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Posted on: Center for Teaching and Learning Innovation
NAVIGATING CONTEXT
Educator of Impact: Bethany Meadows
Introducing "Educators of Impact," a profile series that celebrates the remarkable faculty and staff at the Center for Teaching and Learning Innovation at Michigan State University. This series will highlight the achievements and contributions of our dedicated team members who are passionate about the advancement of education. Through their stories, you'll gain insight into the innovative projects and teaching practices shaping the future of learning at MSU. Each profile will showcase their unique contributions, highlighting the passion and expertise that make our center a beacon of excellence and collaboration. Join us in recognizing and celebrating their impactful work.------------In the tapestry of educational excellence at Michigan State University, Dr. Bethany Meadows (she/they) stands out as a vibrant thread, weaving together the principles of inclusivity and accessibility in education. As the Inclusive Pedagogy Specialist at the Center for Teaching and Learning Innovation [CTLI], Bethany brings a unique perspective shaped by a diverse academic background and a passionate commitment to creating equitable learning environments.
Bethany’s educational journey is as multifaceted as her current role. Beginning at Ashland University, she earned dual degrees: a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Bachelor of Science in Education in Integrated Language Arts Education. This interdisciplinary foundation laid the groundwork for her burgeoning interest in inclusive pedagogy. Seeking to deepen their understanding of language and communication in educational settings, Bethany pursued a Master of Arts in Rhetoric and Composition from Ball State University. This program equipped her with both theoretical knowledge and practical tools, enhancing her ability to engage with the complexities of language in an educational setting.
The culmination of Bethany’s formal education came with their doctorate in Writing and Rhetoric from Michigan State University, complemented by a graduate specialization in Women’s and Gender Studies. This combination of disciplines reflects Bethany’s approach to education, recognizing the intersectionality of identity, language, and learning. Their doctoral work not only honed their research skills but also deepened their understanding of how gender and other aspects of identity influence educational experiences and outcomes.
Bethany’s undergraduate academic journey, which spanned five majors, is a testament to their intellectual curiosity and interdisciplinary mindset. This diverse academic background has proved invaluable in their current role, allowing them to approach inclusive pedagogy from multiple angles and connect with educators and students across various disciplines.
Transitioning from the intimate setting of a small liberal arts college to the vast expanse of a Big Ten land-grant university such as MSU, Bethany gained invaluable insights into the nuances of educational environments. Particularly in terms of funding, resources, and the unique challenges that each presents. This experience has undoubtedly enriched their understanding of the complexities inherent in fostering an inclusive learning experience, allowing them to navigate these landscapes with a well-rounded perspective.
One of the key observations Bethany made during this transition was the tendency for large universities like MSU to inadvertently silo people into different fields due to their size, potentially hindering interdisciplinary collaboration. Recognizing this challenge, Bethany has made it a central part of their mission at CTLI to bridge these divides, fostering cross-disciplinary dialogue and collaboration in pursuit of more inclusive and accessible education.
In her current role at CTLI, Bethany’s commitment to inclusivity is evident in every aspect of her work. She collaborates closely with various campus partners to ensure compliance with the Department of Justice’s accessibility guidelines, but her vision extends far beyond more compliance. Bethany sees accessibility as a cornerstone of effective education, working diligently to embed these principles into the fabric of MSU’s teaching and learning practices. They not only implement best practices in inclusive pedagogy but also challenge others to rethink their approaches to teaching and learning.
What truly sets Bethany apart is their unwavering passion for their work and their ability to articulate complex ideas with clarity and conviction. Whether leading a workshop on inclusive teaching practices, consulting with faculty on curriculum design, or advocating for policy changes to support diverse learners, Bethany brings energy and empathy to every interaction. Her driven nature and visible commitment to inclusivity make her a valuable addition to the CTLI team and broader MSU community.
Bethany’s educational journey is as multifaceted as her current role. Beginning at Ashland University, she earned dual degrees: a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Bachelor of Science in Education in Integrated Language Arts Education. This interdisciplinary foundation laid the groundwork for her burgeoning interest in inclusive pedagogy. Seeking to deepen their understanding of language and communication in educational settings, Bethany pursued a Master of Arts in Rhetoric and Composition from Ball State University. This program equipped her with both theoretical knowledge and practical tools, enhancing her ability to engage with the complexities of language in an educational setting.
The culmination of Bethany’s formal education came with their doctorate in Writing and Rhetoric from Michigan State University, complemented by a graduate specialization in Women’s and Gender Studies. This combination of disciplines reflects Bethany’s approach to education, recognizing the intersectionality of identity, language, and learning. Their doctoral work not only honed their research skills but also deepened their understanding of how gender and other aspects of identity influence educational experiences and outcomes.
Bethany’s undergraduate academic journey, which spanned five majors, is a testament to their intellectual curiosity and interdisciplinary mindset. This diverse academic background has proved invaluable in their current role, allowing them to approach inclusive pedagogy from multiple angles and connect with educators and students across various disciplines.
Transitioning from the intimate setting of a small liberal arts college to the vast expanse of a Big Ten land-grant university such as MSU, Bethany gained invaluable insights into the nuances of educational environments. Particularly in terms of funding, resources, and the unique challenges that each presents. This experience has undoubtedly enriched their understanding of the complexities inherent in fostering an inclusive learning experience, allowing them to navigate these landscapes with a well-rounded perspective.
One of the key observations Bethany made during this transition was the tendency for large universities like MSU to inadvertently silo people into different fields due to their size, potentially hindering interdisciplinary collaboration. Recognizing this challenge, Bethany has made it a central part of their mission at CTLI to bridge these divides, fostering cross-disciplinary dialogue and collaboration in pursuit of more inclusive and accessible education.
In her current role at CTLI, Bethany’s commitment to inclusivity is evident in every aspect of her work. She collaborates closely with various campus partners to ensure compliance with the Department of Justice’s accessibility guidelines, but her vision extends far beyond more compliance. Bethany sees accessibility as a cornerstone of effective education, working diligently to embed these principles into the fabric of MSU’s teaching and learning practices. They not only implement best practices in inclusive pedagogy but also challenge others to rethink their approaches to teaching and learning.
