Higher Education Innovation Fund [HEIF]
Equity Leaders & Guides 2.0 [EL&G 2.0]

Purpose: The purpose of an Action Plan is to give you a framework for thinking about how you will complete your equity goals efficiently.  Your Action Plan will also serve as a deliverable and support you in your eligibility for your HEIF EL&G 2.0 stipend.  

Tasks: After reflecting upon the equity work you have been engaged in, determine three (3) changes that you would like to make in your  practices. Your action plan should include goals that stem from each of the three major focus areas in our workshops: humanizing,  relationship building, and TILTing. The knowledge building and introspective work we did in our CES Implicit Bias workshops should guide  you in choosing goals that are important to you.  

• Review the Individual Action Plan: Example

• Choose either to complete

  • Individual Action Plan: PDF

  • Individual Action Plan: Fillable PDF

Monday June 17, 2024 | 8am - Noon

• In person, Building 2 -7th floor  STCC Campus Map & Directions

• Park in Parking Lot C near Building 15 [runs parallel to State Street.

• From 8am - Noon

• Breakfast will be provided. While we try to accommodate all, those with severe allergies should plan ahead and bring alternative food.

• Please bring your laptops, as they will be needed for the day's activities.

• Wear your lapel pins!

• Brave Courageous Conversations: slides

• U of Michigan handout: Useful Questions for Dialogue Facilitation

• Be Plucky Website  
  
  

Before arriving to the workshop EL&G 2.0’ers will: 

• Make notes of thoughts, ideas & questions. 

EL&Gers' Reflections on the June 17, 2024 Workshop

EL&Gers were most engaged when:

• For today (06/17), the breakout sessions were more engaging - hearing others' examples and challenges and being able to exchange where we struggle (and sharing in possible approaches to those struggles form our collective experience/practice).

• I enjoyed the entire day, but my favorite aspect was the break out moments when we heard people's personal stories and challenges.

• Sabine Denise and Safire were sharing stories from their experiences.

• Discussing bridging with colleagues.

• When we spoke in groups at our table about ways that we were fostering EL&G initiatives within our classrooms.

• With the action plan items - the video and infographic of steps to take in order to have the difficult or uncomfortable conversations.

• When the facilitators shared questions that they typically use to bridge.

• I found most helpful when Safire stepped in to a conversation we were having on our table regarding gender identity and pronouns. I was struggling to find ways to bridge with a participant that had questions and Safire engaged with us and gave us helpful tips.

EL&Gers' Reflections on Peter Felten's June 11, 2024 Workshop

• Acknowledging that the larger culture needs to change to truly support them.

• Great ideas/examples of things being done at other places as well as why the work matters beyond individuals.

• The articles / books (links) posted in the chat were great. Can’t wait to look through them more deeply.

• I love the Connection Challenge idea - It is so simple, yet seems like it would be a great start to building new relationships.

• The idea of building a culture within our school, department & programs is the root of trusting relationships. It helped me understand why it's important for students to have a set of relationships not just with one individual.

• For me, he reinforced, that it is our practices that build relationships with students and a culture in our classrooms.

• Make a point to meet with my students one on one.

• I liked the breakout rooms where I was able to get ideas from other people on how they build relationships.

• I think the data he presented about how much of a difference relationships make with students was compelling. I do not directly interact with students but I got several ideas about how to incorporate connectedness into several initiatives I'm working on in supporting faculty who will.

• There are many solid approaches already taking place on our campus but those strategies need to be deployed more comprehensively.

• The simple change of "office hours" to "drop-in hours" is a subtle yet meaningful difference that may better facilitate its purpose.

Zoom:  https://stcc-edu.zoom.us/j/94007726075 Tuesday, June 11, 2024 | 6-7:30pm Virtual

Objectives for Peter's Part 2 Workshop

• • What’s one thing you will do to build significant relationships with or among your students?

  • What’s one thing you will do (or this group could do) to build significant relationships with or among your colleagues?

  • Continue work from Part 1 workshop.

Resources

• • Review & bookmark Connections Are Everything: A College Student's Guide to Relationship-Rich Education, by Peter Felten, Leo M. Lambert, Isis Artze-Vega , and Oscar R. Miranda Tapia. This is the free student-focused-text Peter complementing Peter's text Relationship Rich Education.

