In Fall 2022, CSU received a $475,000 grant from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) to foster, promote, improve, and evaluate inclusive teaching in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines. "Inclusive teaching is consciously, intentionally, and continuously engaging in teaching approaches that meet the needs of students across different identities, life experiences, and abilities" (Avram, et al., 2024).

The CSU HHMI team, pictured below, held an event on Friday, September 27, 2024, to celebrate the work that has been accomplished in Years 1 and 2, learn from one another, and discuss what they hope to achieve moving forward in Years 3-6.

The grant funds cohorts of faculty participants who implement and promote inclusive teaching practices. The first cohort, pictured below, included six faculty members who brought their work to 15 classes, impacting nearly 800 students during the Spring 2024 semester alone.

The second cohort, pictured below, includes five faculty members who will work throughout the 2024-2025 academic year to develop and implement new inclusive teaching practices in at least 18 classes, impacting over 600 students.

Across Cohorts 1 and 2, these new inclusive teaching practices will reach over 3,000 students in 60 different classes covering the Spring 2024, Fall 2024, and Spring 2025 semesters alone, not to mention future semesters and additional faculty cohorts! 

Given the emphasis on STEM disciplines in the grant, faculty participants represent the Departments of Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences, Chemistry, Mathematics and Statistics, Physics, and Psychology here at CSU. The CSU HHMI team plans to recruit a new cohort of faculty participants each academic year throughout—and hopefully beyond—the duration of the grant. Faculty participants plan to continue developing, refining, and incorporating inclusive teaching practices throughout their careers.