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Inclusive Teaching

Inclusive Teaching

In keeping with the commitment to teach a diverse community of undergraduate, graduate, and professional students at one of the world’s great research universities, the UNC Center for Faculty Excellence is proud to advance a culture of inclusive excellence in our classrooms and on our campus.

Let’s face it: most of us were taught in classrooms where styles of teachings reflected the notion of a single norm of thought and experience, which we were encouraged to believe was universal…Most of us learned to teach by emulating this model. As a consequence, many teachers are disturbed by the political implications of a multicultural education because they fear losing control in a classroom where there is no one way to approach a subject–only multiple ways and multiple references.” (hooks, 1994, pp. 35-36)

Campus conversations on inclusive excellence

The Equity in Teaching Institute (EqTI) takes place over two days and is offered several times a year. During those two days, we reflect on who our students are, how our courses can equitably meet our students’ needs, and what equity in teaching means to us. CFE staff can also offer shorter workshops and customized EqTI experiences for your school or department. Contact Emily Boehm to learn more.

In collaboration with the College of Arts and Sciences Faculty Diversity Initiatives and the UNC Office of Diversity and Inclusion, the CFE has hosted events where faculty members and graduate students can come together to discuss our shared aspirations and challenges, including:

  • “Teaching in Challenging Times” discussion series: How do instructors decide if/when to discuss their politics, values, or topics such as race, gender, sexuality, and disparities with students? How do they successfully manage subsequent dialogue? These workshops are designed to help faculty members and/or graduate students to reflect upon how they negotiate the intersections of their personal and professional identities in their classrooms.
  • Diversity THINKposium: The annual Diversity THINKposium is focused each year on a particular issue or topic related to diversity and inclusiveness in higher education. Invited speakers provide data and context for participants’ conversations throughout the event–we promote a free exchange of ideas which fuel our creative problem solving. The THINKposium is meant to be a non-conventional approach to addressing diversity, inspiring action, and facilitating the solution-making process.

Efforts to make Carolina a more inclusive environment

Carolina faculty Kelly Hogan (Associate Dean of Instructional Innovation, College of Arts and Sciences; Teaching Professor of Biology) and Viji Sathy (Associate Dean of Evaluation and Assessment in the Office of Undergraduate Education and a professor of psychology and neuroscience) also offer advice for Carolina teachers regarding how to enrich the learning environment to better serve all students. Here are a few of their resources:

Resources for further exploration and reflection

Colleagues who are interested in advancing broader departmental and institutional change may also refer to: