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Summer Institute tackles virtual teaching and learning

Nearly all the of the sessions were held virtually as a safety measure due to COVID-19.  The pandemic's impact influenced the Institute's  topics, which ranged from virtual teaching and learning to remotely accessing digital twin technology to creating dynamic online lectures.

With the past year’s heightening of racial and social justice issues across the country and higher education institutions, the Institute presented participants with the opportunity to engage in discussions on the role of (DEI) Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in student success.

Keynote speaker and equity thought leader Tia Brown McNair, Vice President in the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Student Success and Executive Director for the Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation (TRHT) Campus Centers at the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U), offered three sessions on building culturally responsive campus cultures. TRHT’s mission focuses on quality and equity in education as a foundation for excellence.

“We believe it is important for us to focus on what it means to educate for democracy and in service to democracy,” McNair said.  “It is about helping students be fully prepared for work, life and productive citizenship and making sure they are seeking opportunities to develop proficiencies in key competencies they know are critical to their success.”

McNair shared research and central concepts from her book, From Equity Talk to Equity Walk: Expanding Practitioner Knowledge for Racial Justice in Higher Education, and encouraged attendees to go beyond developing practices, policies and structures to becoming authentic and effective equity practitioners. “Before you can transform systems and structures, you must do the people work first.”

For more information about Southwest’s Summer Institute and other professinal development opportunities, contact Dr. Jennifer Townes, associate dean of Professional Development at Jtownes1@southwest.tn.edu.