The Civility Discourse: Where Do We Stand and How Do We Proceed? Abdalla Aly, Casey Brent, Victoria Chihos, Ian Clark, Mazen El Ghaziri, Deborah Mansdorf, and Oksana Mishler 1 The President’s Symposium and White Paper Project is an interprofessional initiative that engages University of Maryland, Baltimore faculty, staff, and students in a yearlong conversation on a topic that is of interest and importance to the University and its community. The symposium is a joint initiative of the President’s Office and the Office of Interprofessional Student Learning & Service Initiatives. 2 “ Benjamin Franklin 3 Table of Contents ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 5 INTRODUCTION 6 I. CIVILITY AND INCIVILITY DEFINED 7 A. What is Civility? 7 B. What is Incivility? 8 C. Working Definitions 8 II. THE STATE OF (IN)CIVILITY 10 A. Why is Incivility a Problem? 10 1. Effects of Incivility in the Workplace and Classroom 11 2. Effects of Incivility on Patients and Clients 12 3. Other Considerations Regarding Incvility 13 B. What is the Scope of the Problem at UMB? 14 1. Methods and Evidence Synthesis 14 2. Results: Themes from the Deans 15 3. Results: Campus Survey 17 III. EXISTING CIVILITY INITIATIVES 19 A. Initiatives at UMB 19 B. Civility at Other Educational Institutions 20 IV. FELLOWS’ RECOMMENDATIONS 23 1. Incorporate Civility Into Professional Schools’ Bylaws 24 2. Incorporate Civility Into Professional Schools’ Curricula 26 3. Measure and Enforce Civility Campus-Wide 28 4. Leverage Exisiting Initiatives and Resources 30 5. Appoint a Civility Commission for Further Study 32 APPENDIX A: SURVEY RESULTS AND IMPRESSIONS 33 REFERENCES 37 4 The 2012-2013 President’s Fellows with us to discuss the state of would like to thank University of civility at the University: Senior Vice Maryland, Baltimore President President and Dean Bruce Jarrell; Jay A. Perman, MD, and his Dean Emeritus Janet D. Allan; Dean administration for commissioning Richard Barth; Dean Jane M. this study and for allowing us to Kirschling; Dean Phoebe Haddon; offer our recommendations on Dean Natalie Eddington; Dr. Donna this timely topic. We would like to Parker; Dr. Karen Kauffman; Dr. extend a special thank you to Ms. Kathleen Buckley; and Dr. John Courtney J. Jones, Director of the Talbott. Office of Interprofessional Student Learning & Service Initiatives, for Thanks are also in order for the her leadership and guidance on this campus experts who facilitated project as well as her staff for all of this year’s Civility Lunch-and- their support. Learn Workshop series: Dr. Kelley MacMillian, Professor Lisa Bress, In addition, we want to recognize our Dr. Regina Twigg, Professor Richard distinguished guest lecturers who Colgan, and Dr. Jill Morgan. Thank contributed to this year’s Speakers you as well to Ms. Caroline Sunshine Series on the topic of Civility: Dr. Jay for her contribution to our fellowship A. Perman, Dr. Benet Davetian, Mr. work. Ray Williams, Mr. Bernard Schulz, Tiffany Sanchez, and Dr. P.M. Forni. Lastly, thank you, the reader, for We also owe gratitude to the deans your interest in this project and for and leaders of each professional helping us to make the University of school for their willingness to meet Maryland, Baltimore a civil campus. 5 Introduction The purpose of this engagement is to identify and explore contemporary issues facing the University of Maryland, Baltimore (“UMB”) on the topic of civility. Specifically, the President’s Fellows were commissioned as part of the 2012-2013 President’s Symposium and White Paper Project to answer the following question: How Can the University Instill Civility as a Core Instructional Value in Educating Health, Human Services, and Legal Professionals? Our objectives in presenting the and incivility, followed by a suggested findings and recommendations that operational definition of both terms follow are (1) to define civility in a way for use in an educational institution that is meaningful to professional context. In Section II, we explore why educational institutions; (2) to incivility is a problem for colleges and examine the size and scope of the universities and discuss our findings problem of incivility at UM; (3) to regarding the size and scope of the identify current and past initiatives problem at UMB. In Section III, we that strengthen civility among identify current practices at UMB and students, faculty, and staff; and (4) other institutions that encourage and to offer tailored solutions that the enhance civility on campus and in the University may adopt in order to instill surrounding community. Lastly, in civility as a core instructional value. Section IV, we recommend five ways in which the University can instill Our discussion of this timely topic civility as a core instructional value begins in Section I with a brief in educating health, human services, treatment on the meanings of civility and legal professionals. 