  • Peter's Slides June 11, 2024 Connections are Everything Fostering Cultures of Learning, Equity, and Belonging Peter Felten, Center for Engaged Learning, Elon University

  • Graphic Novel for New Students: Navigating the College Maze. Shared by Sarah Gilleman, HCC 

  • Pedagogy and Practice: Schedule One-on-One Meetings

Additional Resources Featuring Relationship Building:

Curated by our STCC EL&G colleague Aimee Racicot,

• Headagogy, with Steve Pearlman - Relationship Rich Education with Peter Felten and Leo Lambert

• Office Hours with John Gardner Episode 13 - Peter Felten The Value of Higher Education

• Office Hours with John Gardner Episode 15 - Leo Lambert Creating a Sense of Belonging

• Beronda L. Montgomery: Living my purpose in multiple domains and cherishing every moment. Here's a 45 minute video from Beronda. 

• Parker J. Palmer, Center for Courage & Renewal Parker’s work has touched the lives of millions of people around the world seeking to live more courageously and authentically while serving the human possibility.

• Rendon, L. I. (1994). Validating culturally diverse students: Toward a new model of learning and student development. Innovative higher education, 19, 33-51. This study demonstrated that nontraditional students, no matter how fragile, can be transformed into full members of the college academic and social community.

• Remind: A platform that supports communication and learning wherever it happens.

Tuesday June 4, 2024 | 8am - 3pm 

• In person, Building 2 -7th floor  STCC Campus Map & Directions

• Park in Parking Lot C near Building 15 [runs parallel to State Street.

• From 8am - 3pm 

• Breakfast & lunch will be provided. While we try to accommodate all, those with severe allergies should plan ahead and bring alternative food.

• STCC EL&G 2.0 Handout printouts will be available.

• Please bring your laptops, as they will be needed for the day's activities.

• Books and lapel pins will be provided. Plan accordingly to take these materials with you.

Before arriving to the workshop EL&G 2.0’ers will: 

• Make notes of thoughts, ideas & questions. 

Slide Deck

Select the following link to view the slides for our session, Brave, Courageous, & Generative Conversation

• Select the following link to complete the Tic-Tac-Toe Course Activity

During the CES Workshop EL&G 2.0’ers will:

• Develop self-awareness practices and skills that support more Culturally Responsive Pedagogy

• Explore facilitation practices that support courageous, generative conversations in the classroom and with stakeholders across campus.

• Discover facilitation skills that surface our shared humanity, helping us to move groups toward “bridging” rather than “breaking”

• Explore barriers to generative conversations and develop a set of tools and skills that can be used when those barriers are present

Outline of the Day:

• Welcome / Opening

• Morning Segment:

  • What are brave, courageous, and generative conversations?

  • Who am I in the classroom and how do my identities show up?

  • On identity and bridging difference

• Lunch- provided 

• Afternoon Segment:

  • What are we afraid of when facilitating brave, courageous, and generative conversations?

  • Skills and practices for managing emotions (both my own and others) 

  • Goals for your own practice

• Close

Resources:

Mehl, C. & Haidt, J. (2022, November 30). How to defuse a classroom conflict: Make it more complex. The Chronicles of Higher Education.

Five practices to help students break through all the binary thinking. There’s a powerful way to reduce fear and get people talking in a constructive way: Increase the complexity.

Constructive Dialogue Institute  Free for faculty members to use with their students, the five-year-old program weaves  together psychological concepts with interactive scenarios and aims to teach practical skills for navigating difficult conversations.

The STCC Library has compiled the Systemic Racism and Injustice libguide includes information and resources such as key terms defined. The libguide also provides links to anti-racism eBooks, books, films and videos, articles, data and statistics, civic action and how to help. 

The general principles covered in Michelle's workshop can be applied to almost anything, even in the staff realm. For example, just the idea of making documents more equitable using Michelle's creative approaches will be impactful.

Many student facing offices can use Michelle's ideas to revamp student facing informational documents and web content. Michelle's presentation encourages people to think outside of the box in a very unique way.  Staff and faculty can walk away with useful ideas and insights. 