What truly sets Bethany apart is their unwavering passion for their work and their ability to articulate complex ideas with clarity and conviction. Whether leading a workshop on inclusive teaching practices, consulting with faculty on curriculum design, or advocating for policy changes to support diverse learners, Bethany brings energy and empathy to every interaction. Her driven nature and visible commitment to inclusivity make her a valuable addition to the CTLI team and broader MSU community.
Authored by:
Cara Mack

Posted on: Center for Teaching and Learning Innovation

Educator of Impact: Bethany Meadows
Introducing "Educators of Impact," a profile series that celebrates...
Authored by:
NAVIGATING CONTEXT
Tuesday, Jul 9, 2024
Posted on: The MSU Graduate Leadership Institute
NAVIGATING CONTEXT
Social Science Leadership Fellows
Leadership Fellows
2016-2019: Jacob Bradburn
2019-2020: Courtney Bryant & Tatiana Bustos
2020-2021: Kionna Henderson & Jaleah Rutledge
2021-2022: Cordelia Martin-Ipke & Jessie Pink
2021-2023: Qi Huang
Jacob Bradburn (2016-2019)Jacob Bradburn constructed a thorough and thoughtful approach to building the Social Science graduate student community as the first Fellow for the college. He began by surveying the college’s landscape in order to gather information on departmental procedures, college structure, and identify possible intervention points in which to enhance the graduate student experience. He created an organizational chart mapping the graduate departments and degree programs and a supplementary Excel spreadsheet with information on each of the departments, programs, and graduate student organizations (GSOs). Jacob took his research further by analyzing the survey results from two specific departments, Psychology and Social Work, and presenting his findings to department leadership. Jacob also advocated for graduate student representation on the College of Social Science Dean’s Student Advisory Council, which consisted of only undergraduates at the time. He worked with GSOs to help register them with the university and to facilitate outreach through his organizational chart.
Jacob was a key author in the Leadership Institute’s 2019 grant proposal to the Office for Inclusion and Intercultural Initiatives CIEG. He worked closely with then-Coordinators, Madeline Shallgren and Makena Neal, and former Coordinator, Megumi Moore, to outline the Institute’s vision, purpose, and leadership development curriculum. This document is an important reflection of the Institute’s ethos during a time of past leadership and helps us understand how the Institute has grown since. In short, Jacob was a key player that went outside the bounds of his Fellowship responsibilities to support the Institute’s development and lay a strong foundation for future Social Science Leadership Fellows.Courtney Bryant & Tatiana Bustos (2019-2020)Courtney Bryant and Tatiana Bustos leveraged Jacob’s leadership network to build a strong relationship with the Assistant Dean and gather connections within the College to inform their multi-tier support system for underrepresented graduate students. Their project specifically focused on diversity and inclusion within the College and utilized a needs assessment survey to help define the different tiers within the support system. Example initiatives they considered included getting a physical space in the college, creating a section on the website including diversity and inclusion resources, and implementing a program to teach multicultural mentoring to faculty. As they were faced with the time-consuming and difficult challenges brought on by graduate student life amidst the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Courtney and Tatiana were unable to see these initiatives through. However, their work brought awareness to unequal graduate student representation in the College and they built an incredible network of connections and data that will inform future graduate student diversity and inclusion initiatives.Kionna Henderson & Jaleah Rutledge (2020-2021)Kionna Henderson and Jaleah Rutledge’s project, All About Academic Entrepreneurship, consisted of a four-part series that introduced graduate students to academic entrepreneurship. With the understanding that graduate students possess a variety of skills and talents that can be applied to a wide range of fields, this series aimed to help graduate students turn these skills into for profit business opportunities. The series covered an introduction to academic entrepreneurship, marketing and building your brand, finding the right partners and financial resources, as well as a panel of academic entrepreneurs. Speakers included Dr. Jasmine Abrams, Dr. Paul Elam, and Christine Beamer. The panelists included Jen Fry, Dr. Tatiana Bustos, Dr. Sederick Rice, and Dr. Valencia Moses. Kionna and Jaleah worked closely with the Director of Graduate Student Life and Wellbeing, Dr. Megumi Moore, and Social Science Deans Mary Finn and Anna Maria Santiago. Their series was received extremely well by their audience, with many remarking that it exceeded their expectations and provided valuable and inspiring content.Cordelia Martin-Ipke (2021-2022)Cordelia began the year by looking at how to recruit more underrepresented minorities into the Geography Department. She worked to strengthen the Advancing Geography Through Diversity Program and community building among underrepresented minority groups in the geography field. She worked with her department chair as well as director, and established a network to create a recruitment pipeline from Chicago State, which does not have a Geography PhD program and is a minority serving institution. Cordelia has been exploring the sustainability of this program.Jessie Pink (2021-2022)Jesse’s project addressed environmental justice and racism. He used an interdisciplinary approach that tied environmental justice with health inequities. Jesse has been working to highlight the importance of activism and community engagement in solving environmental health issues in vulnerable communities.Qi Huang (2021-2023)Qi worked with CAL Fellow, Hima Rawal, to address international students’ use of mental health services on campus. They hope to build bridges to increase access to and decrease stigma of mental health services. They collaborated with the Office of International Students & Scholars, Counseling and Psychiatric Services, the Trauma Services Training Network, and more to learn more about how these offices support international students. They also interviewed over a dozen international students to deepen their understanding of the concerns and barriers international students have concerning mental health. Using this data and their partnerships, Qi and Hima hope to create a Wellness Ambassador program where selected international students are trained to reach out to other international students to help them learn about mental health services on campus.
2016-2019: Jacob Bradburn
2019-2020: Courtney Bryant & Tatiana Bustos
2020-2021: Kionna Henderson & Jaleah Rutledge
2021-2022: Cordelia Martin-Ipke & Jessie Pink
2021-2023: Qi Huang
Jacob Bradburn (2016-2019)Jacob Bradburn constructed a thorough and thoughtful approach to building the Social Science graduate student community as the first Fellow for the college. He began by surveying the college’s landscape in order to gather information on departmental procedures, college structure, and identify possible intervention points in which to enhance the graduate student experience. He created an organizational chart mapping the graduate departments and degree programs and a supplementary Excel spreadsheet with information on each of the departments, programs, and graduate student organizations (GSOs). Jacob took his research further by analyzing the survey results from two specific departments, Psychology and Social Work, and presenting his findings to department leadership. Jacob also advocated for graduate student representation on the College of Social Science Dean’s Student Advisory Council, which consisted of only undergraduates at the time. He worked with GSOs to help register them with the university and to facilitate outreach through his organizational chart.