6 What is Civility is defined Civility is often associated with qualities plainly as “civilized that are phrased in terms of the Civility? conduct; especially: virtues and manners of individuals – courtesy, politeness,” or simply “a polite tolerance, self-restraint, mutual respect, act or expression” (Civility, 2013). In commitment to other people, social his bestselling book Choosing Civility: concern, involvement, and responsibility The Twenty-Five Rules of Considerate (Evers, 2009, p. 241). Because idealized Conduct, Dr. P.M. Forni (2002) defines morals and values vary across societies civility broadly as a “form of goodness… and settings, the definition of civility may gracious goodness” (p. 9). Forni explains also be closely intertwined with other further that civility “is not just an attitude analogous concepts – professionalism, How Can the University Instill Civility as a Core Instructional Value of benevolent and thoughtful relating ethics, leadership, compassion, empathy, in Educating Health, Human Services, and Legal Professionals? to other individuals; it also entails an civicness, etiquette, decorum, and active interest in the well being of our altruism. (Evers, 2009, p. 241-242; communities and even concern for the Silverman et al., 2012, p. 13; Campbell, health of the planet on which we live” (p. 2001, 39-41, 50). Despite scholars’ 9). Dr. Benet Davetian offers a similar attempts to offer a single comprehensive anthropological construction of the term definition, civility is an expansive term in his book Civility: A Cultural History. open to subjective interpretation. Davetian (2009) defines civility as “the extent to which citizens of a given culture speak and act in ways that demonstrate a caring for the welfare of others, as well as the welfare of the culture they share in common” (p. 9). Section I Civility and Incivility Defined 7 What is Incivility? workplace incivility, Estes and academic or workplace setting, Wang (2008) found, among our recommendations below Incivility is defined plainly other things, that incivility “is consider UMB’s unique position as “the quality or state of generally not well understood” as an interconnected group being uncivil” or as “a rude or and is sometimes referred of professional and graduate discourteous act” (Incivility, to as “bullying, emotional schools that not only engage n.d.). Within an academic abuse, and mobbing” (p. in the education of students context, incivility has been 218). Incivility has also been but also employ many faculty defined as “any self-centered referred to as “the antithesis and staff. In observance of behavior that is impolite or of civility” and is often our posture, we seek to define boorish or shows a disregard marked by “selfish behavior, civility and incivility in a way for rights and concerns for indifference towards others, that is meaningful to the others” (Weeks, 2011, p. the inability to curb aggression University and useful in fulfilling 7). Widely cited within a in conflicts, irresponsible the goal of instilling civility as a workplace context, Andersson behavior, [and/or] a low level core instructional value. and Pearson (1999) have of internalization of general defined incivility as “low- moral rule” (Estes and Wang, Here, we define civility simply intensity deviant behavior with 2008, p. 241). As Estes and as “niceness to others.” In ambiguous intent to harm the Wang (2008) point out, in order accordance with President target, in violation of workplace to thoroughly operationalize Perman’s emphasis on norms for mutual respect” and understand incivility, it is “playing nice,” we believe (p. 457). They further explain important to pay close attention that “niceness” may be easily that “uncivil behaviors are to the surrounding context, understood by all parties characteristically rude and particularly the immediate affected. Additionally, the discourteous, displaying a lack organizational context (p. 222). definition may be used broadly of regard for others” (Andersson to spur discussions on how and Pearson, 1999, p. 457). “nice guys and gals finishing Working first” and how cordiality and As with civility, the term Definitions kindness can be tracked across “incivility” is nebulous and campus to ensure faculty, staff, often serves as an analog The context for our research is and students are indeed playing for related constructs. In an distinct from those previously nice. Civility is specifically integrative literature review on mentioned. Instead of a pure mentioned in the University’s 8 mission statement; therefore, of prevailing norms. Because the two terms may be used incivility is often a precursor