Forward with Integrity Update: Opening the door for humanities

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/Crosta_Suzanne.jpg” caption=”Suzanne Crosta, dean of humanities, says President Patrick Deane’s letter Forward With Integrity has spurred enthusiastic discussion in the Faculty. File photo. “]There has been widespread activity across campus since Patrick Deane's Forward with
Integrity letter was released last fall. In the Faculty of Humanities, the document has
spurred enthusiastic discussion as faculty, staff and students work together to chart a
future course.

“The letter is the catalyst as we plan the next five years,” says Dean Suzanne Crosta,
who provided an update on the many activities and initiatives underway to advance the
FWI priorities within the Faculty. Working collaboratively has been a “fantastic
experience that has built a stronger community within humanities allowing us to
brainstorm new ways of connecting with students, researchers and our external
partners.”

The many undertakings include a faculty retreat held earlier this year focused on
generating ideas that would help support the priorities.

“The letter encourages us to ask key questions about our mission, our teaching,
research and community involvement,” Crosta says. “Together we are building an action
plan including all our departments and stakeholders.”

This work is already showing results. Crosta points to the recent Public Intellectuals
lecture series as an example of an event that engages the community in campus
discussions, while the inaugural class of the Discovery Program taught by Daniel
Coleman connected 22 Hamiltonians with their first university experience.

Students are also involved in the dialogue. They've hosted and participated in a number
of cross-disciplinary events that engage each other with their communities.

“The letter flexibly speaks to all of us and helps spark new ideas,” Crosta says. “The
Faculty of Humanities is fully engaged in many activities to help move us forward.”