Dear College of Science Faculty and Staff, Tell me, what’s your favorite word? __________________________ For elegance, I might pick ‘evanescent’ meaning ephemeral, fleeting, momentary, or transient. According to Merriam Webster, while all these words mean ‘lasting or staying only a short time’, evanescent suggests a quick vanishing and an airy or fragile quality. To me, the word is mysterious and poignant, with a nice ring. But the term ‘favorite’ is quite vague and can mean varying things to each person. So, let's be more specific, what are the three most meaningful words to you, right now?______________________________________________________________________________That’s a better question, but still, if you answer quickly or more slowly after reflecting, you may get different answers. You may decide to put context into your answers and come up with several sets – words related to work, words related to home, words related to the world. My picks are ‘worried’, ‘proud’, and ‘committed’.
In the recent College of Science climate survey, Associate Dean for Equity Randall Hughes asked our members to give three words they thought described the atmosphere of our College of Science.There was no restriction, and the resulting word cloud shown fills my heart. The top five words you chose are so positive: collaborative, supportive, friendly, welcoming and inclusive! And there are many other positive words in the mix.I am deeply grateful to Associate Dean Hughes for spearheading this important survey, indicating overall, that 73% of College of Science faculty, staff, postdocs and PhD students feel a strong sense of belonging to their unit. This is good news consistent with the positive word cloud. But we are not ignoring word cloud entries of ‘isolated’ and ‘disconnected’, nor ‘busy’ or ‘challenging’. We need to understand concerns that led some of you to respond with those worried words, and the landscape where COS members feel less belonging. We are a Diverse College where Everyone Belongs, and the first goal of our Strategic Plan underscores that we all must continue to work to make this true for everyone. In this view, I want to remind you of our College of Science Commitment:The College of Science at Northeastern University embraces a culture of respect, where each person feels valued for their contribution and is treated equitably. We are dedicated to dismantling unjust systems and working towards equity through our initiatives and actions. We embrace a culture where each person feels they belong, regardless of race, color, religion, religious creed, genetic information, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, national origin, ancestry, veteran status, or disability. We commit to be a College where members act with respect, empathy, collaboration and communication, and where inappropriate behavior is reported without fear of retaliation. As we move into the Thanksgiving break, I hope you will find words that encapsulate a comfortable, loving and restful holiday. Worry is all around us, from the very personal to the broader world with so much turmoil abounding. I hope that you are well, and that your family and loved ones are safe. My warm wishes to everyone. The Weekly will return on December 1.