Jacob was a key author in the Leadership Institute’s 2019 grant proposal to the Office for Inclusion and Intercultural Initiatives CIEG. He worked closely with then-Coordinators, Madeline Shallgren and Makena Neal, and former Coordinator, Megumi Moore, to outline the Institute’s vision, purpose, and leadership development curriculum. This document is an important reflection of the Institute’s ethos during a time of past leadership and helps us understand how the Institute has grown since. In short, Jacob was a key player that went outside the bounds of his Fellowship responsibilities to support the Institute’s development and lay a strong foundation for future Social Science Leadership Fellows.Courtney Bryant & Tatiana Bustos (2019-2020)Courtney Bryant and Tatiana Bustos leveraged Jacob’s leadership network to build a strong relationship with the Assistant Dean and gather connections within the College to inform their multi-tier support system for underrepresented graduate students. Their project specifically focused on diversity and inclusion within the College and utilized a needs assessment survey to help define the different tiers within the support system. Example initiatives they considered included getting a physical space in the college, creating a section on the website including diversity and inclusion resources, and implementing a program to teach multicultural mentoring to faculty. As they were faced with the time-consuming and difficult challenges brought on by graduate student life amidst the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Courtney and Tatiana were unable to see these initiatives through. However, their work brought awareness to unequal graduate student representation in the College and they built an incredible network of connections and data that will inform future graduate student diversity and inclusion initiatives.Kionna Henderson & Jaleah Rutledge (2020-2021)Kionna Henderson and Jaleah Rutledge’s project, All About Academic Entrepreneurship, consisted of a four-part series that introduced graduate students to academic entrepreneurship. With the understanding that graduate students possess a variety of skills and talents that can be applied to a wide range of fields, this series aimed to help graduate students turn these skills into for profit business opportunities. The series covered an introduction to academic entrepreneurship, marketing and building your brand, finding the right partners and financial resources, as well as a panel of academic entrepreneurs. Speakers included Dr. Jasmine Abrams, Dr. Paul Elam, and Christine Beamer. The panelists included Jen Fry, Dr. Tatiana Bustos, Dr. Sederick Rice, and Dr. Valencia Moses. Kionna and Jaleah worked closely with the Director of Graduate Student Life and Wellbeing, Dr. Megumi Moore, and Social Science Deans Mary Finn and Anna Maria Santiago. Their series was received extremely well by their audience, with many remarking that it exceeded their expectations and provided valuable and inspiring content.Cordelia Martin-Ipke (2021-2022)Cordelia began the year by looking at how to recruit more underrepresented minorities into the Geography Department. She worked to strengthen the Advancing Geography Through Diversity Program and community building among underrepresented minority groups in the geography field. She worked with her department chair as well as director, and established a network to create a recruitment pipeline from Chicago State, which does not have a Geography PhD program and is a minority serving institution. Cordelia has been exploring the sustainability of this program.Jessie Pink (2021-2022)Jesse’s project addressed environmental justice and racism. He used an interdisciplinary approach that tied environmental justice with health inequities. Jesse has been working to highlight the importance of activism and community engagement in solving environmental health issues in vulnerable communities.Qi Huang (2021-2023)Qi worked with CAL Fellow, Hima Rawal, to address international students’ use of mental health services on campus. They hope to build bridges to increase access to and decrease stigma of mental health services. They collaborated with the Office of International Students & Scholars, Counseling and Psychiatric Services, the Trauma Services Training Network, and more to learn more about how these offices support international students. They also interviewed over a dozen international students to deepen their understanding of the concerns and barriers international students have concerning mental health. Using this data and their partnerships, Qi and Hima hope to create a Wellness Ambassador program where selected international students are trained to reach out to other international students to help them learn about mental health services on campus.
Posted by:
Megumi Moore

Posted on: The MSU Graduate Leadership Institute

Social Science Leadership Fellows
Leadership Fellows
2016-2019: Jacob Bradburn
2019-2020: Courtney B...
2016-2019: Jacob Bradburn
2019-2020: Courtney B...
Posted by:
NAVIGATING CONTEXT
Thursday, Sep 29, 2022
Posted on: Teaching Toolkit Tailgate
PEDAGOGICAL DESIGN
Five Ways to Make Learning Relevant
Photo by William Iven on Unsplash
Knowing Student Experiences
Ask yourself: Do I know my students’ experiences that bring them to this class?
Tip: You can, of course, set up surveys to get a glimpse of student experiences. Another way to tap into topics that students find relevant is by scaffolding discussions where students are given opportunities to provide examples situated in their experiences, choosing their styles of expression and communication.
Explicit Instruction
Ask yourself: Is it obvious to my students why this topic is important to study?
Tip: Include a quick list of significance and implications in your syllabus. This does not have to be a comprehensive list, but something to hook your students. If you wish to have some fun with, make it a catchy Buzzfeed-like clickbait sentence. However, make sure that you do not frame your clickbaits in a way that take the substance out of the topics, or essentialize students. Here are a few examples that do and do not work.
Situated and Transformative Practice
Ask yourself: Will students be able to go outside and use what they have learned in their real world?
Tip: Create projects or assignments that involve solving a real problem in students’ communities. These could be papers, a survey of their community, or actual working projects. There is always room for improvisation.
Critical Framing
Ask yourself: Are my students critical of the information they engage with, or do they agree without further questioning?
Tip: Show your own skepticism towards marginalizing and unscientific practices (e.g.: practices that are based in evidence, but still value other ways of knowing) in your discipline. Add a question at the end of each topic that makes connections to how it affects (or has affected) social and cultural issues.
Aesthetic Framing
Ask yourself: Are my students genuinely curious about this topic? Do they think about this when they leave my class?
Tip: Pay close attention to your word choice when framing the language in your syllabus, and more importantly, during your instruction. Keep in mind that music, lighting, and other modalities can also have an effect on emotions. Feel free to experiment with the ambiance of your classroom. For example, reading Edgar Allen Poe with dim lights and spooky music creates an eerie atmosphere often associated with Poe’s work and genre, thereby making it more engaging.
Related readings:
Cope, B., & Kalantzis, M. (2015). A Pedagogy of Multiliteracies: Learning by Design. Palgrave Macmillan.
