Author(s):
NeedThis poster will describe how we are building capacity in the Center for Infrastructure Transformation and Education (CIT-E), a faculty community of practice (CoP). The increased capacity will position CIT-E to be able to fully support change in the way civil and environmental engineering (CEE) education approaches diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (DEIJ). By integrating DEIJ into their teaching, research, and service commitments, CEE faculty members are positioned to be the change agents responsible for transitioning our nation’s inequitable infrastructure into equitable infrastructure. Guiding QuestionOur practical inquiry is to identify gaps in the existing CIT-E CoP and to learn how best to build capacity in CIT-E to meet the needs of the CEE higher education community.Outcomes Gather evidence of successful institutional efforts that positively impact DEI – An undergraduate research team worked with the PIs to develop lists of researchers and educators who have implemented aspects of DEIJ into their courses, curricula, and/or organizations. Further, the team has conducted a systematic literature review and will share a public bibliometric database of these resources through Zotero. Assess CIT-E resources and needs – A SWOT analysis was conducted with the support of an external partner, who reviewed web infrastructure and hosted three meetings to develop a SWOT quadrant chart and recommendation report. Faculty members beyond the NSF project team joined the discussion to add their viewpoints on the SWOT quadrants. Evaluate Community of Practice as an appropriate Change Theory – Through structured conversations with members of our external advisory group, we have explored how change happens in the area of DEIJ in higher education and studied how Community of Practice might serve as a theory of change.Build team capacity through Team Science professional development – We conducted several Team Science workshops, where we documented and improved our communal procedures and practice and addressed some of the weaknesses of the SWOT analysis. Some of the key topics included in the workshop were a) expanding our ability to participate in a shared vision, b) understanding the importance of diversity and practice using tools for inclusive teamwork, c) enhancing our awareness of developing shared language, d) exploring and practice collaborative writing, e) drafting team charters, and f) developing guidelines for decision making. Broader ImpactsIn strengthening and further educating the community of practice that already exists through CIT-E, we have cultivated the networks and partnerships that promote the exchange of ideas, methods, and materials throughout the CEE academic community. We have engaged under-represented graduate and undergraduate students as part of this work. Ultimately, as civil and environmental engineers approach infrastructure development and management in new ways, we are moving toward more equitable infrastructure and a more just society.
Coauthors
Frederick Paige, Virginia Tech University, Arlington, VA; Kristen Sanford, Lafayette University, Easton, PA; Rodolfo Valdes-Vasquez, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
