Inclusive & Equitable Pedagogy Program

IEP Courses

The IEP Program offers four online courses to USF faculty, staff, and graduate students. The IEP Course is an introduction to inclusive and equitable pedagogy, the TRUTH Framework Course expands on these concepts more in-depth, the Putting the "U" in UDL course outlines Universal Design for Learning principles that support accessibility, and the Fostering a Sense of Belonging Course explores strategies and concepts that create community. 

These courses are offered on a rotating basis, with the IEP and Fostering a Sense of Belonging Courses occurring during the fall semester and the TRUTH Framework and Putting the "U" in UDL Courses in the spring.

TRUTH FRAMEWORK COURSE

truth-framework

The TRUTH Framework is a reflection tool developed by Dr. Denise Davis-Cotton (2021). Each of the five levels (Teach, Reach, Unite, Transform, Heal) of the TRUTH Framework represents an intentional growth progression from Teach (self-inquiry) to Heal (collaborative interactions). 

These approaches create a culture in higher education that: recognizes identities of self and others; identifies improvement strategies that benefit all students of differing abilities and perspectives; creates new and meaningful relationships; and supports an inclusive and equitable education that empowers differences and fosters a sense of belonging. This course asks participants to reflect on how they might apply concepts from each level in higher education.
 
This course will run from Jan. 21 to Mar. 9. Please register at this link by Jan. 21.

Putting the "U" in UDL

Universal Design for Learning is a framework that seeks to make learning accessible for all students. UDL proposes there is no one right way to learn, and similarly, we believe there is no one right way to teach. For this reason, we invite you to come to this course with curiosity: what are you already doing? what is already working for your students? what would you like to try?

The goal of this course is to give you ideas for designing, or redesigning your courses in a way that meets your students' needs and develops your students' agency, rather than providing you with a set of standards that you must follow.

This course will run from Feb. 10 through Mar. 23. Register at this link by Feb. 7.

FOSTERING A SENSE OF BELONGING COURSE

As a university community, we strive to cultivate an environment in which everyone can excel and is valued. This course seeks to promote a sense of belonging amongst students and individuals working at USF. 

Over three modules, explore what belonging is, the role of belonging in higher education, and frameworks and strategies that promote students' sense of belonging. This course was developed in partnership with Dr. Ruthmae Sears, Kelley Schuler, and contributions from USF faculty and staff. 

The course will be offered again in Summer 2025.

Introduction to Equitable Pedagogy

This online, asynchronous course was developed by a team of USF faculty and staff facilitators, to support faculty creating inclusive and equitable learning experiences. In Fall 2022, the course was revised to incorporate more accessibility content and resources. 

The course comprises four modules:

  • Identity and Bias
  • Fostering an Inclusive Classroom Community
  • Difficult Conversations
  • Inclusive Frameworks 

The course will be offered again in Fall 2025.