Girod, M., Rau, C., & Schepige, A. (2003). Appreciating the beauty of science ideas: Teaching for aesthetic understanding. Science Education, 87(4), 574–587.
Ladson-Billings, G. (1995). Toward a theory of culturally relevant pedagogy. American Educational Research Journal, 32(3), 465–491.
Knowing Student Experiences
Ask yourself: Do I know my students’ experiences that bring them to this class?
Tip: You can, of course, set up surveys to get a glimpse of student experiences. Another way to tap into topics that students find relevant is by scaffolding discussions where students are given opportunities to provide examples situated in their experiences, choosing their styles of expression and communication.
Explicit Instruction
Ask yourself: Is it obvious to my students why this topic is important to study?
Tip: Include a quick list of significance and implications in your syllabus. This does not have to be a comprehensive list, but something to hook your students. If you wish to have some fun with, make it a catchy Buzzfeed-like clickbait sentence. However, make sure that you do not frame your clickbaits in a way that take the substance out of the topics, or essentialize students. Here are a few examples that do and do not work.
Situated and Transformative Practice
Ask yourself: Will students be able to go outside and use what they have learned in their real world?
Tip: Create projects or assignments that involve solving a real problem in students’ communities. These could be papers, a survey of their community, or actual working projects. There is always room for improvisation.
Critical Framing
Ask yourself: Are my students critical of the information they engage with, or do they agree without further questioning?
Tip: Show your own skepticism towards marginalizing and unscientific practices (e.g.: practices that are based in evidence, but still value other ways of knowing) in your discipline. Add a question at the end of each topic that makes connections to how it affects (or has affected) social and cultural issues.
Aesthetic Framing
Ask yourself: Are my students genuinely curious about this topic? Do they think about this when they leave my class?
Tip: Pay close attention to your word choice when framing the language in your syllabus, and more importantly, during your instruction. Keep in mind that music, lighting, and other modalities can also have an effect on emotions. Feel free to experiment with the ambiance of your classroom. For example, reading Edgar Allen Poe with dim lights and spooky music creates an eerie atmosphere often associated with Poe’s work and genre, thereby making it more engaging.
Related readings:
Cope, B., & Kalantzis, M. (2015). A Pedagogy of Multiliteracies: Learning by Design. Palgrave Macmillan.
Girod, M., Rau, C., & Schepige, A. (2003). Appreciating the beauty of science ideas: Teaching for aesthetic understanding. Science Education, 87(4), 574–587.
Ladson-Billings, G. (1995). Toward a theory of culturally relevant pedagogy. American Educational Research Journal, 32(3), 465–491.
Authored by:
Rohit Mehta

Posted on: Teaching Toolkit Tailgate

Five Ways to Make Learning Relevant
Photo by William Iven on Unsplash
Knowing Student Experience...
Knowing Student Experience...
Authored by:
PEDAGOGICAL DESIGN
Tuesday, Jul 14, 2020
Posted on: #iteachmsu
NAVIGATING CONTEXT
After A Campus Incident: General Talking Points and Conversation Guide
General Talking Points and Conversation Guide After A Campus Incident
Beginning the Conversation.
Start by welcoming students and introducing yourself. If you have not met the student before, ask for name, pronouns, year at MSU, etc. If more than one student is present, make sure students introduce themselves to others in the space.
Thank students for attending and acknowledging the difficulty of the incident.
Identify Goals of the conversation.
A introduction suggestion: “The goal of this conversation is to provide students an opportunity to share their immediate thoughts and feelings the incident has raised. As educators and Spartans, we would like to know how we can best support you and your peers as well as we can continue our commitment to foster community at inclusion at MSU”
It also may be helpful to mention that the goal of the space is dialogue, “Dialogue is about shared inquiry, a way of thinking and reflecting together.”
Note that students will approach this conversation from varied emotional places and that all expressions of emotions are welcomed.
Lastly some students might have clear visions of what the University should be doing as action steps. It is suggested to allow space for some of those ideas but also remind students of the intended goal.
If time is available and needed, establish Community Intentions.
This is suggested if having conversations with several students, especially if they are not an intact group. A quick and accessible way to do this is through the acronym ROPES:
R=Respect
O=Open Mindedness
P=Participation/pass (Step Up/Step Back)
E=Experiment with new ideas
S=Sensitivity/Safety (Confidentiality)
Provide a “What We Know” of the Incident.
Offer known of publicized facts of the incident. It’s often helpful to do this as a timeline, chronological order. A few suggestions from MSU Interim Deputy Police Chief Chris Rozman's statements (the late hours of 2/13/23):
The first report of shots fired came at 8:18 p.m. ET from Berkey Hall, an academic building on the northern end of campus. Officers responded to the building within minutes and found several shooting victims, including two who died.
Immediately after that, another shooting was reported at the nearby student union building. That’s where the third slain victim was found.
It’s not known how long the suspect was on campus before opening fire
Hours after the first gunshots rang out, the suspect “was contacted by law enforcement off campus,” Rozman said.
Afterward, it appeared the “suspect has died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.”
The university has moved into emergency operations for the next two days (Feb. 14-15). Students will see a continued police presence as investigators probe multiple scenes. Classes will resume on Monday, 2/20/23
It’s important to relay to students that some information they request may not be given due to campus policy and privacy laws. Acknowledge how that might be limiting and frusterating.
Lastly, it may be helpful to provide an overview of MSU Alert processes:The Michigan State University Police Department is responsible for developing and distributing Timely Warning and Emergency Notification messages. These messages are intended to warn the community about certain crimes and notify it of potentially dangerous situations on or near campus. These messages inform community members about incidents that may pose an ongoing threat and provide information to promote safety and prevent similar crimes.
MSU Faculty, Staff, and Students: Login to the Everbridge self-help portal to manage your contact data. You will be redirected to an MSU login page to use your NetID credentials for authentication. After a successful login, you will be on the everbridge.net site to manage your information.
All information provided is kept strictly confidential and private in accordance with the Everbridge privacy policy.
The primary goal of this process is to support impacted students/de-escalation/safety, and intervention.
How Are You Feeling?/ What Do You Need?
Allow students space to share immediate feelings, reactions and thoughts. Ask what immediate needs come to mind.
Now What?/Moving Forward (Time Permitted).
