Teacher Education Department Teacher Performance Assessment System TPAS

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WASC Town Hall
Diversity
February 22, 2007 1130am 100pm Loker Student
Union
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The Discussion Continues.. Having the
Uncomfortable Conversation A Frank Discussion
of Interactional Diversity in the CSUDH
Learning Community
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Four Core Issues for the WASC Self-Study

• Core Issue 1 Academic Quality
• Improving and
• enhancing student
  outcomes

Core Issue 3 Diversity Facilitating meaningful
Interactions among Members of our Learning
community
Core Issue 2 Campus Change Building
sustainable structures and processes
for educational effectiveness

• Core Issue 4 Civic Engagement
• Integrating
• campus and
• community
• initiatives

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Panel Members

• Nancy Erbe Associate Professor, Negotiation,
  Conflict,
• (Moderator) and Resolution Peace Building
  Program
• Lui Amador Coordinator, Multicultural Center
• Kelli Beard Associate Professor, Teacher
  Education Division, Special Education,
  College of Education
• Edward Olivos Assistant Professor, Teacher
  Education Division
• College of Education
• Carl Sneed Assistant Professor, Psychology
  Department,
• College of Natural and Behavioral
  Sciences
• Irene Vasquez Chair, Associate Professor,
  Chicana/Chicano
• Studies Department and Director, Division
  Head of World Cultural Studies

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Recap - Question 1

• Do you believe that learning in the diverse
  environment at CSUDH is beneficial for students?
  If so, in what ways?
• The rich diversity allows students to bring in
  different experiences that
• enrich the classroom setting
• Diversity increases the potential for critical
  thinking about identity
• Curriculum could be more inclusive of diversity
  issues students need
• to see themselves in the curriculum
• Classrooms and other venues can provide forums
  for open student
• discussion
• More activities, such as sports, could bring
  diverse people together
• this would be a beginning to learn about the
  views of other people
• Some students chose to come to CSUDH because of
  the diversity
• Other students do not see color at CSUDH, so it
  is not an issue

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Are student learning experiences enhanced by the
diverse student and faculty/staff population
here at CSUDH? If so, in what ways?

• Students exposure to diverse insights enhances
  their understanding
• The use of role models is a powerful tool
• Faculty should encourage honest and open dialog
  to increase students understanding and respect
  of others
• Faculty can introduce diverse points of view
  through literature
• Review curriculum to help students meet academic
  challenges
• Faculty can work together to increase awareness
  of diversity
• Faculty can develop strategies that allow
  students to apply knowledge rapidly and help
  prepare them for a global economy
• There should be greater efforts toward increasing
  the number of diverse faculty

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• What types of activities in class and
  out-of-class will encourage interactions among
  diverse groups of students?

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Discussion The following slides contain excerpts
from the panel and audience members responses.
They have been rephrased.
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• Panel Responses
• The Multicultural Center is trying to engage
  students in discussions about diversity on
  multiple levels and to think critically
• Courses provide natural settings to expose our
  students to differences/disabilities, i.e.,
  learning, physical, cognitive etc.
• Forums allow for deliberation and work with
  students who will be teaching K-12 students we
  want them to realize that the beliefs they have
  will be brought into their own K-12 classrooms.
• The curriculum can be a rich experience to
  discuss race, sexuality, immigration status and
  disability

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• Panel Responses (cont)
• Targeted and pro-active initiatives can help
  assess programs that encourage interactions among
  diverse groups.
• The Multicultural Center is trying to engage
  students in discussions about diversity on
  multiple levels and to think critically
• Classroom activities can include small group
  discussions that will allow interactions target
  learning styles of first time college students to
  help them express themselves discuss
  contributions made to field that are recent
  present guest speakers who deal with diversity.

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• Panel Responses
• The Multicultural Center is trying to engage
  students in discussions about diversity on
  multiple levels and to think critically
• Courses provide natural settings to expose our
  students to differences/disabilities, i.e.,
  learning, physical, cognitive etc.
• Forums allow for deliberation and work with
  students who will be teaching K-12 students we
  want them to realize that the beliefs they have
  will be brought into their own K-12 classrooms.
• The curriculum can be a rich experience to
  discuss race, sexuality, immigration status and
  disability

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• If we, as a campus, believe that it is our
  responsibility to encourage student awareness
  and/or meaningful interactions related to
  diversity, how do we accomplish this?

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Discussion