Designing in Class Activities to Promote Equity and Inclusion

According to recent research by scholar Lauren Musu-Gillette, college enrollment of traditional-aged students has increased notably in the past twenty years, with significant increases in the number of African-American and Hispanic males and Hispanic females. These enrollment trends speak to the changing demographics typically found in higher education classrooms. With these changing demographics, every student’s experience should be equally validated in the higher educational setting. Unfortunately, higher educational institutions can embody broader societal biases, with unequal practices often ingrained in certain traditions or processes of the institution. Faculty across disciplines want to provide equitable and inclusive classrooms to support all students, but they are often overwhelmed by the breadth of content they must cover, leaving little time to address equity and inclusion in their teaching. Equity and inclusion need not be seen as extra work, but as important objectives that guide curriculum development. This book provides strategies to create a more purposeful, intentional curriculum that addresses equity and inclusion across disciplines without compromising content. Bringing together practical lesson plans and instructional options that faculty can use and adapt to deliver content in a way that is mindful of inclusion and equity, this book further extends the practical application of social justice principles.