The Activating Inclusive Excellence at Mason (AIEM) program is a campus-wide professional learning program developed as a result of collaborations among the Stearns Center for Teaching and Learning, the Office of Faculty Affairs, and the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Office at George Mason University.
This program supports individuals through workshops and resources. The program also helps units meet the goals outlined in their Inclusive Excellence Plans and related to instructors’ participation in professional development programming. This program is designed to align specifically with both the institution’s strategic directions and institutional initiatives around broadly inclusive teaching and supporting all students.
AIEM – Teach is a credential that individual faculty can earn to demonstrate their commitment to the institution’s initiatives and goals around inclusive teaching and support learning and success for all students. The AIEM – Teach program is a faculty development curriculum that scaffolds learning experiences for new and continuing faculty and current or future teaching assistants and graduate student instructors of record across all disciplines and academic ranks. Through regularly offered workshops, AIEM – Teach provides opportunities for faculty to document their growth and achievements in inclusive teaching through credential earnings at several levels.
Any participation should be applied directly to the Level of AIEM –Teach and will not double count towards another Level or program (e.g., Campus Champions).
Level 1. Inclusive Teaching Essentials
This level is ideal for new and continuing faculty as well as graduate student instructors who want to learn about and be able to implement new strategies into their current and future courses. To earn the AIEM Teach – Level 1 Credential, participants must complete the one required workshop and any three of the other workshops listed, then submit the AIEM – Teach Level 1 Credential Form.
Currently offered workshops:
- Required: Fostering Engagement and Belonging with Inclusive Classroom Techniques
- Plus (any three of these)
- Preparing Your Course and Yourself for Difficult Classroom Discussions and Situations
- How to Handle Difficult Classroom Discussions and Situations in the Moment
- (Re-)Designing Syllabi for Inclusive Classrooms that Support Learners and Instructors
- Successfully (Re-)Designing and Proposing a Mason Core Course (for instructors submitting courses to Mason Core designations)
- Past participants of the Campus Champions, First Year Five, or other Stearns Center programming who attended these workshops for another credential or program are not eligible to double count attendance for the AIEM – Teach designation.
Level 2. Inclusive Teaching Competencies
This level significantly advances participants’ inclusive teaching skills. AIEM – Teach Level 2 should be completed after Level 1. Workshops attended to earn the Level 1 credential may not double count or be repeated to earn the Level 2 credential.
To earn the AIEM – Teach Level 2 credential, participants complete three workshops, submit the AIEM – Teach Level 2 reflection form, and submit a teaching artifact (i.e., annotated syllabus, assignment sheet, lesson plan, or personal development plan) noting development because of participation in this professional development.
Currently offered workshops:
- Hands-on Syllabus Workshop: (Re-)Designing Syllabi for Inclusive Classrooms that Support Learners and Instructors
- Successfully (Re-)Designing and Proposing a Mason Core Course (for instructors submitting courses to Mason Core designations)
- Supporting Student Learning through Self-Awareness and Reflection to Navigate a Complex, Global Society
- Surviving to Thriving: Incorporating Trauma-Informed Instructional Practices
- Flexibility, Fairness, and Post-Pandemic Students
- Helping Students Learn in Difficult Classroom Conversations and Situations
- Supporting First Generation College Students
- More opportunities to come!
Past participants of the Campus Champions, First Year Five, or other Stearns Center programming who attended these workshops for another credential or program are not eligible to double count attendance for the AIEM – Teach designation.
Level 3. Inclusive Teaching Proficiencies
Coming Soon!
Please contact our team (Dr. Rachel Yoho, [email protected]) to gain access to the AIEM-Teach Credentialing Form once you are ready.