Faculty Enrichment Grants Awarded

One project to promote on-campus communication across disciplines and another to implement a unique multicultural/diversity training program have been awarded this year’s Faculty Enrichment Grants.

Stacy Pointer has been awarded $2,000 for “Writing/Critical Thinking Across the Curriculum,” a project that will develop an interdisciplinary website containing helpful advice on writing assignments and writing guidelines. All instructors could access this information to help them integrate more critical thinking/writing assignments into their courses. For instance, an English Instructor could meet with an Art Instructor to assist with a student’s writing project, providing that individual with handouts and/or guidelines to include in the assignment sheet about expectations of grammar errors.

Bailey Drechsler has been awarded $1,337.50 for her project, entitled “Multicultural Diversity/Sensitivity Training Certification Program.” Drechsler hopes to make this program, given by StirFry Seminars and Consultation, a flex activity for faculty. The founder of the program is Lee Mun Wah, a nationally know diversity trainer, community therapist and filmmaker. Unlike traditional diversity training, which focuses on the legalities of discrimination and academic concepts of race relations and multicultural sensitivity, Lee Mun Wah approaches diversity training with an emphasis on the process of interpersonal dynamics, communication and community building.