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CCC Initiative

ccc_doss@fas.harvard.edu

CCC logo, 3 interlocking "C"s resembling an infinity knot

"The experience of creating Harvard excellence should be an excellent experience."

Vision

To ensure a HEALTHY, INCLUSIVE, POSITIVE environment where everyone does their best work in support of Harvard’s mission.

Values

✧ Trust & Transparency ✧
✧ Respect & Fairness ✧
✧ Inclusion & Diversity ✧
✧ Kindness & Collegiality ✧
✧ Growth & Learning ✧
 

History

The Culture, Community & Care (CCC) initiative grew out of the Division’s earlier efforts to identify and overcome cultural obstacles and other impediments to productivity, engagement, and satisfaction among divisional administrative leaders. In 2018 we expanded the scope to include all faculty and staff. CCC aims to promote and maintain a healthy, inclusive, and positive workplace culture in the Division of Social Science. The name reflects a commitment to our values, our people, and a leadership model grounded in principles of care. The logo, abstracted from three C’s, evokes an infinity knot, a symbol of inter-connectedness and balance.

Meet ‘N Greet Tour

Assistant Dean Kirsten Colton and other members of the social science divisional team visited every unit in the division to talk about the dean’s priorities and to hear from staff regarding their aspirations, concerns, and suggestions. This was an important first step in establishing tighter connections and deeper engagement with and among the division’s 400+ staff.

Energy Enhancements

One of CCC’s priorities is promoting psychosocial health and wellbeing for all members our community. To this end, we have launched and promoted:

  1. Retreats and workshops on managing stress and preventing burnout, opportunities to train the mind through mindfulness and meditation, and social events designed to build community (throughout the year).
  2. The Mindful Monday newsletter (weekly).
  3. Lunchtime at the Museum gatherings where senior staff learn and relax amidst the University’s collections (monthly).

All Staff Event

In May 2019, over 150 staff members attended the first all-staff event for the Social Sciences, featuring psychology professor Mazharin Banaji speaking on her well-regarded work on unconscious bias; she invited staff to participate in her many online experiments. The Division intends to host an annual all-staff event.

Creating a Diverse Workforce

In 2020, the Division began piloting a process designed to further diversify our staff and incorporate more people from underrepresented groups. From a new “inclusivity statement” in job advertisements to tracking the percentage of underrepresented minorities in the applicant pools, each stage of our hiring process* will be enhanced to ensure that hiring managers have the tools and support they need to successfully hire from the widest possible range of applicants.

Metrics of Change

Another pillar of the CCC initiative is to measure progress towards the initiative’s objectives over time. Each project/program is designed with a measurable outcome that we intend to assess regularly. Towards this end, baseline studies were conducted as a starting point for the work. Future iterations of these studies will enable the Division to track changes in the work environment. The FY19 baseline studies included: a Division of Social Science Leadership Survey, an All Staff Survey and a SSAL End-of-Year Survey.

 

*Due to the pandemic and resulting financial uncertainties most hiring is on hold at this time.
Note: All photos taken prior to COVID-19 crisis!

people dressed up and posed on couch
large group of people
group of people holding large crayons
group of people standing next to goats
group of people at a party

CGIS Winter Garden (plants, fountain, meditation benches)

The Culture, Community & Care (CCC) initiative grew out of the Division’s earlier efforts to identify and overcome cultural obstacles and other impediments to productivity, engagement, and satisfaction among divisional administrative leaders. In 2018 we expanded the scope to include all faculty and staff. CCC aims to promote and maintain a healthy, inclusive, and positive workplace culture in the Division of Social Science. The name reflects a commitment to our values, our people, and a leadership model grounded in principles of care. The logo, abstracted from three C’s, evokes an infinity knot, a symbol of inter-connectedness and balance.