How to LEAP
LEAP facilitators begin work with an academic unit through a needs assessment conversation to join the unit in their work and gain an understanding of unit goals, activities, strengths, and challenges. From there, the LEAP work for an academic unit will likely evolve as it takes place over an 18-month to two-year process through a variety of strategic planning work, tailored to the needs of the academic unit or partnership of units.
Most efforts will involve doing some of the following, which can (and should) happen non-linearly:
Reflect
Reflect on and assess the classroom climate, curriculum, and pedagogical approaches of the unit. This work may include, among other activities:
- Faculty self-reflection exercises
- Curricular inventory and mapping
- Student and faculty surveys, focus groups, or other data gathering
- Conversations, listening sessions, and incorporating any data and lessons learned from existing work
Learn
Learn about principles and practices of inclusive pedagogy and other related topics to inform the unit’s self-assessment and reflection process. Opportunities include:
- Workshops for your department/unit
- Teaching circles and peer reading groups
- Engaging with curated reading lists, discipline-specific content, and online resources
- Bringing in external speakers or resources
Commit
Commit to a plan. This will likely involve:
- Naming priority work areas with a focus on classroom climate, course and curriculum content, and pedagogical approaches
- Determining actions and changes to carry out
- Developing a timeline for carrying out plans associated with each area
- Identifying resources to help support the work
Implement
Implement your plan. This work may include:
- Adopting the changes that you’ve identified
- Evaluating the impact of the work
- Iterating on the work by developing a process for continuous improvement and renewal of commitments
Ready to apply? We look forward to working with you!
Please submit the LEAP Initiative Application for Academic Units/Schools/Programs. We are accepting applications on a rolling basis.
The LEAP initiative is a partnership with the Doyle Engaging Difference Program.