Consider having conversations amongst the EL&G 2.0 guides on each of your campuses, to discuss how you might  incorporate Michelle's concepts.
-Ashley Pease, STCC EL&G 2.0  Faculty Fellow 

This was a great training. Very informative. I am really not sure I am qualified to "mitigate trauma" but I always try to be kind and inviting. I smile and go in with a positive outlook. I try to be encouraging, and present learning tools with various styles to accommodate the different people in my trainings.

Michelle's presentation was excellent. I love the idea of a liquid syllabus and adding bumper videos to the course materials.

-EL&G Participants

Statement of Need:

The Massachusetts Higher Education Innovation Fund [HEIF] has granted STCC A $75,000 grant to create the Equity Leaders & Guides (EL&G). This project is designed to promote cross collaboration amongst faculty by offering opportunities for the exchange of equity-minded ideas, practices for integration and broadening the pool of trained campus equity champions.

STCC Spring 2022 FT Faculty Survey results pointed to faculty’s desire to:

● engage in implicit bias training and promising practices in retaining black/brown, underserved students,

● strengthen skills-building by exploring culturally relevant teaching practices,

● design equitable syllabi and course policies to promote student belonging,

● expand holistic advising practices, and

● use data to support this equity work.

EL&G Project Outcomes:

● draw upon existing campus-wide equity work of the AIA and its subcommittees, driving equity minded practices and institutional transformation,

● unify what has been disparate training in culturally relevant practices

● increase academic and co-curricular opportunities to engage students in experiences that demonstrate civic mindedness.

EL&G Syllabus
The syllabus [below] is dynamic. You are invited to add comments by clicking into the document. 

What & Why Thought Partners?

Thought partners meet and share ideas, experiences and reflections with one another to help each of you in your learning and teaching practices. 

In the spirit of cross collaboration, in most instances, you have been paired with someone across your department and division. Both of you will need to make an effort to build an intentional relationship with your partner.

Strive to get to know your Thought Partner.  Stretch your partner's thinking, practice some of the concepts & skills you will be learning, and practice your listening skills with your partner.

Throughout this process you will be asked to meet [virtually or in person outside our normal working day 8-4pm] and create some artifacts of your meetings [i.e. a document, video, summary etc].

EL&G Participants & Thought Partners 

1. Find your Thought Partner Folder

2. Open and add a document for notes

3. Note: all folders are open to public for editing, sharing and reflection

More details are forthcoming. 

February 15, 2023 | Relationship Rich Education | Author Peter Felten Workshop Part 1  | This workshop will be recorded | 5-7pm 

• Read the text.

• Read the Group Guide, below, with emphasis on prompts #7 & #8. 

• By February 13, 2023 complete & submit the 2023 Pre Workshop Survey.

• On February 15, 2023 5pm Join us for a discussion/workshop with Peter Felten.  You have a Zoom link and invitation in your Google Calendar.

After February 15, 2023 Homework

• Feel free to review the Peter Felten #1 Workshop Feb 15, 2023 recording & chat. 

• Open this survey and offer your feedback by Feb, 24, 2023 [or sooner].

• If you have not yet, accept the invitation to the March 22, 2023 Relationship Rich Education #2 Workshop, with Peter. Check your Google Calendar and/or email me.

• Between now and March 20, 2023 email your thought partner, make a date to meet on the phone, [in person or virtually] and within your Thought Partner Folders/Documents-answer Peter’s prompts.

  • What’s one thing you will do to build significant relationships with or among your students?

  • What’s one thing you will do (or this group could do) to build significant relationships with or among your colleagues?

• Review & bookmark Connections Are Everything: A College Student's Guide to Relationship-Rich Education, by Peter Felten, Leo M. Lambert, Isis Artze-Vega , and Oscar R. Miranda Tapia. This is the free student focused text Peter referred to in his presentation.

EL&Gers' Reflections on Peter Felten's February 15 Workshop

When asked what participants found useful from the workshop:

"Although our small breakout rooms were people from all over campus, it was so reaffirming that we share many of the same issues and also that we think similarly."

