FIIT 2019-20 cohort standing on the sky bridge in the MU Student Center. Photo with lots of natural light, MIZ pennant hanging in the background.

Promoting inclusive pedagogies is a crucial component of our effort to develop and maintain diverse student bodies, faculty, and curriculum at Mizzou, and to actively foster a living, learning, and working community where everyone is valued and inspired to reach their full potential. The Faculty Institute for Inclusive Teaching (FIIT) brings together a cross-disciplinary network of faculty to explore promising practices around inclusiveness in the undergraduate classroom.

A cohort-based program that combines expert facilitation with peer-to-peer learning, FIIT supports faculty in identifying course-specific improvements and builds faculty capacity for inclusive excellence in the classroom. Through the use of case studies, self-awareness exercises, dialogue, and instructional skills, the Institute enhances faculty’s content knowledge about inclusive pedagogy as well as classroom skills.

Following the Institute, participants submit an individual action plan with specific goals. In subsequent months, they have opportunities to reconnect and discuss their progress as well as any inclusion-related challenges that have emerged. Within a year of completing FIIT, faculty members submit a report on how participation in the Institute has impacted their teaching, and how they have applied the principles of inclusive pedagogy at Mizzou.

All faculty members engaged in undergraduate education are encouraged to apply. For more information, contact Dr. Elisa Glick

Testimonials

“This program has been one of the best series I’ve been a part of in professional development and pedagogy. It has been inspiring to see so much dedication to quality teaching and mentoring with peers in other units and the support from the program’s leadership was phenomenal.”

Jordan A. Booker, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Psychological Sciences

“The FIIT program offered me vital tools to cultivate an inclusive, safe classroom environment built on trust and respect.  It also provided me with a community of faculty whose commitment to student success in the classroom was motivational and inspiring.”

Ilyana Karthas, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of History & Affiliate Faculty of Women’s and Gender Studies
Recipient of the Maxine Shutz Award for Distinguished Teaching

“One of the key functions of FIIT is to build a community of teachers who strive to make their classrooms more inclusive. Being part of FIIT’s first cohort and then a member of the Advisory Council has let me see and be part of truly transformative networks on our campus.”

Martha Kelly
Associate Professor, German & Russian Studies

“FIIT gave me the opportunity to open my eyes to my teaching shortcomings in regards to diversity & inclusion. It made me realize that my idea of “welcoming, kind and approachable” as a teacher was missing something very important: the perspective of people different than me. Thank you so much, FIIT leadership!”

Mauro Palmero
Assistant Teaching Professor, Hospitality Management

“Being a part of FIIT allowed me to explore ideas and issues surrounding inclusivity in the classroom, on campus, and in interactions with my colleagues. Learning from and interacting with other faculty members in my cohort provided me more insight into how courses are taught across campus, allowed me the freedom to engage in difficult conversation, and gave me the encouragement to be bold in pursuing ways to make my teaching more inclusive in ways I hadn’t considered before.”

Patricia M. Quackenbush, M.S.
Instructor, Soil and Environmental Sciences
Doctoral student, Soil Science
School of Natural Resources

“FIIT has been a wonderful experience, providing me with generous support and excellent resources.  In FIIT I have learned how to incorporate inclusive teaching strategies that will benefit my students, and I have forged long lasting professional relationships with my peers across the university.”

Penny Smith-Parris
Associate Teaching Professor
Online English 1000 Coordinator
Department of English