Designing Learner-Centered & Equitable Courses with ACUE banner

ANTH 101. Cultural Diversity

Student friendly Syllabus/ Inclusive course / Multiculturalism

Reflection on Instructional Change:

There are several ACUE practices that I have implemented in my ANTH 101 Cultural Diversity course. One of them is the design of a learner-centered and student-friendly syllabus. Since the other practices I incorporated are reflected in the syllabus, I will specifically discuss the changes I made to enhance its accessibility for students. Initially, I was proud of my syllabus, but after the ACUE course, I realized it needed modifications to be more welcoming and user-friendly. The general tone of the initial syllabus was cold and overly contractual. Seeking to correct this, I comprehensively revised the language in the syllabus to ensure it was warmer and more accessible for students.

I also recognized positive practices I had already established, such as not requiring students to purchase textbooks. I believe they shouldn't have to pay for materials, especially with rising tuition costs. This policy wasn’t clearly communicated in the previous syllabus, but in the current version, I have added a section titled “Textbook & Course Materials” to address it, as well as the use of other resources like music, podcasts, and captioned audiovisual materials. I also expanded the use of images in the syllabus, with a broader selection that better reflects the course content. Additionally, I included icons from campus centers and offices in a “Helpful Student Resources” section to enhance visual engagement.

Evidence of Instructional Change

Evidence of Learning
Evidence 1	Evidence 2	Evidence 3
Screenshot video session reviewing the syllabus for ANTH 101.	Creating an inclusive course: accommodations policy clip & assignment rubric

Course Syllabus course syllabus

Faculty Bio

Faculty Bio
	Dr Ahmed Correa Alvarez - I am an interdisciplinary scholar from Cuba, and I work as a lecturer for the Anthropology Department at Sac State. My research engages with topics such as borders, migration and refuge, nation and citizenship, with special attention to Latin America and the Caribbean. I hold a doctorate in Interdisciplinary Humanities from the University of California, Merced, a BA in Law from the University of Havana, and a Master’s Degree in Sociology from the Latin American School of Social Sciences (FLACSO) in Quito, Ecuador.

Program Sponsors
	This work was supported by: National Science Foundation Hispanic Serving Institution Project STEM Zone DUE 1832335 US Department of Education Hispanic Serving Institution Project Degree with a Purpose P031S210061 US Department of Education Hispanic Serving Institution Project STEM4Equity P031C210012 *Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation or the US Department of Education.