Survey on Racism at SSU Tops Trustees Meeting

By Mercedes Slawter

SALEM, MA - University and college campuses across the country are witnessing protests over racial disparities and other race-related tensions, and while students at Salem State haven’t yet taken to the streets or hallways, they will soon have an opportunity to let the administration know how they feel.

Race relations on campus topped the agenda of Salem State’s December 2 Board of Trustees meeting where the members voted to approve a campus-wide survey on the race issue. The meeting also included a discussion of online learning.

Special guest Commissioner of Higher Education Carlos Santiago, present after having gone on a tour of the campus, brought up the racial tensions around the country, especially at the University of Missouri. Noting that Salem State is becoming more diverse, President Patricia Meservey agreed.

“Commissioner Santiago mentioned one of the topics I’d like to talk about and I think it’s important that we inform the board our actions regarding racial tensions that have occurred at a number of universities,” said Meservey.

Discussing how Salem State is evolving into a more diverse campus – recent figures indicate the percentage of the student body that is minority/non-Caucasian has grown from about 20 to about 26 percent over the past five years – the president reflected on race relations.

“We are quite fortunate here at Salem State. We have a diverse campus and I believe we have a campus that is largely in harmony and moving forward in a very positive direction,” she said, but added, “there are certainly areas that need improvement.”

Meservey also noted that the President’s Advisory Committee on Diversity, Affirmative Action, Equity and Social Justice on Salem State’s campus has been trying to get approval to do a survey for several years now. On December 2, the survey was finally approved. If successful, it will gauge students’ feelings about racism and about what they feel could be done on campus to prevent future racism-related problems.

“We pushed this off because of cost, but with the events we have been seeing around us, we can wait no longer,” Meservey noted. “We want data. We need to see where we are strong and where are our weaknesses.”

Next on the agenda was a presentation about online teaching presentation by Professor Jeanne Corcoran of the Occupational Therapy department and Gail Rankin, Director of ITS faculty support services.

The presenters noted the aspects of online learning that students like, such as discussions which force them to interact with the professor and/or students. Whether a course is all online, hybrid or has online components, the trend is growing, according to Rankin and the other professors present.

“From fall of 2000, 2010, to 2015 we have seen growth in the number of students using the system, the number of courses being offered on the system and the number of faculty using the system,” said Professor Gayle Fischer of the History department.

Students also have access to their syllabus throughout the course, to grades with comments and to ‘what if’ scenarios that help students see what they need to do to be successful in the class.

“I’d be interested in knowing how many of your courses are using the [online learning management system] and potentially what percentage of them are being conducted 100 percent online,” said board member Teri Chisholm.

“From my position that would be hard. I would have to estimate 10-12 percent,” said Fischer, who noted that there are 1,591 online courses running this semester with active students enrolled.

“About 33 percent of our students that are taking one or more hybrid course,” Meservey chimed in. “We have 35 percent of students at least taking one online course. That gives you a sense.”

Board of Trustees meetings are open to the community. The next meeting will be held on February 24, 2016. For information about where the meeting will be held and the agenda, visit salemstate.edu.