Underlying Principle: Grow an Inclusive Student Community
Students are more likely to persist when they have a community related to their academic pursuits. Faculty can help establish, support, and grow an inclusive student community in their programs by following some relatively simple practices in the classroom and by providing leadership and support outside of regular courses.
Engagement Practices
Avoiding stereotypes helps foster an inclusive student community. Stereotypes are fixed, overgeneralized beliefs about a group of people.
Use Well Structured Collaborative Learning
With collaborative learning, students work together on a formal learning activity. This is distinct from projects where students “divide and conquer” a task.
Encourage Student Interaction
To help build inclusive student community, faculty can provide opportunities for students to interact with each other both in and outside of class.