"I thought the plant analogy was powerful. Though I'm sure I've heard it before, it was a reminder to think carefully about the environment we're creating for students. There's so much that goes into a classroom setting, but it's also something that we can easily modify so that students can grow."

"It was during the first breakout session. I really resonated with the other participants. For the first time, I felt like I wasn't alone in how I engage with students. I was hearing from others who have been doing this much longer than me, and they sounded enthusiastic and excited about this project and their work with students."

"Another powerful moment was the reference to one of the conversations from the book. The professor tells the students something along the lines of, "One of you is going to feel overwhelmed and anxious at the end of the semester and consider dropping the course. Please don't...." and then encouraged students to reach out. I connected with that dialogue and may steal it entirely or personalize it. I find that when I give real life examples and I'm honest with students (sometimes brutally honest), they engage, are more willing to participate and ask for help, and put more effort into assignments and participation."
- EL&G Participants

March 22, 2023 | Relationship Rich Education | Author Peter Felten Workshop Part 2 | This workshop will be recorded |  5-7pm 

Join Zoom Meeting

https://stcc-edu.zoom.us/j/91428143130

Objectives are to Review Homework from February 15, 2023 Workshop

• • What’s one thing you will do to build significant relationships with or among your students?

  • What’s one thing you will do (or this group could do) to build significant relationships with or among your colleagues?

  • Continue work from Part 1 workshop.

Collaborate on this Google Doc during our workshop.
Please be aware this document is open to all for editing, take care when working here.

• Peter mentioned the text: Connecting in the online classroom: Building rapport between teachers and students

• Glazier, R. A. (2021). Connecting in the online classroom: Building rapport between teachers and students. JHU Press.

Post March 22, 2023 Workshop

• Feel free to review the Peter Felten #2 Workshop March 22, 2023 recording & chat. 

• Review our Google Doc used during our workshop.

• Open this survey and offer your feedback by March 24, 2023 [or sooner]

EL&Gers' Reflections on Peter Felten's March 22 Workshop

When asked what participants found useful from the workshop:

"I found the dialogue amongst the participants very helpful. It was helpful to learn what others are doing already to build relationships with the students. One participant mentioned taking a few minutes at the end of each class to walk around the classroom and talk with students while they worked on a short activity. The goal was to meet each student throughout the semester. I also found the discussion about what students should call us very interesting. Lots of food for thought and many great ideas."

"I found that taking even 5-10 minutes during class to form and build relationships with students will go a long way to fostering a supportive learning environment. Small changes can make a huge difference."

"Hearing how others create relationships always generates new ideas for me to incorporate in my own classroom."

"Brainstorming different ways to build on these efforts."

"I feel that most faculty are on the same page when it comes to wanting to build relationships and to share information. We are not always given the right platform, this project has certainly allowed for it."

- EL&G Participants

Saturday, March 25, 2023

• In person, building 2 -7th floor 

• From 9am - 3pm 

Before arriving to the workshop EL&G’ers will: 

• engage with the Pre-work materials in the Brave, Courageous, & Generative Conversations Pre-work  tic-tac-toe

• Make notes of thoughts, ideas & questions. 

During the March 25 CES Workshop EL&G’ers will:

• Develop self-awareness practices and skills that support more Culturally Responsive Pedagogy

• Explore facilitation practices that support courageous, generative conversations in the classroom and with stakeholders across campus.

• Discover facilitation skills that surface our shared humanity, helping us to move groups toward “bridging” rather than “breaking”

• Explore barriers to generative conversations and develop a set of tools and skills that can be used when those barriers are present

Outline of the Day:

• Welcome / Opening

• Morning Segment:

  • What are brave, courageous, and generative conversations?

  • Who am I in the classroom and how do my identities show up?

  • On identity and bridging difference

• Lunch- provided 

• Afternoon Segment:

  • What are we afraid of when facilitating brave, courageous, and generative conversations?

  • Skills and practices for managing emotions (both my own and others) 

  • Goals for your own practice

• Close

EL&Gers' Reflections on Equity Skills March 25 Workshop

When asked what participants found most affirming from the workshop:

"Sabine [workshop facilitator] made me feel like it was okay to have my best mistake."

An attendee sitting next to me offered supportive comments and squeezed my hand in a very supportive way when I was discussing about how unsure I am of what I'm doing most days as new faculty."

