By Jennifer Pinkney Pastor

Due to the Covid Pandemic over the past two years, I have already developed liberal attendance policies and flexibility with regard to due dates for assignments. However, I can increase inclusivity and equity on my syllabus by changing the language that I use to explain my policies. Privileged students already know how to approach their professors to explain their circumstances and ask for extensions. Less sophisticated students need to know explicitly that they can reach out without fear or anxiety, and this should be communicated on the syllabus. With regard to assessments, I already use multiple assessments from which to grade students for the course. However, I can build in a lot more opportunity for extra credit points. One change I will make is to list the different ways that students can earn extra credit points on my syllabus. One activity I will emphasize is active help-seeking and resource utilization at the BMCC campus. I will encourage a scavenger hunt of resources at BMCC, and reward students with extra points for visiting multiple services such as the Learning Resource Center, the Writing Center, the Career Center, the Veteran’s Center, the Women’s Resource Center, and the Counseling Center. I will also give students extra credit points for joining student government-sponsored clubs such as the Psychology Club, or for joining a campus-based activity. Finally, I will inform students on the syllabus that they are required to check in with me at the end of each month (either in person or on Zoom) during the semester to make sure they stay on track for successful completion. This will be required and rewarded with points towards their grade.

For Cultural Competency, I will highlight a psychologist or social scientist from an under-represented minority for each module/chapter that I cover during the semester. Students will see photos of the scholar, a biography, video lectures, and any other materials that gives the student insight into the career and life of the scholar. For example, I will begin with William E. Cross, Jr. PhD who created the Cross Model of Racial Identity during the 1970s. He is an African American Psychologist who is professor emeritus at the University of Denver. There is a very nice YouTube video posted a year ago in which he talks about his life and career. His bio is also available from the American Psychological Association at: https://www.apa.org/about/governance/president/citation/cross