Inclusion and Equity Training Fuels Craig School Success

Practicing inclusion in everyday teaching is essential to fulfilling the University’s primary mission of education, Avalos said. “My experience is that if there isn’t equity in the classroom, students’ motivation can diminish. Students can feel isolated and that does not help in building a positive classroom atmosphere. The ultimate consequence, of course, is poor learning and bad grades.” Avalos said.

“This all goes back to the University mission statement, to educate and empower students for success,” said Dr. Jennifer Miele, interim chair of the Department of Finance and Business Law, who also co-facilitated the course.

“Fresno State students are predominantly nontraditional students. Many are first-generation university students. They’re incredibly diverse. They have jobs, families and outside responsibilities. We have to respect who our students are to meet their real needs and teach them effectively,” Miele said.

Twenty-nine Craig School faculty participated in the 10-week course during the fall 2021 semester. This pioneering group includes the first Fresno State instructors and the first business faculty in the California State University system to receive this training.