"The way the facilitators engaged with the attendees and gave real life, real world experience and examples was great."

"I can't think of a specific action, but I thought the "power wheel" visual was fascinating and an accurate tool to teach and reflect on one's privilege and how groups are marginalized (or vice versa). Just to visually place myself and see how close to the "power center" I was in many categories was a real eye-opener." [Note the Power Wheel is embedded, below, under Resources.]

- EL&G Participants

EL&Gers' Reflections on the Humanizing Online Teaching to Equitize Higher Education:

"I was so inspired by Michelle's workshop, I went home and re-designed my syllabus to be 'fluid' and in a Google Site format. It was so much fun. I think my students will like it too."

"I just want to say thank you for this opportunity to be exposed to the information presented in this workshop. I look forward to having some time over the summer to learn more on my own."

- EL&G Participants

Wednesday May 3 & 8, 2023 | 4-6pm | Virtual -EL&G Invitation & Stipend Event

• May 3, 2023 Join Zoom Meeting https://stcc-edu.zoom.us/j/96005023822 

• May 8, 2023 Join Zoom Meeting https://stcc-edu.zoom.us/j/92253028808

•  Putting Courageous Conversations into Practice 

  • Continue our work, started on March 25th, with courageous conversations and our colleagues from The Collaborative for Educational Services.

• • During this workshop EL&Gers will:

    • Review lessons learned at the March 25th workshop.

    • Learn [or revisit] language to use during courageous conversations.

    • Practice implementing courageous conversations skills.

    • Begin building an internal framework-for each individual EL&Ger and with other EL&Gers.

Thursday, May 4, 2023 4-5pm | STCC Carberry Art Gallery | In Person Gathering - EL&G Invitation & Stipend Event

• Gather, in person at the Carberry Art Gallery, with our cohort to view STCC student artwork and enjoy each others' company & light refreshments.

Recently, the Equity Leaders and Guides (EL&G) faculty from Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) gathered at the Carberry Art Gallery to celebrate their semester-long equity work and to appreciate the creative expressions of STCC students. The Fine Arts Exhibition, on display through May 10th, showcases the talent and diversity of the college's student body. 

Mary Wiseman, Director of Instructional Innovation and Faculty Investment, emphasized the importance of this event by saying, "Celebrating equity work amongst the student artwork helps us all raise cultural awareness and view our students from another perspective." The art exhibition served as an opportunity for the faculty to connect their equity work with the unique artistic expressions of STCC students.

The STCC student fine arts exhibition showcases various forms of art, including painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, and digital media. Each piece highlights the diverse perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds of the student artists, reflecting the rich cultural diversity of STCC's student body.

By visiting the art exhibition, the EL&G faculty underscored the importance of providing an inclusive environment where students can express themselves freely and creatively. The semester-long equity work conducted by the EL&G faculty has been instrumental in promoting cultural awareness, understanding, and acceptance across the campus. sondra peron, Coordinator of The Amy H. Carberry Art Gallery, expressed her thanks, "Your invaluable time and perceptive appreciation for the creative work of our STCC students enrolled in fine arts courses is truly cherished. The sun peaked out from behind the clouds JUST long enough for us to enjoy the wonders of the camera obscura room, which is celebrating its ten-year anniversary [see image below].

In conclusion, the visit to the Carberry Art Gallery by the EL&G faculty not only celebrated their equity work but also demonstrated the importance of appreciating and valuing the diverse artistic expressions of STCC's student body. As Mary Wiseman noted, it offers a new perspective on cultural awareness, helping to create an inclusive and equitable environment that supports the academic and artistic growth of all students.

TILTing with Mary Ann Winkelmes

Monday, May 15, 2023 | noon-1pm | Virtual Zoom Workshop- for all STCC staff & faculty 

This highly interactive workshop introduces participants to TILT and the data that demonstrates how a small change to existing teaching will increase student success equitably. Participants will collaborate to analyze an example student assignment from one of the TILT research studies, (before and after it was revised to be more transparent). 

June 15, 2023 | 4-5:30 pm | Relationship Rich Education | Author Peter Felten Workshop | For those invited and attending, this is a stipend event | This workshop will be recorded 

• Read the Relationship Rich Education text.

