Do the MIT values reflect the everyday experiences of the MIT community?

In spring 2022, CCC launched a realtalk@MIT pilot with the support of the MIT Values Statement Committee and the Office of the Provost.

In spring 2022, CCC launched a realtalk@MIT pilot with the support of the MIT Values Statement Committee and the Office of the Provost. This pilot included more than 160 community members who participated in 50 small-group conversations led by 44 facilitators.

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The idea was to develop the realtalk system and test the use of conversations as a vehicle for listening to others and for improving decisions that impact the quality of life at MIT.

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The Questions We Asked

Which of the MIT values resonate with you most?
What needs to be celebrated and what causes friction?
What needs to change?
How might we imagine the future of MIT?

The Answers We Received

MIT values sometimes exist in tension or even competition with one another
Excellence means succeeding within the academic world, but it can also mean overlooking aspects of life and careers that cannot be easily quantified
There is an openness and appreciation for weirdness and outside-the-box thinking, but this openness is not always extended to less senior students and staff
The institute should be more transparent with how decisions that impact the community are made

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Our Partners

MIT Values Statement Committee and the Office of the Provost
The Sloan School of Management
The Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics
The Department of Urban Studies and Planning
The Media Lab
The Undergraduate Association

JS Needed

Next Steps

This initial pilot helped lay the groundwork for establishing a culture of open communication and active listening, provided participants with a sense of empowerment, and established a trustworthy model for moving forward.

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Over the following two years, the Sloan School and the Media Lab have continued this work. The pilot program helped build trust and connections among participants, set the foundations for a scalable and adaptable framework for wider adoption, and garnered broader support from MIT leadership. The current expansion of realtalk@MIT builds on this initial work.

Get Involved

Check out our opportunities, start a collaboration, or email realtalk@mit.edu with questions! We would love to hear from you.

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