2025-2026 Graduate Design Cohort Community Agreements - Cultivating a Culture of Generosity and Grace

Definitions

• Respect - as defined by this community is the culmination of upholding the following Community Agreements. We show respect by aligning with our Community Agreements and bringing to the awareness of our community when a Community Agreement comes into question.
• Mindful - Intention and awareness
• Presence
• Candor - feedback/comments that are honest/fair and free of malice

Agreements

As a collective community, we agree to uphold these agreements in order to achieve a healthy, thriving community that embraces opportunity to challenge one another, sustain a positive learning environment and a space in which each community member (students, faculty, & staff) can grow. We learn from mistakes. We allow for failure in order to grow. We provide the grace necessary for positive change.

The space to: 

• Freely express ideas and concepts that contribute to growth and learning while keeping into consideration the ways in which others may receive information shared.
• Make mistakes, learn from them and share with others when they mess up as a means of learning for all. 

Communicate in ways that:

• Allow open dialogue and honesty.
• Encourage discourse that leads to learning.
• Are genuine.
• Use candor to expand the conversation, not diminish it.Permission to fail and learn The space to “not know”

Ways to engage when a Community Agreement comes into question

When our Community Agreements come into question, we agree to engage with genuine curiosity and the intent to understand, not to criticize or judge. By doing so we create an environment in which real learning can occur.

The following are examples of how you might engage in the process of upholding a community agreement. This is not an exhaustive list, but rather some suggestions as you learn to navigate the process.

• “Can you help me to understand your process?”
• “I’m hearing your feedback, and it sounds to me like candor is the intent, but it’s coming across as (hostile, judgmental, opinionated, etc.). Can I help you to realign in a more positive way?”
• “Can you expand upon your comments? I’m not fully understanding what you are trying to convey?”
• “Can you provide me with the information that confirms your statement?” (for use when an opinion is offered rather than feedback).

Further Considerations

• Are my comments opinion or fact?
• What is my intention with my comment (does it help the educational process or growth)?
• Am I engaging in this process with genuine curiosity and interest (are my comments coming from a space of candor)?
• Is the way that I’m sharing this information helpful? Would I receive this information positively if it were provided to me? Can I shift my approach so that it will be better received?
• If I’m noticing that a member of my community is struggling with my approach, am I able to redirect or shift my language so that my feedback is better received?
• Sometimes the timing of my feedback may be “off.” Can I take notes and provide this information later or in a different format (e.g. email follow up, Canvas discussion board, etc.)?