Inclusive Pedagogy

In addition to Inclusive Pedagogy events designed specifically for faculty, we also offer collaborative workshops aimed at bringing educators and students together to discuss inclusive teaching and learning at Vassar. 

For Instructors

The LTRC offers support to anyone currently teaching through a variety of opportunities provided by the Director of Inclusive Pedagogy. Faculty and instructors are welcome to participate in workshops and events that support ways of developing inclusive teaching practices in community with fellow colleagues, and to explore Teaching Tips addressing a variety of topics related to inclusive pedagogy.

As practitioners of inclusive pedagogy, faculty are also invited to take part in various cohort experiences: 

• Faculty Learning Communities (FLCs) bring together small groups of faculty to read a book about a topic related to evidence-based inclusive pedagogy and try out related practices in their respective teaching environments.
• Student Teacher Engaged Pedagogical Partnership (STEPP) is a partnership program that centers intentional dialogue about teaching practices in a semester-long faculty-student collaboration. 
• Teaching Pairs is a semester-long program in which faculty pair up to observe each other in their teaching across disciplines to gain new insight on their teaching through a guided non-evaluative process.

The Director of Inclusive Pedagogy also offers confidential one-on-one consultations with individual instructors on a range of topics related to teaching, including course design, strategies for gathering formative student feedback, and approaches for creating an inclusive learning environment. Furthermore, upon request, the Director of Inclusive Pedagogy is also available to collaborate on workshops tailored to specific departmental or divisional needs related to teaching and learning. 

Furthermore, instructors are welcome to get involved in the projects and working groups coordinated through Engaged Pluralism, which is open to everyone—students, staff, faculty, and administrators—and collectively focus on building communities of belonging, inclusion, and equity across campus.  

For Students

Students are encouraged to develop and enhance their academic skills by connecting with our Peer Academic Consultants (PACs)—students who are here to support your personal and academic success with free peer mentoring services in an informal and friendly setting. PACs are available to help with skills like time management, note-taking, study strategies, and more. If you are looking for support on developing any of these skills, please schedule an individual consultation online using WCOnline. You can also stop by at PAC Drop-in Hours or join a PAC Accountability Group. Feel free to learn more about what PACs offer by checking out our FAQs about the Peer Academic Consultant program.

Students are also invited to consider taking part in the STEPP program as partners who consult with faculty on their teaching, and in the broader initiatives and working groups of Engaged Pluralism. Students are also welcome to participate in Pedagogy Circles, informal conversations between students and instructors dedicated to exploring how we are acting on and working toward equity and inclusion within and beyond the classroom. Moreover, students are always welcome to reach out to the Director of Inclusive Pedagogy with ideas for collaborations or programming related to teaching and learning.

For more information about these programs, please contact Alexia Ferracuti, Director of Inclusive Pedagogy, at aferracuti@vassar.edu.