Ask students what they think is needed to move the campus forward. Frame this conversation segment not only on what the campus can collectively do but also on what they can offer individually to move us forward as a community.
Closing the Space.
A few options based on of the conversation dynamic:
One word check in to capture how they are
One thing they are willing to continue to support inclusivity and fostering community at MSU
Adapted from a draft by Dre Domingue, Assistant Dean of Students for Diversity & Inclusion at Davidson College, November 2018
Beginning the Conversation.
Start by welcoming students and introducing yourself. If you have not met the student before, ask for name, pronouns, year at MSU, etc. If more than one student is present, make sure students introduce themselves to others in the space.
Thank students for attending and acknowledging the difficulty of the incident.
Identify Goals of the conversation.
A introduction suggestion: “The goal of this conversation is to provide students an opportunity to share their immediate thoughts and feelings the incident has raised. As educators and Spartans, we would like to know how we can best support you and your peers as well as we can continue our commitment to foster community at inclusion at MSU”
It also may be helpful to mention that the goal of the space is dialogue, “Dialogue is about shared inquiry, a way of thinking and reflecting together.”
Note that students will approach this conversation from varied emotional places and that all expressions of emotions are welcomed.
Lastly some students might have clear visions of what the University should be doing as action steps. It is suggested to allow space for some of those ideas but also remind students of the intended goal.
If time is available and needed, establish Community Intentions.
This is suggested if having conversations with several students, especially if they are not an intact group. A quick and accessible way to do this is through the acronym ROPES:
R=Respect
O=Open Mindedness
P=Participation/pass (Step Up/Step Back)
E=Experiment with new ideas
S=Sensitivity/Safety (Confidentiality)
Provide a “What We Know” of the Incident.
Offer known of publicized facts of the incident. It’s often helpful to do this as a timeline, chronological order. A few suggestions from MSU Interim Deputy Police Chief Chris Rozman's statements (the late hours of 2/13/23):
The first report of shots fired came at 8:18 p.m. ET from Berkey Hall, an academic building on the northern end of campus. Officers responded to the building within minutes and found several shooting victims, including two who died.
Immediately after that, another shooting was reported at the nearby student union building. That’s where the third slain victim was found.
It’s not known how long the suspect was on campus before opening fire
Hours after the first gunshots rang out, the suspect “was contacted by law enforcement off campus,” Rozman said.
Afterward, it appeared the “suspect has died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.”
The university has moved into emergency operations for the next two days (Feb. 14-15). Students will see a continued police presence as investigators probe multiple scenes. Classes will resume on Monday, 2/20/23
It’s important to relay to students that some information they request may not be given due to campus policy and privacy laws. Acknowledge how that might be limiting and frusterating.
Lastly, it may be helpful to provide an overview of MSU Alert processes:The Michigan State University Police Department is responsible for developing and distributing Timely Warning and Emergency Notification messages. These messages are intended to warn the community about certain crimes and notify it of potentially dangerous situations on or near campus. These messages inform community members about incidents that may pose an ongoing threat and provide information to promote safety and prevent similar crimes.
MSU Faculty, Staff, and Students: Login to the Everbridge self-help portal to manage your contact data. You will be redirected to an MSU login page to use your NetID credentials for authentication. After a successful login, you will be on the everbridge.net site to manage your information.
All information provided is kept strictly confidential and private in accordance with the Everbridge privacy policy.
The primary goal of this process is to support impacted students/de-escalation/safety, and intervention.
How Are You Feeling?/ What Do You Need?
Allow students space to share immediate feelings, reactions and thoughts. Ask what immediate needs come to mind.
Now What?/Moving Forward (Time Permitted).
Ask students what they think is needed to move the campus forward. Frame this conversation segment not only on what the campus can collectively do but also on what they can offer individually to move us forward as a community.
Closing the Space.
A few options based on of the conversation dynamic:
One word check in to capture how they are
One thing they are willing to continue to support inclusivity and fostering community at MSU
Adapted from a draft by Dre Domingue, Assistant Dean of Students for Diversity & Inclusion at Davidson College, November 2018
Authored by:
Dre Domingue

Posted on: #iteachmsu

After A Campus Incident: General Talking Points and Conversation Guide
General Talking Points and Conversation Guide After A Campus Incide...
Authored by:
NAVIGATING CONTEXT
Tuesday, Feb 14, 2023
Posted on: #iteachmsu
DISCIPLINARY CONTENT
Announcing: The Open Pedagogy and Open Educational Practices Learning Community
The Open Pedagogy and Open Educational Practices Learning Community is excited to announce an open call for participation in our community for the 2021-22 academic year. This community will explore how open pedagogy and open educational practices are enabled through the use of open educational resources (OER). Participants will read works and share practices that promote open pedagogy and discuss specific approaches for improving teaching, learning, and student engagement both in-person and online environments.
This learning community is intended for instructors from any discipline who teach undergraduate and graduate courses and are actively interested in open educational resources and open pedagogy. All instructors (fixed-term, tenure stream, specialists, graduate instructors, adjuncts) who wish to integrate open educational practices into their courses are welcome to apply.
The community will be a combination of monthly virtual meetings and asynchronous social annotation. All virtual meetings will take place via Zoom. Preliminary dates for the Fall semester are outlined below:
October 15, 10:00-11:30am
November 19, 10:00-11:30am
December 17, 10:00-11:30am
Please complete this application form to indicate your interest in participating. For this year, our learning community has 14 openings remaining. This call will close on Friday, September 24.
Thanks,
Regina
Regina Gong
Open Educational Resources (OER) & Student Success Librarian
Michigan State University Libraries
366 W. Circle Drive, W225 (DB9)
East Lansing, MI 48824
Phone: 517-884-6396
gongregi@msu.edu
she / her / hers
* Michigan State University occupies the ancestral, traditional, and contemporary Lands of the Anishinaabeg–Three Fires Confederacy of Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi peoples. The University resides on Land ceded in the 1819 Treaty of Saginaw. – Land Acknowledgement development by AIIS.
This learning community is intended for instructors from any discipline who teach undergraduate and graduate courses and are actively interested in open educational resources and open pedagogy. All instructors (fixed-term, tenure stream, specialists, graduate instructors, adjuncts) who wish to integrate open educational practices into their courses are welcome to apply.
