Fostering Inclusive Classrooms through an Allyship Framework

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Abstract: We know that diversity, particularly in higher education, matters. Additionally, the college student population in the United States (and globally) continues to grow more diverse, not just racially or ethnically, but via many different forms of identity dimensions. However, a diverse student body does not necessarily mean that students are experiencing inclusion or the sense that they belong within the community. A major contributor to these perceptions of belonging and inclusion begins with the student experience in the academic classroom. Therefore, this highly interactive workshop will deepen participants’ understanding of building inclusive classrooms through an allyship framework. The workshop will provide a baseline for shared knowledge around the context for inclusion and allyship (terminology and concepts), and provide experiential opportunities utilizing an action-oriented, allyship, approach vis-a-vis role plays and/or scenarios to explore diversity, equity, and inclusion challenges in the classroom.