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January 22, 1998

Applications due Feb. 6 for faculty diversity seminar

For Yves Citton of the French and Italian languages and literatures department, last year's Faculty Seminar for More Inclusive Courses provided invaluable insights into diversity issues, as well as an intensive, two-week-long discussion of teaching.

"I come from Switzerland," Citton said, "and the seminar helped me a lot to understand the issues of race and gender in America." Foreign language education isn't usually viewed as a potentially explosive discipline in terms of diversity, but gender and racial tensions can be common to all classrooms, Citton said.

"It was a fantastic seminar. I would recommend it to any faculty member," he said.

Faculty interested in making their courses more inclusive in terms of gender, race and other diversity issues, both in content and in pedagogy, can apply to take part in this year's seminar, May 11-22. Sponsored by the Chancellor's Diversity Working Group, the seminar will involve readings and discussion as well as library time and presentations by University and outside experts. Stipends of $1,500 will be awarded to each of the 10 faculty members chosen.

For more information, contact the co-chairpersons of the Diversity Working Group subcommittee on curriculum: Ogle Duff, 648-7194, and Jean Ferguson-Carr, 624-6537.

Applications are due Feb. 6 to Nancy Washington, special assistant to the chancellor, 132 Cathedral of Learning.

Applicants must submit: * The syllabus of a course they have taught at Pitt and would like to make more inclusive of diversity.

* A completed application form, including a statement of the type of course enhancement sought and an explanation of why changes in the course would have a significant impact on diversity. For example, the course could be a large introductory course, approved for general education, required for majors or used to train large numbers of teaching assistants.

* A curriculum vitae.

* A letter from the applicant's department head supporting the applicant's participation.

* A recent course evaluation or a letter from a faculty colleague or student commenting on the applicant's teaching.

Selection criteria include the quality of the proposal, the number of students who would be affected, the impact of the course on a program, and the degree to which the proposed enhancements make the course address both race and gender.

Representation of tenured and tenure-stream faculty in a range of disciplines is desirable.


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