At the heart of the Community Resource Groups (CRG) program lies a mission to foster a welcoming and inclusive environment for all members of our staff and faculty who wish to contribute to the Carleton community and connect over shared identities, experiences, and interests. By promoting a sense of community and cultural transformation, CRGs play a vital role in advancing our institution’s mission and promoting the inclusion of historically marginalized communities. To learn more about this program, please visit our FAQ tab on this page. You can also explore the Current CRGs at Carleton tab to learn more about CRGs.*
We welcome creative and innovative suggestions for new CRGs that engage in activities to benefit the Carleton community, are in line with the mission of the College, and can cater to the needs of our valued staff and faculty. To share your proposal for a new CRG, simply fill out the webform below and rest assured that Dina Zavala and Kerstin Cardenas will thoroughly review your submission. Please note that approval of CRGs is at the discretion of the College and proposals will be assessed based on the criteria outlined. Approval of CRGs will also be subject to budgetary constraints.
Apply
*The College will not endorse any group that is formed on the basis of practices that discriminate against protected classes in accordance with its non-discrimination policy. Before Applying, review the information found under the “Guidelines to initiate a CRG” tab.
When it comes to leading a Community Resource Group (CRG), it’s important to take the responsibility seriously and ensure that everyone involved feels included. To achieve this, the CRG leaders encourage group leaders to utilize methods of participatory leadership and to focus on how the CRG will benefit the Carleton community as a whole.
If you’re considering starting a CRG, you should be able to articulate the name and focus, mission statement, goals, list of members, and its contribution to the Carleton community, what will be accomplished during each meeting, how often the group will meet, and how long each meeting will last.
If you decide to propose a new CRG, you can complete the application form available under the “Propose a new CRG” tab here. Once you’ve submitted the webform, the VPIEC and Director of Human Resources will review the application to see if it meets our criteria, college policies, mission, and IDE goals. You’ll be notified of the outcome in a few weeks.
When planning the first meeting of your CRG, it’s important to keep in mind that your group must comply with Carleton College policies and mission. Your original meeting should be focused, organized, and assigned specific objectives to achieve. Choose a convenient date, time, and place that provides easy parking, and consider locations such as coffee shops or libraries.
During the first meeting, make sure to have everyone who attends sign in with their phone number and email address. This list will be needed to notify group members of the time, place, and preparation for future meetings. Introduce yourself and briefly describe the purpose of the interest group and the agenda. Ask each person to introduce themselves and share their interest in the group and how they think the group will work. Record everyone’s input and establish a fixed date, time, and place for the group to meet or arrange for future meetings if necessary. It’s important to note that anyone attending a CRG should be part of the Carleton community.
Why does Carleton Offer CRGs? Carleton’s mission is to provide an exceptional undergraduate liberal arts education that requires a community of trust and belonging where each individual feels safe and valued. The college community is actively engaged in the work of making Carleton more inclusive, diverse, and equitable. As stated on the Community of Belonging website, we are embracing our shared values of mutual respect and curiosity as we go forward, honest reflection and dialogue as we look back, and a deep sense of joy, humor, and grace as we try, fail, and grow as a community.
What is the Mission of the CRGs at Carleton? CRGs aim to provide a welcoming and inclusive space for all faculty and staff who wish to share their identities, experiences, and interests while engaging in activities that benefit the Carleton community as a whole. A primary goal of the CRGs is to support the College’s efforts in building a strong community, fostering a positive culture, and advancing its mission. Additionally, the CRGs intend to promote the inclusion of historically marginalized communities and support their empowerment.
What are some examples of CRG activities? CRGs are expected to engage in activities that benefit the community as a whole, and not just its members. Some examples might include a CRG planning, offering, and hosting an inter-cultural or interfaith dialogue or a CRG sponsoring a speaker on a topic of interest to the College community. Examples of activities that do not serve the larger community include an event limited to members of a certain identity or conducting religious worship activities.
Who can attend CRG meetings and programs? Each CRG has its own mission, vision, and values but is open to all staff and faculty. CRG members are required to secure their supervisor’s or manager’s approval before attending CRG meetings and activities during their scheduled work hours. Supervisors shall approve the employee’s requested time for CRG participation unless the department’s operational needs cannot be readily met without the employee’s attendance during the requested time. Supervisors will not unreasonably withhold approval to attend CRG meetings and activities. Supervisors should balance the CRG members’ work schedule with participation in CRG meetings and activities to avoid overtime.
Can I join more than one CRG? Yes! Please participate as widely as your time and interests allow.
What is involved in co-facilitating a CRG, and what should I do if I want to be a co-facilitator? Co-facilitators help determine schedules and content for CRG gatherings, coordinate logistics, and meet regularly with the Vice President for Inclusion, Equity, and Community (VPIEC) to provide feedback and discuss what support would be helpful moving forward.
What if I have an idea for a CRG that I think would be useful for our community? Great! We welcome proposals for new CRGs that community members believe will meet the needs of the staff and faculty community and serve the CRG mission. To propose a new CRG, please complete the webform under the “Propose a new CRG” tab.
When and how frequently will CRGs meet? Each group will determine a meeting schedule that is most appropriate for its members, likely every four to six weeks. Groups must meet at least once per term to be considered eligible for renewal.
What will CRG programming look like? It is up to the co-facilitators of each CRG to work with the group and determine what effective programming will look like, following standard guidelines provided by the Division of Inclusion, Equity, and Community (IEC). It is recommended that CRGs provide campus-wide programming such as speakers or activities, and consider meaningful and impactful conversations or outings.
Is there financial support from the college? Carleton is invested in the success of CRGs and has allocated a budget for eligible CRGs.
Do CRGs require an annual renewal? Yes. To be considered for renewal, CRGs must have met at least once per term and must submit a summary report to iec-division@carleton.edu by July 1 of each year. The report should summarize the CRG’s contribution to the Carleton employee experience and describe:
- The programming/events organized by the CRG in the past year
- Proposed activities for the upcoming year
- Any changes to the CRG’s functioning for the upcoming year
- An updated member roster with a minimum of five active members
Dina Zavala and Kerstin Cardenas will review summary reports, evaluate the effectiveness of the CRGs, and inform groups of their continuation status by August 15 each year.
As a manager/director/chair, what can I do to support CRGs? Managers and chairs can support this pilot program by communicating the importance of CRGs as opportunities for staff engagement and inclusion, enhancing the overall work experience, and facilitating time for employees to participate.
Are there limitations surrounding CRGs? Yes, CRGs may not:
- Engage in any activity inconsistent with Carleton’s mission
- Exclude employees from participating in meetings or activities based on the employee’s membership in a protected class or based on not sharing the characteristics of the focus of the CRG
- Engage in political activities, make political or legislative endorsements, formulate around political beliefs, or promote candidates for public office
- Engage in fundraising activities, either internally or externally, without advance approval
- Attempt to engage the college in negotiations between the CRG and the college related to the terms and conditions of employment for the members of the CRG
- Make direct charitable contributions
- Misuse or overspend allocated funds
This list is not intended to be an exhaustive list, and Carleton reserves the right to revise limitations at any time. Engaging in any of the above activities may result in the immediate dissolution of the group.
What if I have more questions? Please email your questions, comments, or suggestions to Kerstin Cardenas and Dina Zavala.
The Carleton Latina/e/x Leadership Community (CLLC) is a collective of working professionals who identify as gender minorities within the Latina/e/x umbrella.
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