DEVELOPING A PEDAGOGY OF EXCELLENCE C. Adolfo Bermeo, Ph.D. Senior Scholar Pell Institute for the Study of Opportunity in Higher Education

FOR SOME IN OUR SOCIETY, THE ROAD TO A UNIVERSITY EDUCATION IS WIDE OPEN  A DIRECT ROUTE  NO ROADBLOCKS  NO BARRIERS  NO DETOURS

FROM KINDERGARTEN THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL THERE IS AN EXPECTATION THAT THOSE STUDENTS  WILL SUCCEED  WILL EXCEL

AS THEY MOVE THROUGH SCHOOL THEY WILL BE :  READING INCREASINGLY COMPLEX MATERIAL  TAKING INCREASINGLY COMPLEX MATH AND SCIENCE COURSES, WITH LABS  LEARNING TO READ, WRITE, AND THINK CRITICALLY AND ANALYTICALLY

BUT THAT WILL NOT BE THE CASE FOR OTHER CHILDREN:  AFRICAN AMERICANS  LATINOS  NATIVE AMERICANS  IMMIGRANTS  THE POOR OF ALL RACES

OF EVERY 100 AFRICAN AMERICAN, LATINO, AND NATIVE AMERICAN CHILDREN :  50 WON’T GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL  10 WILL GO TO COLLEGE  8 WILL GO TO A COMMUNITY COLLEGE  2.5WILL ENTER UNIVERSITY  1 WILL GRADUATE FROM UNIVERSITY

The Changing Face of California

IN TRYING TO RESPOND TO:  Changing Demography  Changing Society  Changing Student Body

EDUCATORS OFTEN DEVELOP:  A LANGUAGE TO DESCRIBE STUDENTS:  Underprepared  Culturally Disadvantaged  Unmotivated  At Risk

CREATE PROGRAMS BASED ON:  Student Weaknesses & Deficits  Rather Than On Student Strengths & Experience

PROGRAMS THAT FOCUS ON:  Academic Survival  And On Fixing & Changing the Student to Fit the Institution

IN FACT, SCHOOLS REFLECT SOCIETY  HAVE LOWER EXPECTATIONS OF CERTAIN STUDENTS  HAVE LOWER STANDARDS IN TEACHING THOSE STUDENTS  WITH THE PREDICTABLE RESULT OF LOWER ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE

SO THE QUESTION IS: How do we develop a campus culture and climate that encourages all students to excel?

REQUIRES A RETHINKING OF OUR PROGRAM AND OF OURSELVES  WHAT DO WE DO AND WHY DO WE DO IT?  HOW DO WE DO IT?  WHO DO WE DO IT FOR?  WHAT DO WE BELIEVE ABOUT OUR STUDENTS?  WHAT DO WE EXPECT FROM OUR STUDENTS?  WHAT ARE THE RESULTS OF OUR EFFORTS?  HOW CAN WE IMPROVE?

A PEDAGOGY OF EXCELLENCE  MUST BE GROUNDED IN THE BELIEF THAT ALL STUDENTS HAVE THE: RIGHT TO AN EDUCATION CAPACITY TO LEARN POTENTIAL TO EXCEL ARE AT POTENTIAL RATHER THAN AT RISK

IT IS A PEDAGOGY THAT: COMMUNICATES CONFIDENCE IN ALL STUDENTS MOTIVATES & ENCOURAGES ALL STUDENTS TO:  EXPLORE THEIR TALENTS & ABILITIES  ASPIRE TO PERSONAL & ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE  SET THE HIGHEST STANDARDS FOR THEMSELVES  TAKE THE MOST CHALLENGING AND INSPIRING CURRICULUM

REQUIRES FACULTY, COUNSELORS, TUTORS, MENTORS THAT:  WORK WITH STUDENTS TO:  PLAN THEIR ACADEMIC PROGRAM  MONITOR THEIR ACADEMIC PROGRESS  INFORM STUDENTS ABOUT:  CAMPUS PROGRAMS & SERVICES  ENGAGE STUDENTS IN ALL ASPECTS OF:  CAMPUS LIFE

A PEDAGOGY OF EXCELLENCE REQUIRES:  AN INSTITUTIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE: THAT PROVIDES HIGH LEVELS OF SUPPORT TO EVERY STUDENT MENTORING TUTORING COUNSELING

AN ADMINISTRATION THAT:  SUPPORTS DIVERSITY IN BOTH ACTION & WORDS  PRIORITIZES RESOURCES TO ENSURE THAT DIVERSITY WORKS FOR ALL STUDENTS

A CAMPUS COMMUNITY THAT:  EXPECTS THE BEST FROM EVERY STUDENT  SETS THE HIGHEST STANDARDS FOR EVERY STUDENT  PROVIDES SUPPORT FOR EVERY STUDENT

WORKS TO:  IDENTIFY INSTITUTIONAL OBSTACLES  SEEK SOLUTIONS TO THOSE OBSTACLES  HOLDS ITSELF ACCOUNTABLE FOR EVERY STUDENT’S ACADEMIC SUCCESS  ENCOURAGES EVERY STUDENT TO THINK EXCELLENCE

BUILDS ON:  THE EXPERIENCE STUDENTS BRING TO THEIR EDUCATION  THEIR DESIRE TO CHANGE THEIR WORLD  AND THEIR LEGITIMATE RAGE ABOUT THE CONDITIONS IN THEIR WORLD

AND PROVIDES AN ACADEMIC COMMUNITY IN WHICH ALL STUDENTS CAN: BUILD ON THEIR LIFE & CULTURAL EXPERIENCE AND BE FULLY ENGAGED AND & PARTICIPATING CITIZENS IN CAMPUS LIFE

WHILE ALWAYS REMEMBERING THE BIGGER PICTURE  THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE: FIRST GENERATION LOW-INCOME UNDERREPRESENTED UNDERSERVED

WHOSE LIVES ARE OFTEN ON THE BOUNDARIES:  CULTURAL, POLITICAL, & ECONOMIC DISLOCATION AND MARGINILIZATION  FAMILY PRESSURES & RESPONSIBILIITES  FINANCIAL PRESSURES & RESPONSIBILITIES  SOCIAL PRESSURES & DEMANDS  INDIVIDUAL FEARS & ANXIETIES

AND REMAINING COMMITTED TO WHAT WE ARE ABOUT:  OPENING DOORS  INCREASING ACCESS AND OPPORTUNITY  MAKING EDUCATION AN INSTRUMENT FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE  BUILDING A MORE JUST & HUMANE SOCIETY  DEVELOPING LEADERS WHO WILL CONTINUE THE STRUGGLE TO TRANSFORM OUR SOCIETY

RESULTS AT UCLA :  Quantitative: UCLA Graduation Rates for Latino and African American students: 1985=45% 2005=83%  Qualitative: Diversity and Excellence go hand in hand

Thank you very much for your attention Tel