The mission statement and creed of Marshall University both emphasize diversity and acceptance while also discussing the importance of “remaining alert” to threats of intolerance and injustices. To achieve these ideals, it is important that the Marshall University community continues to openly discuss systemic racism, sexism, ableism, white supremacy, and the overall destructive effects colonialism continues to have on our country and on our campus. As faculty members, we have a responsibility to explore how colonialism influences pedagogy and praxis in our courses. As more faculty advocate for our university to properly addresses systemic inequalities, we must also begin working to decolonize our own courses. .
Members of this FLC will explore scholarship on decolonization within higher education, with a focus on teaching and learning. The FLC will focus on colonialism and white supremacy within the academy and identify strategies and practices faculty members can use to combat racism across the university. Finally, members will work to make suggestions to the Marshall University community to further support diversity and inclusion. The penultimate goal of this group is to promote greater collaboration between faculty and students to address systemic issues dealing with racism, sexism, ableism, and colonization on our campus. The FLC will meet 6-8 times over the course of the academic year for an hour and a half during each meeting and offer an online component for building resources and capacity.
Participation will contribute to the achievement of the following outcomes and benefits:
- Present at the 2022 iPED Teaching Conference
- Create resources for faculty seeking to “decolonizing” their classrooms;
- Develop formal recommendations for ways Marshall University can decolonize our courses and campus
Facilitator
Dr. Stephen Young, Assistant Professor
Department of Criminal Justice in the College of Science