麻豆影院

The 麻豆影院 philosophy department will resume admissions to its graduate program for the 2015-16 academic year.

The move follows the enactment of reforms and changes begun last November across 10 major areas to address issues of discrimination, harassment and a combative work culture that previously existed inside the department. On Jan. 31, 2014, CU-麻豆影院 Chancellor Philip P. DiStefano announced the appointment of Professor Andy Cowell as interim chair of philosophy in order to enact key reforms to transform the work culture and environment for women, students, faculty and staff in the department.

鈥淚 support the recommendation by Chair Cowell, Arts and Sciences Dean Steven Leigh and Provost Russell Moore to reinstate graduate admissions,鈥� said DiStefano. 鈥淚 am impressed by the number and scope of the measures taken under Andy鈥檚 leadership, and the way in which the faculty and staff in the department have worked hard, and continue to work, to build a positive environment for learning and teaching. This step reflects the progress they have made.鈥�

Cowell said over the course of the last nine months, the department鈥檚 faculty 鈥渉ad willingly participated in numerous facilitated department workshops, as well as activities and exercises to build the culture. They also took many other measures to address issues of harassment and discrimination, create a more positive and inclusive workplace, and improve instruction of and interaction with students at all levels.鈥�

He said the department had made progress across 10 major areas, including educating the department on issues of discrimination, preventing harassment and creating a collegial workplace; engaging in best practices as a department; dealing with issues of misconduct; forming an external advisory committee; focusing on diversifying faculty, staff and the student body; managing graduate student issues; supporting the actions of graduate students themselves; managing undergraduate issues; encouraging interdisciplinary work, and hiring new faculty.

鈥淭he department鈥檚 work in all these areas is continuing, but I believe there is a new spirit of collegiality and common purpose that makes the environment suitable for supporting graduate work and sponsoring graduate students,鈥� Cowell said.听

Sofia Hunter and Anthony Kelley, two graduate students who serve on the philosophy department鈥檚 climate committee, issued a statement of support for the move:

鈥淎s the graduate student representatives to the Climate Committee, we are pleased that the philosophy department has taken the necessary steps to reopen graduate admissions. We hope that this development will encourage even more progress towards improving our department's climate. We would like applicants to know that there are already practices in place to support incoming students. Specifically, we intend to work听with other graduate students, other members of the climate committee, and departmental and university leadership to enhance and to strengthen听several current mentorship programs wherein incoming graduate students, as well as undergraduates, are paired with faculty and senior graduate students.听We听are committed to helping incoming students integrate into the academic and social life of the department.鈥�

Leigh, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, singled out the work of Cowell and the entire department over the past nine months.

鈥淚 believe the department has had difficult conversations, worked through complicated issues of perspective and practice, and is well positioned now to accept graduate students in a better environment. The college appreciates Dr. Cowell鈥檚 efforts and those of the faculty, staff, graduate and undergraduate students in the department,鈥� Leigh said.

CU-麻豆影院 Provost Russell L. Moore echoed Leigh鈥檚 assessment, noting 鈥渨e challenged the department to enact fundamental changes and move in bold new directions to change their own culture.鈥�

鈥淭heir response was laudable鈥� Moore said. 鈥淚 am hopeful that the department鈥檚 continued efforts to create a supportive environment for students, staff and faculty will serve as a model that will receive recognition matching its distinguished record of scholarly excellence.鈥�

More information about the philosophy department admissions process can be found at .