SBVC Updates Curriculum Process to Advocate for Anti-Racism Education

In order to ensure equality and inclusion for all students, San Bernardino Valley College’s Curriculum Committee is changing its review process.

Going forward, the committee will review all curriculum through a culturally responsive/equity lens. This is in response to an SBVC Academic Senate Resolution outlining the infusion of anti-racism/no hate education into the curriculum.

The new process applies to future and existing courses and programs. When working on curriculum, instructors will look at diversity and equity in textbooks and assignments and re-examine and revise course objectives and student learning to add culturally responsive content where appropriate. Students’ socioeconomic status and different learning and communication styles will also be considered.

One way instructors can learn more about equity in the classroom is through professional development activities, which can include sharing techniques on how to incorporate anti-racism and no hate education within disciplines. Academic Senate President Dr. Amy Avelar said such activities help educators “learn how systemic racism has occurred on our campus and what we can do to change it. We can even reflect on how we were taught and what was excluded.”