SMC – LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
Leading in a Diverse & Multicultural Environment
PROGRAM OUTLINE
Goal: To provide campus leaders & managers with the skills & practices for leading in a diverse &
multicultural environment
Program Outline
MODULE 1: Foundations for Leading in a Diverse and Multicultural Environment (full
day)
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Your role as a leader in supporting a diverse, respectful and inclusive community that
reflects Saint Mary’s mission and core values
Your role as a leader/manager in closing the gap between our practices and values and
promoting inclusive excellence
Demographic trends
Power and privilege
Dimensions of diversity, cultural variables, and communication styles
Ongoing self assessment tools
MODULE 2: Communication Skills (half day)
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Understanding how cultural norms may differ and thereby affect communication
Focusing on inclusion and how miscommunication or lack of communication can lead
to exclusion
Examining how our assumptions and styles influence our communication and decision
making process
Learning and using the dialogue process to build bridges and a common ground of
understanding
MODULE 3: Recruitment & Retention: Using the Lenses of Inclusive Excellence and
Diversity (full day)
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Understanding how cultural variables and personal and organizational biases impact
recruitment and hiring
Learning skills to expand our recruitment, selection, interviewing and hiring process to
include qualified candidates who represent many dimensions of diversity
Orienting new employees and setting expectations to help employees know Saint Mary’s
and understand the expectations of their jobs
Enhancing skills in coaching, addressing performance issues, and developing and
recognizing employees with different experiences and cultural background
MODULE 4: Conflict Resolution (half day)
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Understanding the concept of conflict, including its destructive & constructive elements
Examining different approaches to dealing with conflict
Increasing our skills for handling conflict especially when there are diverse values,
cultures, and styles for approaching conflict
SMC Leading in a Diverse & Multicultural Environment –9-11-08
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MODULE 5: Roundtable Review (half day)
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Reinforcement of skills and applications from the program
Participants each present a summary of their use of the skills and concepts taught in the
program and of their plans to continue to build and support a respectful, diverse and
inclusive community in their departments and on campus
SMC Leading in a Diverse & Multicultural Environment –9-11-08
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