The community will be a combination of monthly virtual meetings and asynchronous social annotation. All virtual meetings will take place via Zoom. Preliminary dates for the Fall semester are outlined below:
October 15, 10:00-11:30am
November 19, 10:00-11:30am
December 17, 10:00-11:30am
Please complete this application form to indicate your interest in participating. For this year, our learning community has 14 openings remaining. This call will close on Friday, September 24.
Thanks,
Regina
Regina Gong
Open Educational Resources (OER) & Student Success Librarian
Michigan State University Libraries
366 W. Circle Drive, W225 (DB9)
East Lansing, MI 48824
Phone: 517-884-6396
gongregi@msu.edu
she / her / hers
* Michigan State University occupies the ancestral, traditional, and contemporary Lands of the Anishinaabeg–Three Fires Confederacy of Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi peoples. The University resides on Land ceded in the 1819 Treaty of Saginaw. – Land Acknowledgement development by AIIS.
Authored by:
Regina Gong

Posted on: #iteachmsu

Announcing: The Open Pedagogy and Open Educational Practices Learning Community
The Open Pedagogy and Open Educational Practices Learning Community...
Authored by:
DISCIPLINARY CONTENT
Monday, Aug 30, 2021
Posted on: #iteachmsu
PEDAGOGICAL DESIGN
Team Seating Charts for Large Enrollment Courses
Want to create teams in your class but are unsure how to help them find one another in the classroom? Try a seating chart! Seating chart diagrams illustrate the classroom that you are in and have groups of chairs labeled with team numbers.It's difficult, though, to find an image of a bird's eye view of your classroom, so when I started teaching several years ago, I made my own. I went to the classroom before the semester started and recorded how many rows, how many seats in each row on either side of the aisles, and any spacing between rows. I used that information to build a model of the classroom in PowerPoint, using tiny squares to represent each chair. Then, I overlayed larger, numbered squares on top of four tiny squares to represent where student teams would sit in the room. Bam! I had a seating chart diagram in PowerPoint.I created teams on CATME, listed all the team members for each team in the PowerPoint (about 5 teams per slide next to the seating chart), and then shared that PowerPoint on D2L before class. I also presented it during class. Students either came into the room knowing their team number or watched the PowerPoint scroll through the team lists (which were either next to or below the seating chart). It usually took students about 5 to 10 minutes after class began to get settled into their new spots. A few students needed help finding each other but were typically fine coming up to someone already seated and just confirming with them that they were the same team number.I created seating charts for several rooms across campus and am sharing them in the PowerPoint below. You might be lucky and are using one of the rooms that I have used. Otherwise, take the one that most closely represents your classroom and edit the "chairs" as needed by moving, deleting, or copying and pasting the squares to make more chairs and rows. The first few slides in the PowerPoint provide more details on how to edit your seating chart.I hope you find this tool useful in promoting teamwork in your courses!Seating Chart Presentations.pptx (Make sure that you are logged into your MSU account to access it. You will have view-only privileges so download it to your computer or OneDrive.)
Authored by:
Andrea Bierema

Posted on: #iteachmsu

Team Seating Charts for Large Enrollment Courses
Want to create teams in your class but are unsure how to help them ...
Authored by:
PEDAGOGICAL DESIGN
Wednesday, Apr 17, 2024
Posted on: #iteachmsu
PEDAGOGICAL DESIGN
Educator Book Discussion: "What Inclusive Instructors Do"
The Center for Teaching and Learning Innovation and educators discussed the title “What Inclusive Instructors Do: Principles and Practices for Excellence in College Teaching” By Tracie Marcella Addy, Derek Dube, Khadijah A. Mitchell, Mallory SoRelle (published by Routledge in 2021) on 11/2/23. This title is available in print at the MSU Main Library (Call Number: LB2331 .A34 2021) or as an eBook (via ProQuest EBook Central).
If you missed the discussion or want to continue your reflection, in addition to the great reflection questions incorporated in each chapter of the book, here are the prompts we used for our discussion:
The book defines inclusive instructors as the “literal embodiment of inclusion. Inclusive instructors generate spaces through their scholarship, service, mentorship, teaching, activism, and their very selves. To be an inclusive instructor is to critique and challenge traditions, systems and structures that were constructed to exclude and marginalize”.Is this aspirational or achievable? How / what would you add or change in the definition of an inclusive instructor?
What are you currently doing to create inclusive and welcoming learning environments? How do you incorporate inclusivity in the beginning, middle, and end of the course? How do these things create and support educational equity and belonging?
The book talks about the importance of growth mindset in this work. That as humans we never "fully arrive". How do you (currently or aspire to) continue your learning and development journey in this area?
In your opinion, how can educators measure the effectiveness of their inclusive teaching practices? What indicators or assessment tools can help them gauge the impact of their efforts? The naming and framing of this work is important. How can/do you tell the story of your inclusive educator practices?
The group had a conversation rich with activities and resources. Here are a few of the items that came up:
Resources:
Microvalidations
Power Wheel
OFASD Learning Communities
Practices and ideas from the group:
smaller assessments give students feedback on a limited amount of knowledge and they’re less likely to forget everything after the midterm
removed all grades related to "participation" or attendance
1 min check outs (What rocked today? What sucked today?)
Break large exams into the smallest chunks for learning assessments… this allows educators to demonstrate flexibility in large courses
“made a mistake and I had total points of 105 - rather than correcting it, it gave students some room to miss deadlines on some of discussion forums”
small-group exams
“I have my quizzes open Monday and close Friday each week, and they can take as many times as they want while it is open - I still have students who don’t do them, so they will typically use the drops”
“I've been offering flexibility in assignment format. Granted, I teach small grad-level courses so this might not work for larger undergrad courses. But I give students the option to do a traditional academic paper, powerpoint presentation with recorded narrative, or if they have other ideas I ask them to meet with me to talk it through.”
If you’d like to nominate a title for a future CTLI book discussion and/or volunteer to co-facilitate a discussion, please reach out to Makena Neal at mneal@msu.eduCover-photo by Sincerely Media on Unsplash
If you missed the discussion or want to continue your reflection, in addition to the great reflection questions incorporated in each chapter of the book, here are the prompts we used for our discussion:
The book defines inclusive instructors as the “literal embodiment of inclusion. Inclusive instructors generate spaces through their scholarship, service, mentorship, teaching, activism, and their very selves. To be an inclusive instructor is to critique and challenge traditions, systems and structures that were constructed to exclude and marginalize”.Is this aspirational or achievable? How / what would you add or change in the definition of an inclusive instructor?
