Our Theory of Change

Our mission is to make inclusive excellence intrinsic to excellence in STEM pedagogy at OSU. The InclusiveExcellence@OSU program inspires STEM faculty to change their mindsets. Faculty who go through our program develop a sense of responsibility and agency to enact change in their teaching spaces and reflect on identity and power. We empower them to shift their practices by marrying inclusive excellence with STEM pedagogy and instruction and generate new pedagogical tools through experimentation and reflection.

We believe this combination of shifting mindsets and practices will lead to student success. Students will feel an increased sense of belonging in the STEM classroom and at their institutions as well as improved academic metrics. We also believe it can lead to institutional transformation by normalizing, rewarding, and actively encouraging inclusive pedagogy. We aim to see IE@OSU become a part of OSU’s broader inclusion strategies and to see effective practices being disseminated.

Ultimately, we hope that faculty and administrators will act as champions for IE and that students will come to expect inclusive pedagogy in their classrooms. Ideally, IE@OSU will live on beyond the grant period and inclusive practices will become intrinsic to STEM pedagogy.

The Fellowship Experience

Inclusive Excellence Academy

• IE@OSU fellows participate in an intensive academy that challenges them to incorporate equity and justice into their mindsets as educators and introduces them to social justice pedagogy.

Action Plans

• Each fellow creates and implements an action plan to create change within their sphere of influence
• Action plans are broad in scope, and have the ultimate goal of making STEM teaching and learning more equitable, just, and inclusive.

COVID-19 Adjustments

• Remote Academy held over Fall-term, rather than a 1-week in-person event during the summer.
• Synchronous and asynchronous engagement with enrolled fellows.