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Faculty Resources

Syllabi Language

All faculty are strongly encouraged to include the following language in syllabi to introduce your role as a Required Reporter and the University’s Non-Discrimination Statement.

My Reporting Obligations as a Required Reporter
As a faculty member, I am deeply invested in the well-being of each student I teach.  I am here to assist you with your work in this course.  Additionally, if you come to me with other non-course-related concerns, I will do my best to help. It is important for you to know that all faculty members are required to report incidents of sexual harassment or sexual misconduct involving students.  This means that I cannot keep information about sexual harassment, sexual assault, sexual exploitation, intimate partner violence or stalking confidential if you share that information with me.  I will keep the information as private as I can but am required to bring it to the attention of the University’s  Title IX Coordinator, Elizabeth M. Garcia, or Deputy Title IX Coordinator, Christine M. Black, who, in conversation with you, will explain available support, resources, and options.  I will not report anything to anybody without first letting you know and discussing choices as to how to proceed.  The University’s Counseling Center (570-941-7620) is available to you as a confidential resource; counselors (in the counseling center) do not have an obligation to report to the Title IX Coordinator.
Non-Discrimination Statement

The University is committed to providing an educational, residential, and working environment that is free from harassment and discrimination. Members of the University community, applicants for employment or admissions, guests and visitors have the right to be free from harassment or discrimination based on race, color, religion, ancestry, gender, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, genetic information, national origin, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law.

Sexual harassment, including sexual violence, is a form of sex discrimination prohibited by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. The University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in its educational, extracurricular, athletic, or other programs or in the context of employment.

Anyone who has questions about the University’s Sexual Harassment and Sexual Misconduct Policy, or the University’s Non-Discrimination or Sexual Harassment Policy, or wishes to report a possible violation of one of the policy should contact:

Elizabeth M. Garcia
Title IX Coordinator
The Office of Equity and Diversity
Institute of Molecular Biology & Medicine, Rm 311
(570) 941-6645

Recruiting the BEST Talent for Your Department

The University of Scranton recognizes that its faculty and staff are fundamental to its success, and therefore, it is committed to developing a diverse and inclusive workforce. It embraces an inclusive campus community that values the expression of differences in ways that promote excellence in teaching, learning, personal development and institutional success. The University of Scranton is an EEO Educator and Employer

Toolkit for Incluionary Recruitment and Hiring

The search process requires intentionality. The purpose of this Tool Kit is to assist search committees and hiring managers to expand and diversify the candidate pool in the hiring process. It contains resources to help guide and support recruitment and hiring more diverse employees. This Tool Kit is intended to provide interested search committees and hiring managers with information only. It in no way replaces the Recruitment, Selection and Record Keeping Requirements for Faculty Search Committees, Hiring Managers and Department Chairs document on the Provost’s website or the Electronic On-Line process in Human Resources.

Inclusive Teaching Resources for Faculty

Diversity and Inclusive pedagogy are student-centered approaches to teaching that pays attention to a varied backgrounds, learning styles and abilities of all learners.  They create an overarching learning environment in which students feel both invited and included in the classroom.  Research supports diversity and inclusive teaching and learning because learning outcomes are improved for everyone when the educators attend to student differences and intentionally ensure that all students feel welcomed, supported, challenged and valued.  

  • DIVERSITY/INCLUSION PROGRAM & WORKSHOP VIDEOSplus or minus

    Video Resources:

    The Office of Equity and Diversity and the Faculty Development Specialist invite you to view the following workshops:

    • Finding and Forging Brave Spaces: The Theory and Practice of Co-creating Inclusive and Equitable Learning  Opportunities through Pedagogical Partnership -  On Friday, May 8th, Dr. Alison Cook-Sather offered an in depth look at developing and implementing best practices for inclusive pedagogy. Her four part workshop included introducing the idea of pedagogical partnership, exploring the experience of others practicing these partnerships, sharing the current inclusive work and experience of the attendees; and  applying strategies to implement the practice of pedagogical partnerships.
    • Racial Diversity: On Friday, February 21st, Dr. Tiffany Bordonada offered a workshop on Racial Diversity. Dr. Bordonada is an assistant professor in the Department of Counseling and Human Services and co-director of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling graduate program. Dr. Bordonada will expand on the importance of a productive and equal learning environment for all. She spoke about teaching strategies and reflective student assignments that celebrate diversity and increase racial awareness.
    • All About Gender: On Thursday, February 27th, Dr. Paul Datti will presented  All About Gender. Dr. Datti is an associate professor at the University of Scranton where he directs the Counseling and Human Services program. Dr. Datti discussed the terms related to gender identity, reducing sexism and cisgenderism, adopting inclusive language and actions, and reducing bias and avoiding misgendering.
    • Veteran Students: On Friday, May 1st, Dr. Mary Troy presented a workshop discussing Veteran student and issues related to their experience in higher education. Dr. Troy is an assistant professor in the Counseling and Human Services department. Her presentation highlighted veteran student challenges in starting and finishing college, and strategies for veteran student retention and success.
    • Intercultural Dialogue in a Diverse World: On Wednesday, April 22, Dr. Tiffany Bordonada presented part six of the faculty and staff Formula for Success: D+I + A Better U! diversity and inclusion lunch and learn series. In this recorded Zoom session, Dr. Bordonada discussed the purpose of intercultural communication, the challenges and benefits of engaging in dialogue across cultures, and strategies to enhance intercultural dialogue and celebrate diversity through communication.
    • Accommodations and Beyond: Inclusive Strategies for Online and Classroom Teaching: On Tuesday, July 14, Dr. Rebecca Spirito Dalgin, Ph.D., CRC, CPRP, Professor in the Department of Counseling and Human Services and the Rehabilitation Counseling Masters Degree program director, discussed best practices to include students of all abilities and backgrounds and convey respect.  For faculty and students with disabilities, the classroom and online education settings may present certain challenges that need accommodation and consideration. This workshop focused on inclusive practices faculty can employ for students with disabilities. Topics such as classroom accommodations, disability inclusive language, confidentiality/disclosure and stigma, universal design, and available resources were addressed.
    • Rebuilding Our Wounded World: A Catholic Response to the Sin of Racism: On Monday, November 9, 2020, Dean Michelle Maldonado, Ph.D., Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, discussed recent Church documents addressing the social sin of racism, the image of God as the foundation of recognizing our full humanity equally, and a vision of justice that calls for a conversion of the heart.

