Fostering Inclusive Teaching Through a Variety of Professional Development Programs at a Small Liberal Arts School

At Whittier College, a Hispanic serving liberal arts institution, faculty professional development, focused on inclusive teaching, has been central to enhancing education and supporting retention efforts. With funding from a private grant, staff from the Quantitative Success Center (QSC) and Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) implemented a comprehensive approach to faculty professional development, which includes the Inclusive STEM Teaching Project (ISTP), faculty inclusive teaching projects (WISE Scholars), and an inclusive teaching book club. A key factor in the success of these initiatives has been the creation of learning communities through ongoing engagement in reoccurring meetings, rather than one-time workshops

ISTP, funded by the National Science Foundation, is a year-long course that provides a small cohort of faculty and staff with evidence-based strategies for creating more inclusive classrooms. The collaborative environment allows participants to share experiences, successes, and challenges while adopting inclusive teaching methods.

The WISE Scholars is a small group of faculty and staff creating inclusive teaching projects. They are able to develop, implement, and test their teaching innovations aimed at improving effective and inclusive teaching within their disciplines. These projects are scalable and adaptable, serving as models for institutional change.

The inclusive teaching book club offers a space for ongoing reflection on inclusive teaching practices. Currently, the group is reading Inclusive Teaching: Strategies for Promoting Equity in the College Classroom by Kelly Hogan and Viji Sathy.

Together, these initiatives have fostered a culture of reflection, collaboration, and action among faculty and staff, creating a more inclusive and supportive learning and working environment leading to higher retention and student success at Whittier College.