Initiative 3: Inclusive Curriculum
Provide a curriculum that is inclusive of multiple perspectives and styles of pedagogy that prepares students to be successful in a changing world and increasingly competitive market place.
3.1 Upper Division Course Transformation Project
Course transformation “is the process of integrating new research trends on gender, ethnicity, class, and human identity. The fundamental goal for transforming a course is to enhance the quality of education for students by integrating broad diverse content and inclusive pedagogy into major courses in the curriculum” (Rosenfelt, D. S., Curriculum Transformation Project, University of Maryland at College Park, 1998, p. 5). Faculty transform courses to:
- expose students to biases, stereotypes, inaccuracies and marginalization in traditional curricular content and pedagogy
- increase students’ knowledge of the social dynamics of identity formation and change
- introduce students to structures of power and privilege in American society
- help students understand patterns of communication and interaction within and among different cultural groups
- discuss theories of personal, institutional and societal change
- increase sensitivity to and awareness of different cultures and celebrate and appreciate their perspectives, heritages and contributions
- promote scholarship and highlight opportunities for new area of research and artistry.
This curriculum transformation project solicits proposals from full-time tenure-track faculty who are interested in integrating substantive new scholarship on issues of diversity and inclusive pedagogy into upper division courses. The project is supported by a grant from the James Irvine Foundation. Individual faculty as well as disciplinary teams may submit a proposal to transform courses that fulfill requirements for departmental majors. Individuals are awarded a $4,000 grant to transform an individual course, and/or faculty teams are awarded $12,000 to transform a set of related courses in their discipline.
3.2 Pedagogy Workshops: A Program on Inclusive Teaching
The goals for Pedagogy Workshops are threefold: (1) provide professional development linked to the mission of the university and interculturalism, (2) provide pedagogical support for tenure-track faculty in their second year of teaching at LMU, and (3) prepare faculty to teach in LMU’s diverse classrooms. The goals are addressed through a series of four, two-hour workshops throughout the academic year. In addition, participants receive ongoing support from senior faculty facilitators who serve as liaisons between the junior faculty, deans and department chairs. Facilitators also provide mentoring and consultation services to participants on a voluntary basis.
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Strategic Goal 3: Inclusive Curriculum