PEP JEDI Pre-Questions 2024 by Aris Winger

Scenario #1

ariswinger — 2024-08-08 12:25:40 UTC

Your department has implemented changes to its calculus classes over the past few years in response to high DFW rates among Latinx and Black students. As the department reviews the data on student performance following those changes, there is good news: students overall are more successful in calculus than they were and DFW rates have dropped considerably. Unfortunately, even though Black and Latinx students are earning higher grades on average than they once did, they have improved less than the majority students and the performance gaps are now even wider.

Scenario 2

ariswinger — 2024-08-08 12:26:20 UTC

You are the department chair. Six people who identify as women, including students and junior faculty, have made numerous complaints about a senior faculty member. They describe troubling comments and behaviors from this colleague in classes, office hours, and department events, and they each describe various ways in which they feel uncomfortable or unsafe in these interactions.

Still work to do.

2024-08-08 12:28:50 UTC

Still work to do. What other changes can we make? If we’ve only looked at curriculum, look at grading structures, syllabi language, or pedagogy (for example).

2024-08-08 12:29:10 UTC

Identify ways to fill in the gaps.

2024-08-08 12:29:26 UTC

Side note: Instead of "six people who identify as women," you can just say "six women."

2024-08-08 12:29:45 UTC

Calculus usually has many faculty teaching it across department. How do we get everyone on board?

2024-08-08 12:29:57 UTC

I would want to gather qualitative data: talk to students about their experience in the revised course.

2024-08-08 12:30:23 UTC

Understand how what was implemented my have differentiated impacts on minoritized learners

2024-08-08 12:30:39 UTC

I don't think it's obvious what's going on from this scenario. For example, there could be a bunch of external social stuff going on that is taking a bigger toll on the minority communities and diverting the attention of those students.

However, it could be that one wants to implement a Treisman type model. Yet that requires $ resources.

2024-08-08 12:30:55 UTC

Clearly what helped the majority was not implemented equitably. Investigate.

Is there is grade inflation? Factors involved.

Figure out why the minority could not benefit like the majority.

2024-08-08 12:30:56 UTC

This is going to take deep digging and self reflection. Professional development is needed for some people to do that though. Initial shock and defensiveness expected.

Response to Scenario 1

2024-08-08 12:31:12 UTC

Be curious. Why?

Convene a committee to investigate the new curriculum. The committee should include student representatives and teachers of the course. More measures that DFW rates in the course should be considered.

2024-08-08 12:31:18 UTC

I would want to investigate what about the changes or pre-existing structures in the courses might be contributing to the lower improvement rates. Talking to students, observing instructors, looking at existing research, etc

2024-08-08 12:31:19 UTC

We could try to create a system where we use Learning Assistants to individually reach out to students under a certain thresholds and guiding them and encouraging them to resources.

2024-08-08 12:31:23 UTC

Clearly what helped the majority was not implemented equitably. Investigate.

Is there is grade inflation? Factors involved.

Figure out why the minority could not benefit like the majority.

Ask why

2024-08-08 12:36:58 UTC

Hopefully if trying something new, we implemented some ways to gather student perspectives/inputs. What do they have to say? How does our institution differ from those where research was conducted about the strategies we tried? What do we know from institutional data about specific populations of Latinx and Black students at our institution?

2024-08-08 12:51:26 UTC

First, document this.

First step

2024-08-08 12:51:45 UTC

Make sure reporters are okay with you collecting their complaints/using that information in next steps. Anonymously, etc.

2024-08-08 12:51:58 UTC

Hold sensitivity trainings and require said senior member to attend. Sometimes people just need to be educated.

Title IX folks can help

2024-08-08 12:52:10 UTC

cwilkesii — 2024-08-08 12:52:12 UTC

I know there could be power dynamics, but a one on one with the professor to discuss what is going on. Additionally, knowing policies and have other higher ups on standby.

cwilkesii — 2024-08-08 12:52:51 UTC

I’ve heard when these things happen that the professor have to be observed.