CTSI Equity Roundtable – Students-as-Partners in Action: Reflections on the Development of a Departmental Handbook for Inclusive Teaching and Mentorship

Facilitators: 
Dr. Jessica Dere, Associate Professor, Teaching Stream, and Associate Chair, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion   
Amman Khurana, Undergraduate student and Work Study Research Assistant, Department of Psychology, UTSC  

In this Equity Roundtable, the presenters will discuss the implementation of a students-as-partners approach in the development of a departmental handbook on inclusive teaching and mentorship. Drawing on a recent initiative in the Department of Psychology at UTSC, the session will highlight key lessons learned in co-developing this resource with faculty, staff, and student partners. Presenters will share insights from their experiences, offering practical strategies for integrating student perspectives into the development of teaching and mentorship resources. Concrete suggestions will be shared, including strategies for navigating challenges such as knowledge gaps, clarity of roles and expectations, and collaboration among faculty and student partners. Participants will be invited to reflect on the value of student involvement in shaping effective educational resources and to consider ways of applying these practices in their own contexts. Examples from the handbook’s content will also be shared, offering actionable ideas for implementation.