Diversity Initiatives in the College

Educational Resources on Diversity/Cultural Competence for Classes/Programs -(2008-2009)

The Diversity Committee hosted a series of Brown Bag Critical Friends Discussions pertaining to teaching/ learning as scholarship, with a focus on enhancing cultural competence of our COEDU students. The purpose of the Critical Friends discussion is to engage in dialogue about best practices, share successes, assist with challenges, and promote teaching/learning as scholarship throughout the college. Faculty presented educational resources (e.g., research, assignments, case studies, learning activities, discussion formats, teachable moments strategies, etc.) used in classes for the purposes of enhancing cultural competence of our COEDU students. Materials were peer reviewed (including written comments to be shared with the faculty member submitting materials), with dialogue between presenters and reviewers, and then among all participants.

Difficult Dialogues Seminar (Barbara Cruz, Cheryl Ellerbrock, Elaine Howes, Anete Vasquez)

This seminar, open to all faculty, GAs, and adjunct instructors in the COEDU, explored not only the struggles that faculty sometimes experience when discussing sensitive issues in class, but also the strategies that have been found to be effective in managing difficult dialogues. Participants reflected on real-world case studies, discussed possible student reactions and development in the college classroom, and explored effective strategies for building community and diffusing conflict.

Children's Festival

Each year the Dean's Office and the COEDU's Diversity Committee sponsor the Children's Festival, an on-campus event for children and families in the University area neighborhoods.  Faculty, students, and staff create fun learning activities and informative booths in a highly interactive and fun event for all involved.

Annual Forums: Creating Teaching Opportunities from Critical Issues (please visit the Forum webpage to download the videos)

Forums have consisted of a series of three events during each fall semester with participation from community members, school personnel from surrounding school districts, and COEDU/USF faculty, staff and students. Faculty, staff, and students participated in the forums, with assignments in some core courses linked to forum content. 

Fall 2008 Forums - Racism: Whiteness in the Classroom: Understanding Who We Are

Sponsored by the COEDU Diversity Committee, this series of forums was open only to students and faculty in teacher preparation programs in the College of Education. Students, in-service teachers, and USF faculty participated in panel presentations and discussions open to the audience. Planned as conversation starters, the forums were designed to create and raise awareness of various issues related to human diversity as they impact students and teachers in classrooms and schools as well as in society.

Fall 2007 Forum - Challenging Heterosexism in the Classroom

• Flyer
• Podcast #1 on iTunes U:  A 3-hour presentation was divided into 14 podcasts, ranging from 4 to12 minutes.  By linking to the first podcast, you can access the others.

Fall 2006 Forum - Schooling During the Immigration Dates

• Flyer
• Podcast #1 on iTunes U:  A 4-hour presentation was divided into 3 podcasts, ranging from 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 1/2 hours.  By linking to the first podcast, you can access the others.

Research/Inquiry and Climate & Awareness

Syllabus Audit - Faculty reviewed course syllabi for evidence that courses addressed diversity, in terms of self-identity, knowledge acquisition, skill development, and transformation to practice. Most all courses in the COEDU address diversity in some form. A significant challenge for the committee and COEDU is to develop systems to assess development of cultural competence across time and into practice (i.e., beyond assessment within courses).

Faculty Focus Groups - The Diversity Committee conducted focus groups to gain a deeper understanding of what COEDU faculty do to infuse diversity into their curricula and courses and to explore how to advance our students' development with respect to diversity. In addition, we hoped to identify how we might improve what we were currently doing and to identify possible methods to monitor our progress individually and as a college, over time. Specific focus group questions pertain to infusion of diversity in course content and/or programs of study, barriers experienced by faculty as they attempted to address diversity content, methods used to assess students in this area, and instructional strategies used within courses to address diversity. The results of the focus group were analyzed and presented to faculty and have been submitted to a journal for publication.

• Faculty Forum, September 2006
  

Student Climate Survey & Focus Groups - The Diversity Committee conducted a survey of students to examine their attitudes and beliefs regarding diversity, equity and inclusivity within the COEDU. Graduate students in the College Student Affairs program conducted focus groups with students to gain a deeper understanding of these issues.

• Student Climate Survey: Executive Summary
• Student Climate Survey Report, January 2008

Recognizing Excellence: Successful Latina/o Scholar Awards

The Successful Latina/o Scholar Award is presented to students of Hispanic heritage in the College of Education who demonstrate excellence in the areas of teaching, research and service. At the undergraduate level, the focus is on teaching, although participation in research via use of data to inform instruction and/or work with faculty on research projects should also be evident. Service is documented via membership in student organizations, volunteer activities, and/or participation in service-learning. At the Master’s level, the focus is on both teaching and research via action research in the classroom and/or work with faculty on research projects. Service is documented via membership in professional organizations and within schools and community. At the doctoral level, the focus is primarily on research experiences, either through independent work or collaboratively with faculty resulting in conference presentations and/or manuscripts. Additionally, teaching experience should include both college and P-12 levels. Service is documented via membership in professional organizations and within schools and community.

The first annual award ceremony took place in 2005.  Please select the Latina/o Award Recipients link on the right to view a list of the awardees.

Diversity Honor Roll

The USF Diversity and Equal Opportunity Office has recognized the work of the COEDU Diversity Committee.  This honor was shared by co-chairs Deirdre Cobb-Roberts, Patty Alvarez McHatton, and Barbara Shircliffe in 2006 and by Deirdre Cobb-Roberts and Patty McHatton in 2007 (Barbara Shircliffe was on sabbatical in 2007).

Student Celebration of Diversity

As part of a course titled "Issues and Trends in Urban Special Education," students worked with local children and youth on service-learning projects, conducted oral histories (both narrative and pictorial) of diverse families, and engaged in other varied experiences. Please view video of students reciting their original poetry on the topic of diversity.

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