Inclusive Excellence in the Classroom

At UNK, inclusive excellence is rooted in our values.

  • People matter. The diversity of our students, faculty and staff is essential to our educational mission. Our backgrounds, identities, and lived experiences enrich our learning community.
  • The learning environment matters. We are committed to an inclusive and equitable student-centered learning environment. In our classrooms we exchange ideas and opinions with respect for one another.
  • Learning matters. Preparing students to value critical thinking, mutual respect, and open communication is essential for lifelong learning. We are building a community that protects and fosters intellectual inquiry and embraces diverse perspectives.

The Office of Inclusive Excellence upholds UNK’s commitment to supporting people, environments, and inclusive student-centered learning. In our classrooms and on campus, we strive to foster learning environments that honor the identities of our students, recognize their lived experiences, and support diverse perspectives.

Curriculum, pedagogy, and classroom discussions may explore challenging issues and different perspectives that promote knowledge and understanding. Leaning into new knowledge and reflecting on our experiences with diversity and differing perspectives presented within the classroom and on campus support our commitment to life-long learning and informed citizenship.

Our campus, faculty, staff, and students are work in progress. If you are impacted by a classroom practice or experience that does not reflect our campus commitment to inclusive excellence, we encourage you to consider the following steps:

  1. Students’ behavior in the classroom is addressed in the Student Code of Conduct, https://www.unk.edu/student_affairs/code-of-conduct.php. Sharing your concern with the instructor will inform them of your needs and assist both of you in addressing the situation.
  2. Faculty-related concerns are best addressed by sharing your perspective with the faculty/staff member first. Choose a form of communication that you feel comfortable with (personal, via zoom, or email). Advocating for yourself can be empowering, alerts the faculty member to your needs, and allows them to improve your learning and classroom experience.
  3. If you have concerns about sharing your experience directly with the faculty/staff member or believe that such sharing did not resolve your concerns, consider visiting with the Department Chair as they are invested in your wellbeing and improving the efficacy of their faculty and pedagogy.
  4. If your concerns persist despite discussions with the faculty, chair, and/or dean, you may choose to report your concern using EthicsPoint. Reports can be made anonymously by phone or online, remain confidential, and are investigated by the UNK Office of Compliance.