Inclusion

COVID-19 did not create the stark social, financial, and political inequalities that define life for so many Americans, but it has made them more strikingly visible than any moment in recent history. How do we identify and help address the structural inequality that our students, employees, and community experience?

To help you critically analyze and consider approaches to addressing those inequalities, you will find a collection of resources in the two different categories below.

Where do we go from here?

George Floyd is one of too many Black and Brown individuals who have lost their lives, experienced physical and verbal violence, and have been the target of inhumane and overt racist behaviors.

This recent violence and the disruption caused by COVID-19 have brought to bear individual and systemic societal inequities that have for centuries affected those who have been historically marginalized.

These injustices have sparked outrage resulting in a sense of urgency to do something, and to do more, to address racism and inequity. If you are thinking about what you can do, here are some initial steps:

For faculty

Read this Twitter thread from Black doctoral student Angeline Dukes. She outlines steps faculty can take to address the current moment in their classrooms.

For staff and administrators

Consider your interactions with students, our systems and our practices, flag those that may have inadvertent consequences for people, or unintentional bias.

For everyone

Seek out training that helps you understand your own biases and ways to better serve your colleagues and students of color.

Let our students - especially our students of color - know that it matters to you that they are part of Chemeketa and that you are here for them.

If you are looking for a primer on systemic oppression, I recommend you read this. Additionally, this visual delineates the many overt and socially acceptable ways which white supremacy is sustained in our society.

This article from the Atlantic is a good reminder of Oregon's racist history and the racial discrimination present in our communities.

Additional Resources

Thank you everyone for your interest in building a more inclusive climate inside and outside of the classroom. I appreciate all of the requests for information and conversations. Below is a list of resources - taken directly from The Chronicle of Higher Education newsletter - on how to bring conversations about race and racism into the classroom, the list is not exhaustive, but will get you started.

Following are books, articles, and guides on teaching about race and racism, or on how to develop inclusive teaching strategies, recommended or written by some of the academics I talked to for this newsletter.

Teaching About Race and Racism in the College Classroom: Notes From a White Professor, by Cyndi Kernahan (2019).

"Teaching Race, Racism, and Racial Justice: Pedagogical Principles and Classroom Strategies for Course Instructors," by M. Brielle Harbin, Amie Thurber, and Joe Bandy. Race and Pedagogy Journal (2019).

Teaching Race: How to Help Students Unmask and Challenge Racism, by Stephen D. Brookfield (2018).

"Barriers and Strategies by White Faculty Who Incorporate Anti-Racist Pedagogy," by Jennifer Akamine Phillips, Nate Risdon, Matthew Lamsma, Angelica Hambrick, and Alexander Jun. Race and Pedagogy Journal (2019).

"Race Matters," by David J. Asai. Cell (May 2020). This commentary looks at why students of color leave science at high rates and why it’s important to change the culture of science.

Pedagogies of Care: Open Resources for Student-Centered and Adaptive Strategies in the New Higher-Ed Landscape contains material on teaching about race and racism (2020).

"Want to Reach All of Your Students? Here’s How to Make Your Teaching More Inclusive," by Viji Sathay and Kelly A. Hogan. Chronicle Advice Guide (2019).

"How to Hold a Better Class Discussion," by Jay Howard. Chronicle Advice Guide (2019).

Antiracist Pedagogy Reading List, compiled by Andrea Aebersold, director of faculty instructional development in the Division of Teaching Excellence and Innovation at the University of California at Irvine.

Jamiella Brooks has begun a list to highlight the accomplishments of educational developers who identify as Black, Indigenous, and/or people of color.

Supporting Immigrant Students

This page includes resources for supporting immigrant students inside and outside of the classroom.