Prevention, Outreach and Education Department
Office for Civil Rights and Title IX Education and Compliance
What is the Climate & Response (C&R) Unit?
The Prevention, Outreach and Education (POE) Climate & Response Unit (C&R) was created in 2018 to address the ways that relationship violence and sexual misconduct (RVSM) incidents impact the work and learning environments in which they occur. The C&R Unit works collaboratively to assist the MSU community in exploring how incidents of power-based harm and RVSM investigations impact the climate of work and learning environments. When relationship violence and sexual misconduct (RVSM) incidents occur, it often impacts people beyond the individual/individuals who were directly harmed and the person/people who caused harm.
The Climate & Response team works with units across the university to develop strategies to promote healing and culture change. The C&R team provides guidance and support to individuals, leaders and entire teams/groups through the Full Climate & Response Process and alternative options, including implementing any recommendations that may develop throughout these engagements.
Participation is entirely voluntary and is not connected to disciplinary or sanction-based outcomes for individuals (faculty, staff, administrators, or students) or units. Departments, teams, or units interested in engaging in a Climate & Response process will work in collaboration with the C&R team to identify the most appropriate support options. To learn more, email poe.climate@msu.edu.
What is our approach to Climate & Response Work?
The Climate & Response (C&R) approach is grounded in gender-based violence prevention, transformative justice, and values-based leadership frameworks. This approach proactively partners with departments, teams, and units to co-create pathways toward healing, community-centered resolutions, and the cultivation of healthy working and learning environments.
Through a values-based lens, the C&R team supports units in identifying existing strengths and areas for growth. Stakeholders are equipped with tools and strategies to build upon those strengths, deepen their capacity, and take meaningful action aligned with their unit's values and goals.
This model of engagement prioritizes sustainable culture change. Support is not a one-time intervention but can evolve over time, with the C&R team accompanying units throughout multiple phases of reflection, action, and adaptation. Units interested in the process will collaborate with the team to determine the most appropriate and responsive pathways for support.
To schedule a consultation or explore options, contact the Climate & Response team, at poe.climate@msu.edu.