Teaching the Whole Student
The past several years have demonstrated how close trauma and dislocation are to our lived realities. Since its founding, the CTL has been guided by compassion and empathy, which we see as the best guiding principles to address student needs. This approach was described by Cathy Davidson in May 2020 as “the single most important ingredient in designing [an] online course” and discussed by Lisa Blankenship, English Professor and 2023-2024 CTL Interim Director in her book Changing the Subject: A Theory of Rhetorical Empathy (University Press of Colorado and Utah State University Press, 2019).
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Student Experience Survey
Years of work on our Student Experience Survey have also led us to reaffirm the CTL’s ethos that building a classroom community—indeed, practicing good pedagogy–means trying our best to meet the students we teach where they’re at–check in, gauge feelings in the classroom, and express affirmation of the specific situation our students (and we, their instructors) are in and/or the difficulties they might be experiencing.
Past Events: Teaching the Whole Student Series
In Spring 2024 the Center for Teaching and Learning and the Counseling Center co-sponsored the following three events, collectively entitled the Teaching the Whole Student series. Please contact the CTL or schedule an appointment with us for resources about these topics or from these specific events.
Creating Classroom Community
We discussed and shared ideas about how to foster a sense of connection and community in our classrooms to help students feel seen and engaged in their learning. We shared ideas and questions in this important conversation. Co-sponsored by the Center for Teaching and Learning and the Counseling Center as part of the Trauma-Informed Baruch Initiative.
Trauma-Informed Pedagogy
Trauma-informed educational design can help students take in and retain information, create strong connections with others, and succeed academically. In this workshop we’ll discuss what trauma-informed pedagogy can offer you and your students, providing ideas for classroom strategies and course design. Co-sponsored by the Center for Teaching and Learning and the Baruch Counseling Center as part of the Trauma-Informed Baruch Initiative
Supporting Students in Distress
How can we support students experiencing trauma and other mental health difficulties so they can fully participate and succeed in an educational environment? Co-sponsored by the Center for Teaching and Learning and the Counseling Center as part of the Trauma-Informed Baruch Initiative.
Downloads
Find teaching resources from the above workshops below. These materials are shared under a CC BY NC SA Creative Commons license.
Creating Community/Connections in the Classroom (PDF)
We discussed and shared ideas about how to foster a sense of connection and community in our classrooms to help students feel seen and engaged in their learning. We shared ideas and questions in this important conversation. Co-sponsored by the Center for Teaching and Learning and the Counseling Center as part of the Trauma-Informed Baruch Initiative.
Trauma-Aware Teaching Checklist (PDF)
Trauma-informed educational design can help students take in and retain information, create strong connections with others, and succeed academically. In this workshop we’ll discuss what trauma-informed pedagogy can offer you and your students, providing ideas for classroom strategies and course design. Co-sponsored by the Center for Teaching and Learning and the Baruch Counseling Center as part of the Trauma-Informed Baruch Initiative.
Tips for Responding to Students in Distress (PDF)
How can we support students experiencing trauma and other mental health difficulties so they can fully participate and succeed in an educational environment? Co-sponsored by the Center for Teaching and Learning and the Counseling Center as part of the Trauma-Informed Baruch Initiative.
The Big List of Class Discussion Strategies (PDF)
Shared by Prof. Amy Baily, Weissman School of Arts and Sciences
Trauma-Aware Teaching Checklist (PDF)
Shared by the Baruch Counseling Center
Love as a Classroom Strategy (PDF)
Shared by Prof. Amy Baily
Interactive Techniques (PDF)
Shared by Prof. Amy Baily
Engaging the Student Body FA 21 handout (PDF)
Shared by Prof. Amy Baily
Baruch CTL Supporting Student Learning (PDF)
Shared by the Baruch Center for Teaching and Learning
Baruch Resources
Baruch college has staff trained to help you and your students cope with trauma.
Counseling ↗
The Counseling Center provides free and confidential Mental Health services to anyone who is currently enrolled and registered as an undergraduate or graduate student at Baruch College.
Campus Intervention Team ↗
The Campus Intervention Team (CIT) works together as a support system to provide assistance to students in crisis. Any member of the college community (faculty, students, staff) can reach out to the CIT to report a concern about a student.
Faculty and staff are encouraged to reach out to the Counseling Center at [email protected] if they need a consultation on how to help a student of concern.