With funding from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and investment by Bates College, the Inclusive Excellence initiative was launched in 2018. The focus was on areas that had the highest potential for significant cultural and curricular change. Our overarching goal was for any student at Bates who is interested in STEM to be provided with an inclusive curriculum, support structures, and dedicated faculty and staff mentors to ensure that they have the opportunity to thrive.

Statement of Commitment and History

• Creating learning environments where students flourish
• Fostering cohorts and mentoring
• Faculty and staff committed to the success of STEM students
• Value and strengthen a culture of self-reflection, revision and assessment

Since the initiative began, we have continually worked to shift faculty attitudes and practices toward greater use of inclusive pedagogies and learning models that will promote student success. That work has resulted in broad curricular changes, redefined the first year science curriculum by introducing research experiences in a students’ first semester at Bates, and provided opportunities for students from groups underrepresented in STEM at Bates to engage in a four-year program of professional development and learning.

What is Inclusive Excellence?: How Bates defines the goals of its project, and a link to more information about Inclusive Excellence from HHMI.

The Inclusive Excellence Leadership Team: The members of the leadership team, and a bit about them.