Inclusive Excellence and Mission-Driven Teaching

Inclusive Excellence

Inspired by our founders, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, St. Catherine University is committed to academic excellence and educating women to lead and influence in a community characterized by respect for human dignity, equity, and solidarity. The mission of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, "love of God and the dear neighbor without distinction," impels us to respond to the most urgent needs of society. We do this through intellectual inquiry which results in transformative leadership for action.

Below is a curated set of resources specifically geared toward Inclusive Excellence pedagogy. Additional information can be found on the Office of Equity and Belonging website.

Universal Design for Learning

The resources below can get you started in creating accessible content in your Canvas courses.

Accessible Design Principles

University of Minnesota. Learn the 7 Core Accessibility Skills
National Disability Authority. The 7 Principles of Universal Design
University of Washington DO-IT Center. (2019). What is the difference between accessible, usable, and universal design?

Designing for Screen Reader Accessibility

St. Kate's created a University Syllabus Template designed for screen reader accessibility
University of Connecticut, IT Services. (2018). What is a screen reader and how does it work?
Ability Net. (2021). An introduction to screen readers
WebAIM. Designing for screen reader accessibility. "WebAIM’s mission is to expand the potential of the web for people with disabilities. We empower individuals and organizations to create accessible content by providing knowledge, technical skills, tools, organizational leadership strategies, and vision." WebAIM supports web accessibility in website design and implementation.

Creating Accessible Content

Tips from Student Accessibility and Accommodations

Student Accessibility and Accommodations provides these tips and information for helping students with disabilities succeed. Since May 2020, Student Accessibility & Accommodations has seen a 40% increase in their registered students with disabilities.

We have had a surge of students register with our office throughout the pandemic (over 40% increase), and the primary concern has been mental health. Being aware of this fact may help you respond quickly and proactively to changes in student behavior that could be mental health-related. Consider entering a flag in Student Success if you're concerned about a student's possible mental health issues.

Did you know that the Tutoring & Learning Center converted over 1,000 textbooks for students who use screen readers in the 2020–2021 school year?
We have a large number of students who use screen readers for their textbooks. The largest percentage of those students are those with Learning Disabilities (not blindness).
Did you know that the Library can assist you in finding an accessible version of your article, book chapter, or document?
When making photocopies of textbooks (where two pages appear horizontally per Xeroxed page), a screen reader would not pick up the text on those documents. The Library is always happy to seek out a clean PDF version of resources (an article, or a chapter of a book) that faculty may need for their classes. (Due to copyright law, there is a limit on the number of pages we can provide, but we can generally meet the faculty member's needs).

If you have questions or comments, feel free to contact Student Accessibility and Accommodations or Academic Technology.

Anti-Racist Pedagogy

CUE Online Syllabus Review Guide

CUE’s tools are designed to help instructors explore and expand their agency for supporting racial equity in classroom experiences and outcomes.

CUE Online Syllabi Review Guide

Mission-Driven Teaching

St. Catherine University’s unique approach to mission is faculty-driven, collaborative, and integrative. The three components of the St. Catherine mission — Catholic, Women, and Liberal Arts — spring from St. Catherine’s founders, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. Learn more about the Endowed Mission Chairs.

The St. Kate's Teaching Hub offers resources and a platform for teaching and scholarly activities that foster pedagogical innovation and student success. The Hub supports faculty and staff by providing professional development opportunities and a forum for learning and exchange on issues at the forefront of higher education. Learn more about the Teaching Hub.

Inclusive Excellence and Mission-Driven Teaching