From Student Comments to More Inclusive Practices
A theme began to emerge in the students’ comments around the topic of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Students expressed concerns related to who is valued, what is valued, and the importance of reflecting more diverse identities on campus
At Marian University, assessment and learning are viewed as inextricably linked, so much so that the Director of Educational Assessment, Dr. Tony Ribera, works within Marian’s Center for Teaching and Learning and serves on the Teaching and Learning Committee along with faculty and staff from across departments. This committee includes an assessment activities subcommittee whose members serve as key players in examining and sharing NSSE results and information.
Tasked with the review of Marian’s NSSE 2019 results, the assessment activities subcommittee chose to focus on both the quantitative and qualitative data during multiple subcommittee meetings. Subcommittee members used this time as well as a shared Canvas page to read and discuss the NSSE data and reports, including students’ comments in response to the survey’s open-ended prompts. Although these comments were viewed and analyzed in an informal manner, key themes and trends emerged from them that were still quite impactful.
While the quantitative data suggested that students were engaging with diverse peers relatively often, the qualitative data—the student comments—provided another dimension and a more detailed picture of diversity on campus.
The open-ended prompt Marian students received for their comments was:
“What one change would most improve the educational experience at this institution?”
As members of the assessment activities subcommittee viewed the approximately 200 responses, a theme began to emerge around the topic of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Students expressed concerns related to who is valued, what is valued, and the importance of reflecting more diverse identities on campus.
It became clear to the subcommittee that Marian University could do and should do better by its students and—based on student comments—that many of these changes were possible to implement. Since the review and presentation of NSSE 2019 data, several changes have occurred on the Marian campus related to inclusivity and learning. The institution has established a new framework, created by faculty and staff, to outline what a learning experience at Marian should look like and to guide educators in creating more impactful learning. This new framework incorporates inclusive practices such as ensuring students feel valued and respecting diverse perspectives. The Center for Teaching and Learning has also developed a professional development certificate focused on creative inclusive experiences. Those interested in receiving the certificate are required to participate in four events around topics such as implicit bias and inclusive pedagogy. Thus far, over 100 educators at the institution, including faculty and staff, have registered.
These initiatives have not been limited to introducing strategies for how students learn but also include new strategies for assessing inclusivity in teaching. More recently, the university has emphasized inclusive teaching in its annual program assessment planning and reporting process as well as in its seven-year self-study process. Each program is developing its own assessment plan that will ask explicitly what the program is doing to foster inclusive classroom environments.
Throughout this process, strong connections have been created between faculty and staff. Student affairs professionals have utilized their expertise to facilitate workshops and to assist faculty in understanding concepts related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Although difficult conversations have occurred during the workshops, the facilitators have been able to expertly handle these situations and to help participants grow in their understanding of inclusivity in the classroom. These new initiatives have been helpful in creating strong relationships across student affairs and academic affairs.
The Teaching and Learning Committee and Marian University as a whole have worked diligently to respond to students’ feedback and to make concrete changes to the campus. Utilizing quantitative and qualitative NSSE results allowed for a more nuanced and intentional approach to teaching and learning—with a stronger focus on inclusivity.
