Teaching with a focus on inclusivity requires a proactive stance: designing classroom spaces, practices, and content to include all types of student diversity that exist, seen or unseen. As Viji Sathy and Kelly Hogan note in their "How to Make Your Teaching More Inclusive" on inclusive pedagogy, it involves "designing and teaching courses in ways that foster talent in all students." It further means mindfully removing barriers for traditionally underserved students by actively fostering a sense of belonging, providing equitable access to course materials, and creating a safe classroom environment. Remote and online learning likewise present challenges, such as equitable course design and access to the learning environment. 

The social inequities that the COVID-19 pandemic has laid bare offer a moment of clarity. It is unquestionably true that we are not all on equal footing. There are class and race differences that directly impact working conditions, safe housing, access to equitable healthcare, and many other factors. Multiple groups have experienced racist acts related to this pandemic. The post-pandemic goal should not be merely to return to the way it was. Rather, we should strive to create a “new normal,” in which attention to issues of equity and inclusion become a matter of course.

Our individual and collective efforts as higher education leaders must include deliberate actions for eliminating racism. It is our responsibility to acknowledge that racism exists at our institution. As former Chief Diversity Officer Theodesia Cook recommends, we must all take the lead in using anti-racism resources instead of expecting the people of color on our campus to do this work. From a place of true understanding, we must then listen to the stories of our CU students and create classroom spaces that allow traditionally underserved students to feel safe on our campus. In your syllabi and lectures, consciously choose to represent scholars in your field who are typically underrepresented. Create content activities for your students that represent multiple points of view. View your classroom as a global learning community with interconnected relationships. Ask your students frequently about their experience in your classroom, instead of waiting for FCQ feedback. Creating an Inclusive Classroom (PDF), created with CU Boulder faculty, will guide you through investigating the structures in your course and creating a more inclusive learning environment. 

Read more in this section about trauma-sensitive approaches to teaching, Black Lives Matter, microaggressions, and stereotype threat

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CTL micro-credentials offer CU Boulder instructors opportunities to engage in sustained inquiry and skill-building around a teaching topic. Please view our new programs highlighted below.

Just & Equitable Teaching & Teaching International Students

The Inclusive Community of Practice (ICoP) hosted by the Center for Teaching & Learning provides a meeting space and inclusivity network email list to share collective wisdom and create new knowledge on topics related to diversity, inclusion, equity, social justice, and human interaction. Anyone is welcome to attend!

Listen to our Inclusive Educators Podcast on Apple or Spotify as we explore one of the most critical questions college instructors are asking today: how do we become more inclusive instructors? 

Sign up to receive email updates which offer highlights about national and local leadership in equity and inclusion, information about the Inclusive Community of Practice meeting and upcoming campus events.

The CTL offers individual consultations and department and group trainings. Schedule a consultation today! One-on-one consultations allow individualized and confidential consultations free of charge to educators on the CU Boulder campus, focused on equity-minded teaching practices and specific strategies to foster a sense of belonging in your classroom. A department or unit can request a training which is tailored to the specific needs of the discipline.

We offer suggestions and resources that can open doors for underserved students to access your course and feel a sense of belonging in your classroom.These resources include strategies for creating an inclusive classroom, with specific attention to syllabus design, determining access needs, engaging with classroom agreements to address course climate, building community, reflective & transparent assignments, and supporting international students.