts we learned about to this very real situation
at your institution. Among other things, there are issues with power and privilege, authentic meaningful inclusion, and having "voice". </div>
<div style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;color:black;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">
<br>
</div>
<div style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;color:black;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">At this point in time, I believe I have done all I can over these past six months post retirement to preserve this program so I am handing it over to you if you want to advocate and follow-up on your program here. </span><br>
</div>
<div style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;color:black;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">
<br>
</div>
<div style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;color:black;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">
I have trust and respect for you and have ended every semester here buoyed up with the commitments I see each of you make to work towards a more just and equitable society. You give me hope--but hope takes work as well. </div>
<div style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;color:black;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">
<br>
</div>
<div style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;color:black;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">
If you do have a critical need or question related to the DSC, I am still happy to hear from you and would help as I might be able to. I have told every administrator and faculty colleague I have spoken with that I am here to help with any transition of the
program, but again, no one has contacted me about that. In the meantime, please direct your questions/comments to Ms. De La Cruz. She will do her very best to respond and support you.</div>
<div style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;color:black;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">
<br>
</div>
<div style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;color:black;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">
In solidarity and peace, --Prof. Hutchinson</div>
<div style="margin:0px;font-size:15px;font-family:"Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, system-ui, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif;color:rgb(32, 31, 30);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline">
</div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
<br>
</div>
<div id="Signature">
<div>
<div></div>
<div id="divtagdefaultwrapper" dir="ltr" style="font-size:12pt; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">
<div class="BodyFragment"><font size="2">
<div class="PlainText">*********************************************************</div>
<div class="PlainText">Theo Jansen Hutchinson, Ph.D., Associate Professor (retired) <br>
</div>
<div class="PlainText">Critical Studies in Educational Foundations, Former Program Coordinator<br>
Former Director, Undergraduate Diversity Studies Certificate<br>
Ohio University<br>
Athens, OH 45701<br>
Email: hutchint@ohio.edu</div>
<div class="PlainText"><br>
</div>
<div class="PlainText"><i>Pronouns: Preference to use name; or he, him, his</i></div>
<div class="PlainText">*********************************************************</div>
</font></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</body>
</html>