The UToledo Equity Champions came together at the end of the semester to celebrate the work, dedication and continuous efforts of those who participated in the program.
The Equity Champions Community of Practice began in the fall 2020 semester as part of the institution’s participation in the national Student Experience Project (SEP), and concluded at the end of this academic year. In total, 139 individual faculty and staff instructors from almost every college participated in fall 2020 to spring 2023 semester cohorts.
The UToledo Equity Champions came together at the end of the semester to celebrate the work, dedication and continuous efforts of those who participated in the program.
“The community of practice model was created to provide instructors, at all levels of teaching, the infrastructure and resources needed to promote equity and student success in the classroom through the application of practical, research-based approaches designed to positively impact student experiences,” said Melissa Oddo, program manager in the Office of Student Success and Retention.
“Over the years, more instructors from different colleges and programs participated in the Equity Champions, which created a robust community of engagement and support for faculty and staff. What we did not expect was that by trying to improve the student experience, we also improved the faculty experience, as many have expressed that, through their participation, they now have an increased sense of belonging and agency for change to advance our students’ success.”
During the event, attendees reflected on and shared meaningful experiences and moments of gratitude for participating in the program. The stories shared fostered an appreciation of the work and centered the value of cross-campus collaboration and connection among faculty and staff.
“We appreciate the work of faculty and staff in the UToledo Equity Champions program,” said Dr. Angela Paprocki, chief of staff in the provost’s office, “and their commitment to fostering equitable classroom experiences for students campuswide.”
