Curricular Diversity Resources
Creating an inclusive environment requires administrators, faculty, and students to actively engage and intentionally practice diversity. Incorporating diversity into course materials is one way institutions can provide students with the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to succeed in a diverse society. Multiple factors should be taken into consideration when creating an inclusive classroom, including course content, classroom behavior and prior biases, students’ backgrounds and skills, and the program’s current climate and context. To learn more about what COPRA has to say, view Standard 5 (Matching Operations-Student Learning) for additional guidance.
Common Concerns
- Our program does not have the infrastructure support to develop new curricula.
- Faculty are concerned that controversial topics may lead to unavoidable difficulty moments, threatening classroom teaching and learning.
- Our program has a class on diversity. How can we further incorporate diversity matters into other classes?
- How do we use current events in our courses?
- How do we define cultural competency?
Explore Resources
Additional Diversity and Inclusion Strategies
Inclusive Climate
As the public service workforce becomes increasingly diverse and globalized, it is important for accredited programs to holistically prepare students to work effectively across a more globalized context.
Student Diversity
COPRA expects that student diversity will be reflected in each aspect of accredited programs. Thus, a program should encourage diversity in its student body to help prepare students for the professional workplace.
Faculty Diversity
COPRA seeks evidence that program-specific plans are in place and are being implemented to promote faculty diversity with regard to faculty recruitment, supplemental diversity efforts, and providing a positive and supportive atmosphere.