Diversity and Equity

 

Cultural Competence Curriculum Initiative

Since the formation of the Diversity in Development committee in 2014, CAS faculty have engaged in setting an agenda for improving instructional efforts specific to the role of diversity-related factors across development. Our department-wide approach to promoting cultural competency among CAS students included a systemic approach with five key steps:

1. Assess existing curricular practices among faculty and prioritize departmental efforts to improve students’ knowledge of cultural competency
2. Develop a Cultural Competence Framework for child and adolescent studies
3. Implement systematic changes across the CAS curriculum
4. Assess relevant Student Learning Objectives (SLOs)
5. Provide professional development to faculty in order to close the loop
   
   

The initiative resulted in several concrete advances, including the addition and assessment of a new student learning objective (SLO) that specifies students “identify and describe key components of cultural competence.” Topics that were identified in the Cultural Competence Framework (e.g., immigration and acculturation, bias and stereotypes, privilege and inclusivity) are now interwoven across various CAS courses  Members of the Diversity in Development Committee have been invited to share their expertise with the broader academic community by providing teaching demonstrations at department retreats, speaking at College and University events, and presenting their work at venues focusing on teaching and student success. For example, in 2019, a group of CAS faculty led by Dr. Claudia G. Pineda presented the CAS Cultural Competence Curriculum Initiative at the Society for Research on Child Development Developmental Science Teaching Institute in Baltimore, Maryland. Additionally, an article describing this initiative is currently under review.  

All CAS faculty are encouraged to visit and utilize the Cultural Competency Resources posted in our CAS Communities page in Canvas. Resources include brief video links, scientific articles, lecture slides, and sample assignments that faculty may incorporate into their own courses.

The CAS Cultural Competence Initiative is an ongoing, department-wide effort that continues to evolve.  Current activities expand the Department’s focus from its curriculum to examine and promote equity and inclusion in teaching practices, professional development, and the retention, tenure, and promotion of faculty.

Diversity in Development Committee Members: Dr. Guadalupe Espinoza (chair), Dr. Christa Greenfader, Dr. Janna Kim, Dr. Guadalupe D í az Lara, Dr. Claudia G. Pineda and Dr. Sasha Zeedyk. 

 

Faculty Community for Equity Practices Pilot Program

The Faculty Community for Equity Practices is a cross-campus effort led by CAS faculty whose goal is to close equity gaps at the course level.  In that effort, participating faculty agree to engage in specific, predetermined pedagogical practices that empirical research has shown to be effective in improving the academic performance of historically under-served and under-represented students.  Early assessment of the impact of the program has been promising, demonstrating meaningful reductions in equity gaps as compared to historical averages of the same courses and faculty pre-intervention.

The Faculty Equity Pilot Program was created and is coordinated by Dr. Ioakim Boutakidis. Dr. Janna Kim and Dr. Michelle Ramos join faculty colleagues across the University as founding participants.

 

Professional Development Opportunities for Teaching

The CSUF Faculty Development Center (FDC) is committed to furthering cultural awareness and responsiveness among faculty. The FDC provides programming to support the needs and growth of faculty and students.

Diversity and Inclusion programming includes a Digging into Diversity Series and Faculty Learning Communities.

https://fdc.fullerton.edu/diversity/diversity.php

The FDC also offers many workshops; faculty can take stand-alone workshops or participate in a workshop series that leads to a certificate. Some of the current certificate offerings include: the MINDFUL certificate, the IMPACT Teaching Certificate, and the INCLUSIVE certificate. For example, the INCLUSIVE certificate focuses on helping faculty examine their beliefs about human diversity in all of its forms, deepen cultural competency in the classroom and workplace, and gain knowledge across the broad range of diversity issues.

https://fdc.fullerton.edu/teaching/certificates.php

 

Additional Resources

Various professional organizations provide useful resources that can further faculty’s learning about issues related to Diversity and Equity. Below are links for resources provided by the American Psychological Association (APA), National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), National Education Association (NEA), Society for Research on Adolescence (SRA), and the Society for Research on Child Development (SRCD).

APA: Racism and Discrimination Resources: https://www.apa.org/topics/racism-bias-discrimination

NAEYC: Equity Resources: https://www.naeyc.org/resources

NEA: Racial and Social Justice Resources: https://www.nea.org/advocating-for-change/racial-social-justice

SRCD: Why Disclose Gender Pronouns: https://www.srcd.org/about-us/diversity-and-inclusion/why-disclose-gender-pronouns

SRCD: Hidden Figures in Developmental Science: https://www.srcd.org/professional-advancement/hidden-figures-developmental-science-series