Values and Expectations
By Jan Hawkins, Human Resources Chair
Learning and social enrichment are key aspects of the Osher at CMU mission. We strive to provide a dynamic, intellectually-stimulating and participative environment of continuous learning. We highly value mutual respect, personal and academic integrity, and civil discourse.
These sentiments are documented in a new statement of Values and Expectations recently approved by the Board of Directors. Earlier this Spring, the Human Resources Committee recognized a need to revise and update the existing Code of Conduct. In order to gather diverse opinions and gain direct member input to the revision, the HR Committee held three focus groups, involving 26 individuals. Overwhelmingly the participants expressed a desire for a code of conduct to be more aspirational, simple, and contain positive language to set the tone for the organization.Beginning with this Fall term, you will find the new Values and Expectations visibly displayed in our office area and classrooms. The former Code of Conduct is being replaced, and we ask all of our participants (members, study leaders, staff, volunteers and prospects) to observe our values. You can do this by:
•Embracing diverse perspectives on subjects, thereby ensuring vitality, relevance, and further learning.
•Ensuring that discourse and interactions are about the course and not the individual.
•Respecting all participants through regular attendance, only at courses for which registered.
•Participating in appropriate ways that help the group to grow.
Together we will continue to make our Osher at CMU one of the best in the network of lifelong learning organizations — by observing these values, encouraging others to do the same, and providing feedback when you observe behavior that may be inconsistent. The Osher at CMU staff and Board of Directors are committed personally to these values and expectations and welcome your perspectives on how we are doing.
Click the link below to view the Values and Expectations
Osher at CMU - Values and Expectations
Mission: The mission of Osher at CMU is to provide its members with learning and social enrichment opportunities that increase their knowledge, enhance skills and interactions with peers, and increase cultural and social awareness, complementing CMU's leading role in educational, intellectual, and cultural life in the Pittsburgh region.
Vision: Osher at CMU's vision is to be a premier quality source of lifelong learning for its members through cost effective, short-term, non-credit courses, lectures, field trips, special interest groups, and other events supporting its mission.
Values: Osher at CMU provides a dynamic, intellectually, stimulating, and participative environment of continuous learning. To ensure the effectiveness of that environment, we highly value:
- mutual respect,
- personal and academic integrity, and
- civil discourse.
Expectations and Actions: Osher at CMU expects its participants (members, study leaders, staff, volunteers and prospects) to observe our values. Participants agree:
- To embrace diverse perspectives on subjects, thereby ensuring vitality, relevance, and further learning.
- To ensure that discourse and interactions are about the course and not the individual.
- To respect all participants through regular attendance, only at courses for which registered.
- To participate in appropriate ways that help the group to grow.
Osher at CMU holds a high behavioral standard, expecting no personal attacks or other behavior that fails to meet these expectations, including denigrating other’s views or opinions, threatening behaviors, use of offensive or abusive language, disruptive classroom conduct, sexual harassment or discrimination, and monopolizing discussions.
Anyone who disregards the values and expectations of Osher at CMU may be denied the privilege of participating in courses and/or other Osher activities even to the extent of discontinued membership.
We encourage participants in the Osher at CMU community to notify the Executive Director or the Board President if they observe behavior that is inconsistent with our Values and Expectations.
We are committed to fostering a community environment of lifelong learning.
July 29, 2019