Clemson - expecting people to be on time is culturally insensitive.

time is fluid[quote]According to materials from a diversity-training course at Clemson University, it’s culturally insensitive to expect people to show up on time because “time may be considered fluid” in some cultures.

Clemson’s “Diversity Benefits for Higher Education” initiative — which cost the school more than $25,000, according to Campus Reform — presents its participants with slides featuring hypothetical scenarios, and asks them to select the correct, culturally sensitive action from a list of options.
Alejandro scheduled a 9:00 a.m. meeting with two groups of visiting professors and students from other countries,” one of the scenarios states. “When he arrived, he found that the first group had been waiting for fifteen minutes.”

“The second group arrived at 9:10 and wanted to socialize first,” it continues. “What should Alejandro do?”

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The slide then lists three options:

1. “Politely ask the second group to apologize.”
2. “Explain, ‘In our country, 9:00 a.m. means 9:00 a.m.’”

3. “As the meeting organizer, he should recognize cultural differences that may impact the meeting and adjust accordingly.”

The correct answer, according to the slide, is option three.

“Time may be considered precise or fluid depending on the culture,” the slide explains. “For Alejandro to bring three cultures together he must start from a place of respect, understanding that his cultural perspective regarding time is is neither more nor less valid than any other.”quote]

My guess is SC will catch up and surpass Clemson in the near future.