1. MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY: GRADUATE TEACHING ASSISTANT WORKSHOP
DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION IN THE CLASSROOM
Presented by:
Ra’Sheda Forbes
Assistant Vice President of Multicultural Affairs
Director of Holmes Cultural Diversity Center

2. MSU DIVERSITY ANALYSIS BY RACE
Current Statistics (based on Fall 2018 data retrieved from Institutional Research)
Faculty
Students
White
79.8%
71.5%
Asian
7.9%
3.3%
Black/African American
5.0%
18.5%
Hispanic
2.2%
3.25%
Multi-racial
0.9%
1.8%
American Indian/Alaskan Native
0.3%
0.6%
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
.07%
.08%
Unknown
N/A
1.0%

3. BEYOND RACE- MSU’S INCREASINGLY DIVERSE COMMUNITY
Different racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds
Different religious beliefs
Varying levels of Socio-Economic Status (SES)
LGBTQ students
Varying Dis(abilities)
Military/Veteran Status
Varying age groups
Varying political views
Combination of multiple group attributes
Approximately 36% of our students are pell eligible; 650 veterans/service members and 2,600 dependents at the University

4. Personal View of World/Receipt, Process, and Relay of Information
Education
Values
Gender
Personality Style
Level of assertiveness
Lifestyle
Sexual Orientation
Likes/Dislikes
Political Views
Ethnicity
Social Status
Race
Disability
Learning preferences
Religious beliefs
Thinking Style
Job
Age
Personal View of World/Receipt, Process, and Relay of Information

5. HOW DOES DIVERSITY IMPACT YOU AS A GTA?
Varying learning styles and preferences
Multiple backgrounds and perspectives
Varying needs and values
Varying communication styles and preferences
Broaden your teaching to address multiple learning styles and develop classroom norms that emphasize respect, fairness and equity. How can you do this? Small group assignments, case studies, team-based learning, service-learning projects, videos, personal stories, guest speakers, encouraging students to study abroad, films, etc. Provide accommodations for students who may have learning disabilities.

6. EQUALITY VS. EQUITY

7. BEST PRACTICES FOR TEACHING IN A DIVERSE ENVIRONMENT
Develop an inclusive teaching mindset.
Create a structured environment and sharpen your communication style.
Embrace periods of silence.
Allow anonymous participation.
Treat each individual with respect and awareness of their unique identities.
Vary instructional strategies to connect with different learning styles.
Avoid use of idioms and other slang or jargon.
Consider reducing the stakes of major papers and tests.
Use examples that reflect diverse backgrounds/experiences, not just those that relate to your own experience.
Use gender-neutral language in presentations.
Do not ask or expect a student to represent the views of all members of his/her group.
Understand your own biases and how they may influence your teaching, grading, and communication with students.
If you have control of the course design/textbook selection/assignments, be sure that materials include viewpoints from a variety of cultures.
Set clear expectations
Remind students that they belong--- Imposter Syndrome is real!
Recognize that each student that is coming to you are starting their journey of learning at their own unique point

8. ORGANIZATIONS

9. NATIONAL CENTER FOR FACULTY DEVELOPMENT & DIVERSITY

10. Inclusion through Innovation

11. CONTACT
Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion 106 McArthur Hall
Holmes Cultural Diversity Center
220 Colvard Union