Diversity refers to the individual and group social differences that exist among people. It means understanding that each individual is unique and by recognizing these individual differences and similarities, we add to the richness and texture of the educational experience. These can be along various human dimensions, including but not limited to: race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation/gender identity/expression, socio-economic status, age, disabilities, religious beliefs, political beliefs, cultural perspectives, other ideologies, veteran status, and country of origin.
The concept of diversity at Sinclair Community College encompasses the appreciation, inclusiveness, engagement, and mutual respect among students, faculty, staff, administrators and members of the broader community. The diversity mission is to:
Sinclair Community College Diversity site: https://www.sinclair.edu/student-life/diversity-on-campus/
The Change Agents group was formed in 2010, after an inspiring and reflective book read by Frances Kendall. Since then, the group has made a commitment to promote and develop steps and approaches to create a supportive, diverse and inclusive environment at Sinclair Community College. Our goal is to recommend institutional changes in support of faculty, staff and students. Currently, we have over 70 members, consisting of faculty, staff and administrators.
The Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) continues to collaborate and support the Change Agents through multiple workshops, training sessions, action plan meetings, and book reads. As well, the group has developed various working committees to develop strategies that support the mission.
The role of the Change Agent is to support diversity and inclusion at the College and to align with the College's strategic priorities and core values.
Create an Inclusive Learning Environment, Carnegie Mellon, - http://www.cmu.edu/teaching/designteach/teach/learningenvironment.html
Creating an Inclusive Classroom Community for LGBTQ Students, Arizona State University - pdf
Office of Diversity, Equity, and Community, University of Colorado Boulder - http://www.colorado.edu/odece/
Diversity and Inclusive Excellence, Association of American Colleges and Universities - http://www.aacu.org/resources/diversity/
Diversity & Inclusive Teaching, Vanderbilt University - http://cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/diversity/
Facing History and Ourselves, website - http://www.facinghistory.org/
Inclusive Teaching Strategies, Cornell University - http://www.cte.cornell.edu/teaching-ideas/building-inclusive-classrooms/inclusive-teaching-strategies.html
Reducing Stereotype Threat, website - http://www.reducingstereotypethreat.org/reduce.html
Resources for Leveraging Diversity in the Classroom, University of California at Berkeley - http://mep.berkeley.edu/classroom
Strategies to Create an Inclusive Classroom, Red River College - http://air.rrc.mb.ca/classroom%20support/Strategies%20To%20Create%20An%20Inclusive%20Classroom.htm
Teaching for Inclusion, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, - pdf
Faculty are encouraged to show and discuss these videos with their students:
We are always looking for more examples of classroom activities. Please consider sharing yours with the CTL for posting here:
