Prevention, Outreach and Education Department
Office for Civil Rights and Title IX Education and Compliance
What is the Climate & Response Unit (C&R)?
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 these incidents and investigations impact the climate. Climate & Response Specialists work with units across the university in developing strategies to promote healing and culture change.
When relationship violence and sexual misconduct (RVSM) incidents occur in the workplace or learning environment, it often impacts people beyond the individual/individuals who were directly harmed and the person/people who caused harm.
The Climate & Response (C&R) team members serve as guides and offer support throughout the process and implementation of recommendations. The process is voluntary and is not connected to sanctions or disciplinary action for individuals (faculty, staff, administrators, students) or units. Units that would like to engage in a Climate & Response process will work with the team to assess the possible routes for support.
What is our approach to Climate & Response Work?
Grounded in gender-based violence prevention and transformative justice values, the Climate & Response approach proactively works with units to collaboratively build pathways for healing, community-centered resolutions, and healthy working and learning environments
Using a values-based approach with units identifies the areas in which strengths are present and where growth is needed. Stakeholders in units are supported with tools to build upon their strengths and expand skills to do the work within their unit.
This style of engagement prioritizes sustainable social change; the Climate & Response team may support a unit through many iterations of the cycle and over the course of an extended period. Units that would like to engage in a Climate & Response process will work with the team to assess the possible routes for support.
To schedule a consultation or explore options, contact the Climate & Response Program Administrator, Lydia Weiss, at poe.LydiaWeiss@msu.edu.