• Read the student focused companion to Relationship Rich Education, entitled Connections Are Everything: A College Student's Guide to Relationship-Rich Education. This is an open access link provided by Johns Hopkins U Press. 

  •  https://muse.jhu.edu/book/111986

• Between now and June 15, please reflect upon these questions:

• What’s one thing you will do to build significant relationships with or among your students?

• What’s one thing you will do (or this group could do) to build significant relationships with or among your colleagues?

• On June 15, 2023 at 4pm
  Join Zoom Meeting:  https://stcc-edu.zoom.us/j/98246943079

  • Meeting ID: 982 4694 3079

  • One tap mobile +19292056099,,98246943079# US (New York)

In Peter's June 15, 2023 Workshop he mentioned a couple of resources:

• The Good Life: Lessons from the World's Longest Scientific Study of Happiness . By by Robert Waldinger M.D. and Marc Schulz Ph.D 

• The Norton Guide to Equity Minded Teaching. By Isis Artze-Vega, Flower Darby, Bryan Dewsbury and Mays Imad.

  • The Norton Guide is free for signing up.

EL&Gers' Reflections on Peter's Workshop:

I just wanted to tell you how much I appreciated our meeting with Peter Felton last night. So encouraging and uplifting - I think lots of people were starting to run on empty and it really helped us to put things in perspective, see the value we all bring, and find joy in what we can do together. Thank you for making it possible!

- EL&G Participant

September 12, 2023 | Tuesday | 4-5pm | All EL&G participants are invited to this is a stipend event | Meeting information is forthcoming.

Join Zoom Meeting: https://stcc-edu.zoom.us/j/94315978126   All EL&Gers are welcomed!

How will you continue your equity journey and keep honing your skills?
During this workshopEL&Gers will:

• meet each other to discuss general next steps as EL&Gers and 

• begin developing how each of us can create [or continue to develop] own EL&G Action Plans.

• add your Action Plans to your Thought Partner Folders

Ideas for your action plan could be to develop an equity-minded syllabus design, develop culturally responsive pedagogy, analyze departmental, course or grading policy and TILT them, re-design an assignment rubric to be more equitable, edit student facing materials with more student friendly language. Our work is never ending.  Arrive with questions and ideas and leave with an Action Plan.

September 19, 2023 | Tuesday | 4-5pm | All EL&G participants are invited to this is a stipend event |
Meet in the Carberry Fine Arts Gallery | STCC Fine Arts Bld 28

All EL&Gers are welcomed!
In the interest of expanding our EL&Gers, please ask a colleague to come along with you to learn more about EL&G!

During this workshop invitees will:

• Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month and our EL&G work while enjoying the art created by Oaxacan-born artist Pável Acevedo. 

• Envision our upcoming semester. Such as the Kitchen of Joy [previously known as The Soup Kitchen] and other initiatives we want to lead.

Date: Tuesday, November 28th Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM (Auditorium and Gym). Followed by free lunch.

Guest Speaker: TBD (a neutral universal topic like Renewable Energy) 

Students will exhibit examples of works in progress and receive formative feedback.  Projects might include: developmentally appropriate curriculum design, inclusive education ideas, classroom redesign, children's literacy promotion, community needs assessment, program evaluation or social policy analysis. Business action plan developments, consulting projects, market entry strategy, marketing plans, App creations, Game developments, Internet of Things solutions, blockchain applications, cybersecurity projects, AI projects, augmented/virtual reality projects, robotic arms, humanoid robots, mathematical modelings, cryptocurrency analysis, geometry in design, risk analysis, game theory analysis, designs, artworks, architecture projects, landscape designs, videography, poetry, essays, creative writing, scripts, storytelling, research posters, essays, sales pitches, mobile apps, prototypes, optics, holographs, optic illusions, fiber optics, drones, robotic creations, models, demos, market analysis, case studies, crafts, brand identity, short films, animation, gaming, concept models, 3D printing, advertisements, energy transformations, bridge, pendulums, projectiles, roller coasters, solar ovens etc. 

Forward any questions to:  Reena Randhir rrandhir@stcc.edu