Teagle Grant

Overview

In 2008, a collaborative of five colleges (Goucher, McDaniel, Ursinus, Washington and Washington & Jefferson) was awarded a $300,000 grant from the Teagle Foundation to implement a three-year project to improve student learning and engagement through the assessment and enhancement of diversity initiatives inside and outside the classroom.

Planning teams from each of the schools have been meeting jointly and with their own campus communities to develop themes and questions to be pursued during campus visits. Following these visits, each college will develop small-scale changes to diversity initiatives that will ultimately lead to large-scale changes during and following the grant period. These changes will be assessed through quantitative measures and during the two subsequent annual campus visits from other collaborative members. Supplementing this assessment will be the inauguration of Teagle Diversity Fellows, cohorts of student researchers who will conduct research in diversity issues during the summer under the mentorship of faculty.

Schedule of 2010 Site Visits

Visiting teams consist of approximately six faculty, staff and students.

Washington and Jefferson* visits Goucher College (February 21st-23rd)
Goucher College visits Washington College
Washington College visits Ursinus
Ursinsus vists McDaniel
McDaniel visits Washington and Jefferson

* The Washington and Jefferson visiting team consists of faculty in the departments of Communications and Music, staff from Student Life and Multicultural Affairs, and two students.

Goucher’s Approach –Themes and Questions for 2010

The collaborative’s work is guided by the Inclusive Excellence Scorecard. “The IE Scorecard is a multidimensional management and measurement tool that can simultaneously drive and assess change related to four areas: (1) access and equity, (2) campus climate, (3) diversity in the formal and informal curriculum, and (4) learning and development” (Williams, Berger and McClendon, 2005). The third area, diversity in the formal and informal curriculum was chosen as a central area for inquiry for the first year of the grant.

Through our Mission Statement, Diversity Statement, Community Principles, Strategic Plan, and other important documents, Goucher College affirms that diversity is central to a liberal arts education, and central to the value system of our institution. Further, these documents spell out with some specificity the College’s goals for student learning and transformation (i.e. student learning outcomes). After reviewing the documents and getting input from our Home Team, consisting of forty faculty, staff and students, the following questions were identified as our central focus for the 2010 site visit from Washington and Jefferson:

From your perspective, what role does diversity education play in a liberal arts education? What is your role? If not part of your role, who bears this responsibility?

How does the College value and prioritize diversity in its education of students?

How does this affect your work as a student, faculty member, or staff member?

Where does the learning about diversity happen? How does it happen?

What will happen during the site visit?

The Washington and Jefferson visiting team will meet with a wide range of constituents on campus, including senior staff, members of the AEA, a variety of student groups, faculty committees, academic department and program chairs, as well as faculty teaching related courses in the general education program. All voices are welcomed to be heard on these important questions! To learn more about the site visit and how you can participate, contact Gail Edmonds, Dean of Students, at 410-337-6150.