Creating and Sustaining the Inclusive Teaching Program for Lecturers at the University of Michigan

The University of Michigan (UM), a unionized, public four-year university, quickly realized that most lecturers teach entry- level and foundational courses at both the undergraduate and graduate levels in their disciplines. This realization, along with the launch of a multi-year Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) strategic plan in 2016, led the University of Michigan to think critically about creating better supports for lecturers off the tenure track. The final product was a professional development program exclusively for lecturers known as the Inclusive Teaching Program for Lecturers (ITPL). In focusing on lecturers, the University of Michigan ensured that inclusive and equity-focused teaching practices are embedded in classrooms across the institution and that lecturers off the tenure track are well prepared to enact such practices in their respective classrooms. To this end, the University of Michigan recognizes lecturers as a critical teaching and mentoring population by investing key resources in their professional development that, in turn, also improve student learning outcomes.