What are you currently doing to create inclusive and welcoming learning environments? How do you incorporate inclusivity in the beginning, middle, and end of the course? How do these things create and support educational equity and belonging?
The book talks about the importance of growth mindset in this work. That as humans we never "fully arrive". How do you (currently or aspire to) continue your learning and development journey in this area?
In your opinion, how can educators measure the effectiveness of their inclusive teaching practices? What indicators or assessment tools can help them gauge the impact of their efforts? The naming and framing of this work is important. How can/do you tell the story of your inclusive educator practices?
The group had a conversation rich with activities and resources. Here are a few of the items that came up:
Resources:
Microvalidations
Power Wheel
OFASD Learning Communities
Practices and ideas from the group:
smaller assessments give students feedback on a limited amount of knowledge and they’re less likely to forget everything after the midterm
removed all grades related to "participation" or attendance
1 min check outs (What rocked today? What sucked today?)
Break large exams into the smallest chunks for learning assessments… this allows educators to demonstrate flexibility in large courses
“made a mistake and I had total points of 105 - rather than correcting it, it gave students some room to miss deadlines on some of discussion forums”
small-group exams
“I have my quizzes open Monday and close Friday each week, and they can take as many times as they want while it is open - I still have students who don’t do them, so they will typically use the drops”
“I've been offering flexibility in assignment format. Granted, I teach small grad-level courses so this might not work for larger undergrad courses. But I give students the option to do a traditional academic paper, powerpoint presentation with recorded narrative, or if they have other ideas I ask them to meet with me to talk it through.”
If you’d like to nominate a title for a future CTLI book discussion and/or volunteer to co-facilitate a discussion, please reach out to Makena Neal at mneal@msu.eduCover-photo by Sincerely Media on Unsplash
Authored by:
Makena Neal & Monaca Eaton

Posted on: #iteachmsu

Educator Book Discussion: "What Inclusive Instructors Do"
The Center for Teaching and Learning Innovation and educators discu...
Authored by:
PEDAGOGICAL DESIGN
Tuesday, Nov 7, 2023
Posted on: #iteachmsu
NAVIGATING CONTEXT
Faculty Rights and Responsibilities
Faculty Rights and Responsibilities
Source MSU Faculty Handbook (Last updated: 7/27/1984)
IV. ACADEMIC HUMAN RESOURCES POLICIES (Cont.)
The following policy was approved by the Board of Trustees on July 27, 1984.
The Bylaws of the Michigan State University Board of Trustees state that "the Constitution (of the State of Michigan) confers upon the Board of Trustees the freedom, power, and responsibility to develop a free and distinguished university and to promote the welfare of mankind through teaching, research, and public service." 1,2,3
As the primary functions of an academic community, learning, teaching, scholarship, and public service must be characterized by a fundamental commitment to academic freedom and maintained through reasoned discourse, intellectual honesty, mutual respect and openness to constructive criticism and change. Faculty members, as central to this community, serve as scholars pursuing the search for knowledge and its free expression, as teachers instructing students, and as professionals and citizens contributing special knowledge and skills through public service and community participation. In the performance of all these functions faculty members are held accountable to the University, in accordance with established policies and procedures, by the Board of Trustees which, as an elected body, is responsible to the people of the State of Michigan. 4
In order to carry out the mission of the University, faculty members, as members of both the academic and the broader public community, have the right to a clear statement of academic freedom, tenure, and other fundamental faculty rights and responsibilities. The purpose of this document is to acknowledge these fundamental rights and responsibilities. 5
Academic Freedom and Responsibility
Michigan State University endorses academic freedom and responsibility as essential to attainment of the University's goal of the unfettered search for knowledge and its free exposition. Academic freedom and responsibility are fundamental characteristics of the University environment and are always closely interwoven and at times indistinguishable. Academic freedom and responsibility are the twin guardians of the integrity and quality of universities. The University looks to its faculty members to exercise their rights responsibly and to meet their obligations fully as professionals. Faculty acceptance of their responsibilities to students, colleagues, the scholarly community, and the public explains in great part why society historically has accepted the concept of academic freedom and has afforded its protection through the institution of academic tenure.
For faculty members, the principal elements of academic freedom include:
The right, as teachers, to discuss in the classroom any material which has a significant relationship to the subject matter as defined in the approved course description;
The right to determine course content, grading, and classroom procedures in the courses they teach;
The right to conduct research and to engage in creative endeavors;
The right to publish or present research findings and creative works;
The right to engage in public service activities; and
The right to seek changes in institutional policy through established University procedures and by lawful and peaceful means.
Academic freedom carries with it responsibilities. For faculty members, the principal elements include:
The responsibility to carry out assigned teaching, research, and public service duties in a professional manner and in keeping with University policy;
The responsibility, as teachers, to refrain from introducing matters which are not consistent with their teaching duties and professional competence and which have no significant bearing on the subject matter of the course as approved under University procedures;
The responsibility to pursue excellence and intellectual honesty in teaching, research, and other creative endeavors and in public service activities; and in publishing or presenting research findings and creative works;
The responsibility to encourage students and colleagues to engage in free discussion and inquiry; and to evaluate student and colleague performance on a scholarly basis;
The responsibility to work in a collegial manner with appropriate individuals and bodies to encourage the free search for knowledge; its free exposition, and the University's continuing quest for excellence; and
The responsibility to differentiate carefully their official activities as faculty members from their personal activities as citizens and, when the situation warrants, to make it clear that, when speaking as private citizens, they do not speak for the University.
The above list provides a summary outline of the principal elements of academic freedom and responsibility. More detailed and explicit definitional statements applicable to specific faculty rights and responsibilities are set forth below under the following headings: Academic Tenure, Academic Governance, Teaching, Research and Creative Activity, Public Service, Relations with Colleagues, Relation to the University and the Community, and Resolution of Conflicts.
Footnotes:
1 The terms, "faculty" or "faculty members," as used in this document, apply to individuals appointed in the tenure system with the rank of instructor through professor. (However, as applicable in the context of assigned duties and responsibilities, the provisions of this policy apply to all faculty and academic staff).
