Purdue Week of SEISMIC, April 4-8, focuses on classroom equity, inclusivity

Do you wonder how you can make your classroom more equitable and inclusive?

The Center for Instructional Excellence invites the Purdue community to the Purdue Week of SEISMIC (SEISMIC: Sloan Equity and Inclusion in STEM Introductory Courses) April 4-8, 2022.

There will be opportunities for the entire Purdue community (faculty, instructors, graduate and undergraduate students) to engage with the SEISMIC collaboration. With a goal of building equitable and inclusive environments for students in introductory STEM courses, SEISMIC brings together members from 11 public research universities, including Purdue, from across the United States. Visit the SEISMIC website for further information on the collaboration.

Purdue is focused on promoting equity in the classroom and beyond. The week of SEISMIC will offer stimulating and thoughtful conversations, inspiring guest speakers, and ways in which you can become part of this important SEISMIC community. Following are descriptions of the events that are open to the entire Purdue community. To register for SEISMIC events, please visit: Purdue Week of SEISMIC registration.

Presentation: Opportunities to Engage with the SEISMIC Collaboration

Wed., April 6, 11 a.m.-12 noon

PMU 231 – Sagamore Room

Virtual and in-person

This session presented by Nita Tarchinski, SEISMIC Project Manager, details the various ways individuals can engage with the collaboration, including pathways for STEM instructors, discipline-based education researchers, students, staff members, and more.

Presentation: Behind the Diversity Numbers: Achieving Racial Equity on Campus

Wed., April 6, 2-3 p.m.

PMU 231 – Sagamore Room

Virtual and in-person

This session, presented by the author of the book by the same name, W. Carson Byrd, will discuss his book and, more generally, how to achieve racial equity on campus by using data and evidence. Participants will read one chapter of the book before the presentation. The first 20 participants who register to attend in person will receive a copy of the book.

Presentation: Questioning Classroom Routine to Develop Equity-Minded Practice

Thurs., April 7, 12 noon–1:30 p.m.

Virtual only

This session, presented by Susan J. Cheng and Heather A. Rypkema, will discuss ways in which instructors’ classroom routines can develop equity-minded practices.

Keynote: Promoting Equity and Justice through Pedagogical Partnerships

Fri., April 8, 9:30–10:45 a.m.

SC 239

Virtual and in-person

This session, presented by one of the co-authors of the book by the same name, Alison Cook Sather, will examine pedagogical partnership as ways to address the deep inequity and systemic racism that pervade our colleges and universities. Pedagogical partnership can be a powerful tool to enhance equity, inclusion, and justice in our classrooms and curricula. These partnerships create opportunities for students from underrepresented and equity-seeking groups to collaborate with faculty and staff to revise and reinvent pedagogies, assessments, and course designs, positioning equity and justice as core educational aims.

Book Reading Group: Promoting Equity and Justice through Pedagogical Partnerships

Begins Fri., April 8, 3–4:30 p.m.

Rawls 1057

First session in-person only

This session presented by one of the co-authors of the book by the same name, Alison Cook Sather, will engage participants in a discussion of the book. This discussion will continue through April/May and will be led by Dan Guberman from CIE. The first 30 registered participants will receive a book.

The Purdue Week of SEISMIC is hosted by the Center for Instructional Excellence, part of the  Innovative Learning hub.

Purdue Fort Wayne faculty and staff who are interested in similar topics, can reach out to CELT, celt@pfw.edu, to discuss upcoming workshops, specialized workshops, one-on-one course and learning activity development sessions, and certificate opportunities.

Purdue Northwest faculty and staff may direct teaching-related questions to the Center for Faculty Excellence at cfe@pnw.edu, 219-989-8328, or CFE’s website. Technical support questions should be directed to The Office of Instructional Technology by email oit@pnw.edu or OIT’s website or through their Virtual Help Desk.

Purdue Global faculty may direct teaching-related questions to askctl@purdueglobal.edu. Technical support questions should be directed to TechSupport@purdueglobal.edu or 866-522-7747 (toll-free).