Advancing Cultural Competency Certification for Faculty (FAC-ACCC)

What is the FAC-ACCC?

Many extremely important DEIB issues need to be addressed both in and out of the classroom. The original Advancing Cultural Competency Certification program (ACCC) was designed to raise awareness of DEIB issues across campus for faculty and staff. The goal was to help participants promote social change in each person’s sphere(s) of influence.

The FAC-ACCC has been modified to focus specifically on the classroom environment. That is, the FAC-ACCC focuses on teaching and advising issues that have been identified as challenges by students across marginalized identities (e.g., students with disabilities, race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual identity, religion). Our series of collaborative workshops centers student voices by using both the quantitative data that students provided in the 2023 campus climate study report as well as qualitative data (interviews) assessing underrepresented students’ experiences with microaggressions in the classroom. We will explore areas of challenge for classroom instructors via discussion, readings, and the data from the most recent student campus climate survey. Emphasis will be placed on collaboratively developing concrete strategies for change (in the classroom: pedagogy, structure, syllabus, discussions; advising/mentoring; community-building within departments). 

This specific program was developed for faculty and staff who are teaching in a classroom setting. Workshops were developed and are facilitated by two members of the psychology department: Monica Schneider and Jennifer Katz.

NOTE: For faculty who have already participated in the ACCC, this series will address some of the same issues discussed in ACCC but with a much more directed focus on specific issues and challenges faced by faculty who are teaching and advising. You’re more than welcome to join this cohort even if you have already participated in ACCC!

Workshops

Our workshops are active and discussion-oriented. To earn certification and receive the sticker, you must attend all of the seven of the two hour workshop meetings on campus. For Fall 2026, meetings will take place from 3:30 to 5:30 on Wednesday afternoons between Sept 2 and Oct 14. Topics include:

1. welcome: social identity, power and privilege, transformative education (Sep 2)

2. implicit bias (Sep 9)

3. microaggressions (Sept 16)

4, microaggression interventions (Sept 23)

5. stereotype threat (Sept 30)

6. facilitating difficult dialogues (Oct 7)

7. action plans; next steps (Oct 14)

FAC-ACCC Certified Faculty Members (as of spring 2026):

Cathy Adams, History

Dawn Aguilar, Math

Jim Allen, Psychology and Neuroscience

Doug Baldwin, Math

Marcy Berger, School of Education

Sonya Bilocerkowyca, English and Creative Writing

Hanna Brant, Political Science and International Relations

Carrie Green, Math

Dori Farthing, Geology

Joan Floriano, Music

Caroline Haddad, Math

Erin Harris, Math

Brenna McCaffrey, Anthropology

Kathy Mapes, History

Sam Newberry, Biology

James Oigara, School of Education

Jeff Peterson, Chemistry

Rajendra Ramoon-Maharaj, Theater

Michael Rozalski, School of Education

Melissa Sutherland, Math

Jennifer Waddington, School of Education

Nick Warner, Geology

Karleen West, Political Science and International Relations