SEA Change is a AAAS (American Association for the Advancement of Science) initiative to help academic institutions take data-informed actions to increase excellence, accessibility, and inclusivity in STEM. At UCLA, with the leadership of Dean of Life Sciences Tracy Johnson and Associate Dean Anna Lau, our SEA Change efforts have focused on improving course outcomes and reducing equity gaps for undergraduate students in STEM courses.
SEA Change at UCLA uses a Departmental Action Team model based on prior published studies that engages departments in an iterative cycle of self-assessment, data-informed action planning, and implementation. Each interested department forms an action team (i.e. DAT) that includes representation from departmental leadership, faculty including those that teach introductory courses, student advisors, and experienced teaching assistants.
This DAT meets about once per quarter over a period of 2-3 years with a facilitation team from CEILS to complete one cycle of data-informed action. First, we discuss the importance of using an equity mindset when engaging with institutional data, avoiding use of a student-deficit or instructor-deficit lens. The DATs then explore a custom dashboard, developed in collaboration with UCLA’s Academic Planning and Budget team. They use the dashboard to engage in self-assessment of equity gaps in undergraduate courses, thereby identifying 1-2 courses that they want to focus on. Next, they discuss possible explanations for the equity gaps in these focus courses and identify what data close to practice (e.g. syllabi, exams, student/instructor surveys) can be used to assess the explanations. After the data have been collected and analyzed, the DATs decide on interventions and plan assessment for the intervention.
So far, we have engaged with 6 departments across the Life Sciences and Physical Sciences at UCLA. We have seen a range of outcomes in these different departments. After participating in this process, one of the departments established regular departmental teaching team meetings to foster more discussion among instructors teaching core courses. Another department used their findings from the DAT process for their program review to advocate for a teaching professor and a change in course sequencing.
If you are interested in participating in SEA Change as a department, please ask your department chair or vice-chair to email CEILS (media@ceils.ucla.edu) for an initial meeting.
SEA Change at UCLA is one of the options for the Tier 4 Track 1 Planning Grant from the UCLA Teaching and Learning Center. If you are interested in putting together a grant proposal for your department to engage in this work, please reach out to us at least 2-3 months in advance of the grant deadline. While the grant is not a requirement for your department’s ability to participate in this process, it would provide funding support for your needs.