  • FREE WEBINARS: Responding to Racial Bias and Equity-Minded Online Teaching Practices plus or minus

    These insightful webinars provide context and helpful tips for addressing online classroom microaggressions, and encouraging an equity designed, healthy learning and teaching environment.

  • Creating Inclusive College Classroomsplus or minus

    Web Resources

    The following links are resources created by faculty at other schools that may provide helpful insights and tips for developing an inclusive pedagogy style.

    A guide for instructors including do’s and don’ts when creating an accommodating and inclusive learning space.
     
    Provides a threefold teaching guide: discussing the importance of inclusivity in the classroom, presenting examples of teaching more inclusively, and providing additional resources for further guidance. Includes examples of an inclusive learning space and reducing stereotypes.
     
    Offers strategies on how to create and sustain inclusive classrooms.
     
    Covers what is inclusive teaching and pedagogy, methods to practice inclusive teaching, why it should be done, and who is at risk for exclusion.
     
    Covers and provides evidence for inclusive pedagogy: defines implicit bias and how to incorporate inclusive teaching and methods to prepare students for difficult conversations and offensive materials.

  • Inclusive Teaching Strategiesplus or minus

    The following links are resources created by faculty at other schools that may provide helpful insights and tips for developing an inclusive pedagogy style.

    Sets the tone for inclusivity: getting to know students, building rapport, being explicit in what instructor is doing, being mindful of language, doing semester check ins (to be done early) and acknowledging and responding to difficult topics.
     
    Articulates assumptions and expectations that inform an instructor’s approach to course design and teaching, diversifying course materials, planning to asses early and often, varying teaching strategies, allowing students to demonstrate their learning in various ways.
     
    Things to do when difficult and polarizing moments arise in the classroom: attend to one’s own reactions, understand the situation, deepen and nuance short-term response, and consider long term response.
     
    Different strategies for instructors to create inclusive classrooms.
     

    This resource provides a framework of five interconnected research-based principles that can guide instructional choices across all domains of teaching (including content selection and delivery, interactions among and between students and instructor, and assessment) in order to support inclusive teaching environments.

    Georgetown Center for New Designs in Learning and Scholarship Resource Links
    Different links to create inclusive pedagogy in the classroom and through remote teaching.
     
    Covers and provides evidence for inclusive pedagogy: defines implicit bias and how to incorporate inclusive teaching and methods to prepare students for difficult conversations and offensive materials.
     
    Provides instruction on designing a course, teaching a course and teaching terms.

  • Difficult Dialoguesplus or minus

    The following links are resources created by faculty at other schools that may provide helpful insights and tips for to prepare for difficult and/or sensitive conversations with students in the classroom.

    Lists ways an instructor may deal with difficult situations in the classroom
     
    Explains how to conduct yourself as an instructor in the event of difficult discussions
     
    Explains different tools and strategies an instructor may use in the event of difficult dialogues in the classroom

  • Other Resourcesplus or minus

    The following links are resources to research at other schools that may provide helpful insights and tips for developing an inclusive pedagogy style.

    This series of short, intuitive videos is backed by extensive research showing the effect of implicit bias in decision making, and offers helpful solutions to eliminate bias and its impact.   We recommend using Firefox or Chrome to load the videos.

    Provides 21 concrete ideas for inclusive practices you can bring to your classroom.
     
    Offers a data-informed foundation for those working to close persistent equity gaps, by providing a comprehensive review of the educational pathways of today’s college students and the educators who serve them
     
    Examines the practicality of a liberal education, faculty accountability for cultural inclusiveness, and student civic engagement
     
    Lists five tips that can help libraries, IT, and academic technology units support the broad adoption of inclusive and open pedagogies across any number of educational delivery modalities
     
    Provides specific suggestions for how to proceed with high-engagement strategies to create inclusive and welcoming classroom spaces for all students
     
    Lists a selection of syllabus statements that set a tone for respectful conversations within a course
     
    Answers specific questions on making teaching more inclusive and creating a non-controlling yet structured learning environment
     
    Explains effective ways to embrace diversity and create inclusive learning environments

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