Promote a Culture of Civility on Independent School Campuses
Independent schools are experiencing heightened levels of tension on campus. They must address these tensions to promote an inclusive, supportive climate, stay true to their stated mission and values, and promote financial sustainability by mitigating the impact of campus flashpoints. In order to adequately engage in difficult conversations, independent schools must promote a culture of civil discourse on campus.
Prepare your response to flashpoints on campus
Flashpoints are the new normal—heads of school are being asked to respond to incivility in the classroom and events off campus. Flashpoints come from many different actors and span a wide range of issues.
Underpreparing for or mismanaging a response carries significant consequences for advancement and enrollment at independent schools. Left unchecked or poorly addressed, flashpoints negatively impact the student experience, overwhelm staff and resources, and ultimately harm a school’s reputation and ability to make progress on key initiatives.
Read our white paper on responding to campus flashpoints to learn how to build clear and effective processes to efficiently address these events.
A flashpoint is an incident or event that causes a disturbance in the school community or media, including heightened levels of activism, media and public scrutiny, and reputational damage.
Quick Tips
To address potential campus flashpoints, follow these recommendations from EAB:
- Include flashpoints in your school’s risk register and create plans to mitigate these potential risks
- Create structures to consistently prepare for and respond to incivility in the classroom
- Learn from each flashpoint to strengthen campus response
This resource requires EAB partnership access to view.
Access the roadmap
Learn how you can get access to this resource as well as hands-on support from our experts through Independent School Executive Forum.
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