2 Bylaws of the Board of Trustees, as amended January 24-25, 1980, Preamble, page 1.
3 "The Board of Trustees, the administration, and the faculty carry out their respective responsibilities not as isolated entities, but as major and primary constituents of the total University organization and structure which remain mutually independent and must be supportive of each other's purposes, functions, and obligations. It is within this context that the rights and responsibilities of the faculty are to be construed" (Bylaws of the Board of Trustees, as amended January 24-25, 1980, Article 7, page 7.)
4 "The Board of Trustees, elected by the voters of the State and responsible to all the people of Michigan, exercises the final authority in the government of the University, within the limits fixed by the State Constitution. In exercising its responsibility, the Board delegates to the President of the University and through the President to the faculty, appropriate authority and jurisdiction over matters for which they are held accountable by the Board. These matters include educational policy and the development of a strong and efficient organization with which to accomplish the objectives of the University." (Bylaws of the Board of Trustees, as amended January 24-25, 1980, Preamble, page l.)
5 Some faculty rights and responsibilities referred to in this document are stated elsewhere (see Appendix A).
Source MSU Faculty Handbook (Last updated: 7/27/1984)
IV. ACADEMIC HUMAN RESOURCES POLICIES (Cont.)
The following policy was approved by the Board of Trustees on July 27, 1984.
The Bylaws of the Michigan State University Board of Trustees state that "the Constitution (of the State of Michigan) confers upon the Board of Trustees the freedom, power, and responsibility to develop a free and distinguished university and to promote the welfare of mankind through teaching, research, and public service." 1,2,3
As the primary functions of an academic community, learning, teaching, scholarship, and public service must be characterized by a fundamental commitment to academic freedom and maintained through reasoned discourse, intellectual honesty, mutual respect and openness to constructive criticism and change. Faculty members, as central to this community, serve as scholars pursuing the search for knowledge and its free expression, as teachers instructing students, and as professionals and citizens contributing special knowledge and skills through public service and community participation. In the performance of all these functions faculty members are held accountable to the University, in accordance with established policies and procedures, by the Board of Trustees which, as an elected body, is responsible to the people of the State of Michigan. 4
In order to carry out the mission of the University, faculty members, as members of both the academic and the broader public community, have the right to a clear statement of academic freedom, tenure, and other fundamental faculty rights and responsibilities. The purpose of this document is to acknowledge these fundamental rights and responsibilities. 5
Academic Freedom and Responsibility
Michigan State University endorses academic freedom and responsibility as essential to attainment of the University's goal of the unfettered search for knowledge and its free exposition. Academic freedom and responsibility are fundamental characteristics of the University environment and are always closely interwoven and at times indistinguishable. Academic freedom and responsibility are the twin guardians of the integrity and quality of universities. The University looks to its faculty members to exercise their rights responsibly and to meet their obligations fully as professionals. Faculty acceptance of their responsibilities to students, colleagues, the scholarly community, and the public explains in great part why society historically has accepted the concept of academic freedom and has afforded its protection through the institution of academic tenure.
For faculty members, the principal elements of academic freedom include:
The right, as teachers, to discuss in the classroom any material which has a significant relationship to the subject matter as defined in the approved course description;
The right to determine course content, grading, and classroom procedures in the courses they teach;
The right to conduct research and to engage in creative endeavors;
The right to publish or present research findings and creative works;
The right to engage in public service activities; and
The right to seek changes in institutional policy through established University procedures and by lawful and peaceful means.
Academic freedom carries with it responsibilities. For faculty members, the principal elements include:
The responsibility to carry out assigned teaching, research, and public service duties in a professional manner and in keeping with University policy;
The responsibility, as teachers, to refrain from introducing matters which are not consistent with their teaching duties and professional competence and which have no significant bearing on the subject matter of the course as approved under University procedures;
The responsibility to pursue excellence and intellectual honesty in teaching, research, and other creative endeavors and in public service activities; and in publishing or presenting research findings and creative works;
The responsibility to encourage students and colleagues to engage in free discussion and inquiry; and to evaluate student and colleague performance on a scholarly basis;
The responsibility to work in a collegial manner with appropriate individuals and bodies to encourage the free search for knowledge; its free exposition, and the University's continuing quest for excellence; and
The responsibility to differentiate carefully their official activities as faculty members from their personal activities as citizens and, when the situation warrants, to make it clear that, when speaking as private citizens, they do not speak for the University.
The above list provides a summary outline of the principal elements of academic freedom and responsibility. More detailed and explicit definitional statements applicable to specific faculty rights and responsibilities are set forth below under the following headings: Academic Tenure, Academic Governance, Teaching, Research and Creative Activity, Public Service, Relations with Colleagues, Relation to the University and the Community, and Resolution of Conflicts.
Footnotes:
1 The terms, "faculty" or "faculty members," as used in this document, apply to individuals appointed in the tenure system with the rank of instructor through professor. (However, as applicable in the context of assigned duties and responsibilities, the provisions of this policy apply to all faculty and academic staff).
2 Bylaws of the Board of Trustees, as amended January 24-25, 1980, Preamble, page 1.
3 "The Board of Trustees, the administration, and the faculty carry out their respective responsibilities not as isolated entities, but as major and primary constituents of the total University organization and structure which remain mutually independent and must be supportive of each other's purposes, functions, and obligations. It is within this context that the rights and responsibilities of the faculty are to be construed" (Bylaws of the Board of Trustees, as amended January 24-25, 1980, Article 7, page 7.)
4 "The Board of Trustees, elected by the voters of the State and responsible to all the people of Michigan, exercises the final authority in the government of the University, within the limits fixed by the State Constitution. In exercising its responsibility, the Board delegates to the President of the University and through the President to the faculty, appropriate authority and jurisdiction over matters for which they are held accountable by the Board. These matters include educational policy and the development of a strong and efficient organization with which to accomplish the objectives of the University." (Bylaws of the Board of Trustees, as amended January 24-25, 1980, Preamble, page l.)
5 Some faculty rights and responsibilities referred to in this document are stated elsewhere (see Appendix A).
Posted by:
Makena Neal
Posted on: #iteachmsu
Faculty Rights and Responsibilities
Faculty Rights and Responsibilities
Source MSU Faculty Handbo...
Source MSU Faculty Handbo...
Posted by:
NAVIGATING CONTEXT
Monday, Aug 23, 2021