Feel the Teal: Being civil to one another
Coastal Carolina University is continuing its emphasis on how we treat one another through our Feel the Teal Service Excellence Initiative. A year ago, we launched our third Feel the Teal training module, Civility on Campus, and to date we have had over 550 employees participate.
Civility on Campus calls for a conscious awareness of the impact our attitudes, actions, words and behaviors can have on someone else. This training defines civility as well as discusses minor, middle-of-the-road and major civility issues that have the potential to impact our University. Civility is more than simply using good manners such as saying please and thank you and opening doors for each other; it is applying the values and principles of respect and consideration in our everyday service interactions.
As much as this sounds like common sense, we live in a time where there is a perceived decline in civility standards and norms. We cannot conform to this perception; instead we must demonstrate behaviors that defy this view and that create a positive environment in which to learn and work. We will all benefit from such a focus and culture.
Our goal is that we not only provide this training for our employees, but also for our students in the near future. Our Feel the Teal Leadership Team recently addressed the need to communicate the importance of civility to our students. The discussion included ideas such as including civility training within the First-Year Experience classes, offering civility training for large student groups such as campus clubs, and promoting monthly messages of civility with our new movie theater.
Coastal Carolina University wants to set an example to follow regarding issues that positively impact customer service, of which civility is the cornerstone. Our goal is to provide a culture and climate that exemplifies fairness, care and concern. CCU proudly supports an inclusive, respectful environment where all of our employees, students, visitors and community members feel welcome – and Feel the Teal!
Sincerely,
David DeCenzo, Ph.D.
President
