Public Health Culture Code

Building a Community of Connection

To sustain our leadership and bring out the best in one another, we seek to promote a healthy social and emotional work and learning culture -- a culture of connection.

We value all members of our community, and we know that a civil and considerate environment is integral to the health and well-being of faculty, staff, students, and visitors.

We aspire to treat each other well, by practicing and promoting the following attitudes and behaviors:

  • Choose kindness. Always treat each other with consideration and respect, whether in person, on the phone, over email, on social media, or any other communication stream. Remember that your tone matters as much as what you say.
  • Think the best. Assume we are all trying to do the right thing. Put yourself in the other person's shoes, even in difficult situations. Be flexible and patient with others.
  • Act in a supportive way. Encourage each other. Acknowledge each other's contributions, and lend a hand when others need help. Be inclusive, welcoming, and appreciative of differences.
  • Practice forgiveness. Even with our best efforts, humans are fallible and error-prone. When someone offends or hurts you, do your best to choose a forgiving attitude. If you offend or hurt someone else, apologize and work to make things right.

This statement is adapted from the University of Michigan "Statement on Civility."