Civility is improving at the Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC), says Lyron Graves. Graves, an employee compliance specialist in the human resources department at the Office of College Service, has been working on improving civility since he joined the staff in late 2018.The civility program started about three years ago.
Civility, as defined in the CCAC’s “Civility Corner” newsletter, “is the deliberate act of being polite to others as well as being courteous in behavior and speech.”
“I wasn’t here at that time, but there certainly was a need not so much on campus, but in the world in general. People realized that and we try to (instill) a culture of civility here at CCAC. Treating people with dignity and respect. Helping out others if you can and being thankful for those who do help,” Graves says.
The main goal, he says, is “pretty much paying it forward as much as possible.” Bringing civility back to the campus “will be a slow process,” he says, but one that’s worth it in the long run.
“I’ve never seen an instance where someone doesn’t help somebody out,” he adds.
In 2019, they rolled out a Civility Star program which encourages employees to nominate fellow co-workers for a “civility star.”
“When I implemented it, I thought it would turn out great and it certainly did,” he says. Three employees have been awarded the honor thus far.
Vincent “Vinny” Connelly, from the South Campus ITS Department, was honored.
“He helps with computer questions around the campus,” Graves says.
Gail Dodge, a switchboard operator in the Boyce Campus Business Office, was another recipient. Graves notes her busy, stress-filled job.
The third recipient was Monique Carroll, a security guard based in the Office of College Services. Carroll, Graves says, “was over the moon about it. She didn’t think people would notice how she treats people,” Graves says.
The three were honored because “people see how they go above and beyond, treating people with dignity and respect,” he says.“They get public recognition for their efforts of being civil to one another, civil to others. It’s kind of like good publicity that their names are out there, which is nice.”
In December, there was a college-wide holiday card signing drive where everyone was invited to sign a card for a community member in need. Cards were presented at a Salvation Army Holiday Dinner in Pittsburgh.
Another civility-inspired event was held on the campus Feb. 20. Entitled “Civility, Protocol and Etiquette: Private, Personal and Professional,” the event was about “how to be civil in the workplace and how to grow civility (and) at the same time, reducing stress.
“At first, it started as stress management, but it morphed into something more. I think it’s going to be great,” Graves says.
A large turnout was expected.
“It’s going to entail how to be civil in the workplace and how to grow civility and, at the same time, reduce stress. At first it started off as stress management … but it morphed into something more. I think this is going to be great,” Graves says.
Making CCAC known as the civility campus is done by “leading by example, (by) our actions … It’s about being consistent. I am confident things will keep on improving as long as we are consistent,” he says.
Once the civility culture “permeates throughout the campuses,” he adds, “I think the sky’s the limit …We try to treat people the way they want to be treated. It starts when we take the time to get to know one another.”
