SHU Hosts ‘Equity at the Heart of Teaching’ Symposium

Participants discuss ways to promote equity throughout the University

Sacred Heart University’s Center for Teaching & Learning recently partnered with the Office for Inclusive Excellence to host the “Equity at the Heart of Teaching” symposium on Friday, October 20. Participants throughout the University gathered in person and via Zoom to discuss ways to promote equity in teaching at the classroom, department, college and University levels.

Maurice Nelson, SHU’s chief diversity & inclusion officer, said the symposium was an opportunity for the University to move forward on its “journey to inclusive excellence.” The forum focused on several goals: upholding equity in teaching and learning, developing University-wide supports for learning about and implementing equitable teaching strategies, and furthering SHU’s commitment to diversity, equality, inclusion and belonging in collaboration with other University initiatives.

“The terms equity and equality are sometimes used interchangeably, but it is important to recognize the key differences in these terms,” shared Beth Luoma, director of the SHU Center for Teaching & Learning. “Equality in education would mean treating each of our students exactly the same, regardless of need or difference. However, we know our SHU students arrive with a great variety of talents, perspectives, abilities and backgrounds. Equity is a call to provide each of our students with what they need to succeed here at SHU.”

Symposium speakers stressed that equity must reside at the heart of everything that takes place at the University, especially teaching. Participants were asked to look inward and see what changes they could make as individuals and professionals to further equity in teaching.

“I can get lost in my bubble of ‘I’m doing the right thing,’ but this conversation really opened my eyes and mind to additional steps I can take to improve my teaching,” said Jonix Owino, assistant psychology professor. “Placing equity at the heart of teaching is very important.”

Speaker explains how to be more inclusive

Tracie Addy, author of What Inclusive Teachers Do and associate dean of teaching and learning at Lafayette College in Pennsylvania, gave the keynote address. Her presentation, “Advancing Equity and Justice: The Imperative of Inclusive Instruction in Higher Education,” focused on the importance of educators identifying each student’s uniqueness and using that knowledge to make their teaching more inclusive.

Addy also asked participants to reflect on various questions and then to collaborate with fellow attendees to answer them. Responding to a question about what is currently happening at Sacred Heart to advance equity and growth, participants discussed the creation of the Sexuality And Gender Equity (SAGE) Center and Multicultural Center, as well as efforts to increase accessibility throughout the University for individuals with disabilities. The SHU participants agreed that, despite strides, there is room for continued improvement.

Addy told instructors they must be open-minded and willing to change. This mindset will reinforce the need for change throughout the department, she said. From there, the desire for change can spread to the institutional level, inspiring administrative adjustments to University policies so they better support all students, faculty and staff.

Following Addy’s address, participants attended roundtable discussions and workshops led by SHU faculty, staff and graduate students to discuss equity and inclusion in various educational contexts. The sessions led participants to share knowledge and advice to help each other grow as inclusive instructors.

“Equity is something that has to be vetted at all levels, and it has to be intentional,” said Bianca Shinn, a doctoral student in SHU’s educational leadership program. “When we talk about diversity, we have to think about diversity in thought and action.”

Kristin Rainville, SHU literacy program director, said she is proud to be part of the SHU community, which embraces inclusive excellence and makes it a priority. “It is incredible to look at the ways in which we have become, and continue to be, more inclusive, whether it be in our classrooms with students, how we work in leadership teams and how we are supported as faculty,” she said.

Photo: Keynote speaker, Dr. Tracie Addy, addresses the group.