Course Syllabus
Abbreviated Syllabus: Course Design for Cal Poly Pomona
CPP has taken a university-wide approach to equity, diversity, and inclusion. We have accepted the charge to dismantle systemic barriers of racism and discrimination that have too long been the norm in higher learning and our broader communities. CAFE fully agrees with these values and is committed to the urgent, ongoing work of creating and sustaining an inclusive campus climate in which all are welcomed and respected, our diversity is valued, and we strive for equitable outcomes not just equal treatment.
To that end, this Course Design for Cal Poly Pomona experience strives to help faculty create actively anti-racist courses. Course Design for Cal Poly Pomona is based on specific information about our student body and our students' experiences, with particular attention to a significant cohort of our students: First generation college students.
In Fall 2023, nearly 15,000 or 55% of Cal Poly Pomona students were first generation college students, defined as first in their family to go to college. Many of these students are also low-income, and many are also Hispanic or Latino/a, Black, Asian, Native American, Pacific Islander, multi-racial, and international.
Cal Poly Pomona students are fiercely determined to succeed, and we can support them by "uncovering" the hidden rules of college and the hidden rules of our disciplines, and by actively welcoming them and working to help them feel valued and respected, to feel that they belong. The importance of the faculty role in their success cannot be over-stated, as we interact with every single one of them. Our classes are a critical environment -- and the good news is, it's often not too difficult and is often very rewarding to create an environment in which they thrive.
Happily, course design and teaching strategies that support success for first generation students tend to support non-first-gen students as well. So, we're not doing extra work for first-gen students: We're doing effective work for ALL students.
This course design experience was developed assuming that most new tenure track faculty are new to Cal Poly Pomona and/or are newer to college teaching and/or have not delved much into the scholarship of effective teaching and learning at the university level.
If you are experienced at Cal Poly Pomona and/or have done a lot of development of your teaching, that's wonderful! Your expertise is valuable, please share what you know with other faculty and with the CAFE team.
We at Cal Poly Pomona respectfully acknowledge the original caretakers of this land, the Tongva peoples, and all of their ancestors, elders, and descendants, past, present and emerging. We also recognize this land known as Los Angeles County today is also home to many Indigenous peoples from all over, and we are grateful for the opportunity to live and work here as guests on these lands, the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Tongva. Members of the CAFE team are settlers on this land.
How to use this Course Design resource
There is a LOT of material in this Canvas site. Please do not feel like you have to go through everything all at once. Instead, feel free to pick and choose what you need as you develop your courses for Cal Poly Pomona. In other words, this is a buffet rather than a 20-course banquet!
As this is a publicly accessible, non-facilitated and non-attended resource, there are no required assignments or activities. There are suggested reflections and activities.
How to get help
The Center for the Advancement of Faculty Excellence (CAFE) has a team of consultants, instructional designers, multimedia developers, and instructional technology experts that you are very welcome and encouraged to call upon!
I. Schedule
How much time will this take?
We recommend scheduling 2 hours per week to go through the materials and activities in this course, plus as much more time as needed to prepare your courses. In CAFE's experience, a high-quality new course requires a good 20 - 30 hours to prepare (and then 8-10 hours per week during the semester to actually teach).
II. Goals
Foundational knowledge
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- Information on basic characteristics of the Cal Poly Pomona student body and your major in particular
- Cal Poly Pomona policies regarding teaching
- Basic literature on strategies for inclusive teaching, anti-racist teaching, and fostering belonging, especially for first generation students
Application
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- Create draft syllabi for Fall 2024 classes that align with CPP policies and are student-friendly
- Begin to prepare course materials (activities, assignments, identify content) for Fall 2024 that support student success
Integration
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- Identify some ways that teaching in your discipline can align with and enhance your disciplinary scholarship, and vice versa
- Make a plan so that teaching fits into your life and doesn't take over your life
Human dimension
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- Form a community of peers among the new faculty cohort
- Recognize the value of reflective practice for sustaining yourself and supporting your students; plan reflection strategies and calendar reflection time
Caring
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- Begin to draft your teaching philosophy with regard to Cal Poly Pomona's student body, mission, and values
- Form a habit of viewing students through an asset-based, funds-of-knowledge lens, rather than a deficit-based lens
- Begin to draft your teaching philosophy with regard to Cal Poly Pomona's student body, mission, and values
Note: We used the Taxonomy of Significant Learning Outcomes (Fink, 2003 and 2013) as a framework for design.
III. Course Materials
Computer and Internet Connection
You will need access to a computer and Internet to complete work. You will need to use Zoom to participate in optional synchronous discussions.
The Canvas Course site
There are weekly activities in each module that include considering background information (articles, websites, videos, podcasts), reflections, and making progress on your own course development.
IV. Course Community Agreements:
By participating in the Course Design for Cal Poly Pomona experience, you are consenting to abide by these community agreements in good faith to the best of your ability.
- Seek to learn about, understand, and support others
- Think through and re-read your course materials and think before speaking to avoid negative impacts on others, regardless of intent
- Express all thoughts, verbally and written, in ways that do not threaten or dehumanize others by forms of oppression such as racism, sexism in any form, ableism, xenophobia, religious prejudice, etc.
- Uphold academic integrity standards including documenting the use of gAI in your course materials.
These agreements are based in part on the California State University shared values. The CSU is committed to promoting and maintaining a respectful and professional working, living, and learning environment. All members of the CSU community are therefore expected to communicate with respect; not discriminate against, harass, or treat another individual differently based on their identities or protected personal characteristics; treat each other fairly; take responsibility for their actions or lack thereof, and consider how their conduct impacts others; and honor principles of free speech and academic freedom.
V. Disability Statement
Cal Poly Pomona, and CAFE in particular, is committed to providing a barrier-free environment for learning and an electronic environment that is accessible to everyone, including individuals with disabilities. If you need accommodations in this resource, please contact the CAFE team.