Improving Student Success through Faculty Learning: Creating Cultural Change through Communities of Practice

Program Abstract: ISSUES-X (Investigating Student Success Using Evidence-Based Strategies-Expanded) is an institutional transformation initiative within the College of Natural Science (CNS) at California State University, San Bernardino, a Hispanic-Serving Institution serving over 80 percent underrepresented and first-generation students. The fundamental goal of ISSUES-X is to improve STEM student retention by creating faculty-driven cultural change within CNS, leading to improved student learning. Utilizing a community of practice model, we implement and sustain holistic, coherent professional development opportunities and structures to redesign courses and enhance instruction by incorporating equity-minded, evidence-based teaching practices. Highlights include multiple faculty learning communities (FLCs), including ones specifically for department chairs, non-tenure-line faculty or new tenure-line faculty; summer workshops; and frequent informal faculty meetups, particularly valuable during pandemic-necessitated changes. Our facilitated discussion will focus on 1) institutionalizing these practices and cultural changes, 2) modifying this model for other institutional contexts, and 3) seeking future collaborations with other institutions.