Where do I Start? A Pathway for Personal Growth for Faculty Committed to Creating Inclusive Classrooms

Abstract

This commentary offers insights into how accounting faculty can begin to create more inclusive, equitable experiences for students. Many faculty are well-intentioned and desire to improve the student experience, but may not know where to start. We introduce a pathway of reflection, education, and action that we believe can help faculty get started on this process. Reflection is the process of assessing one’s own identity, influences, biases, and personal experiences with diversity and privilege. Education involves seeking out information and experiences that can enhance cultural competence, particularly around gaps identified through reflection. Action refers to practical steps taken to make classrooms more inclusive, including classroom management and curricular changes. We draw upon professional experiences in academia and personal knowledge as authors with diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds to guide faculty interested in beginning to develop more inclusive classrooms.