Adler University received a $40,000 grant from the Fifth Third Chicagoland Foundation to support the University’s efforts to transform its curricula and learning outcomes so that every class and program effectively addresses issues of justice and human diversity.

The generous donation will benefit the University’s Transforming the Curriculum Initiative (TCI), part of Adler’s Antiracism and Inclusion Plan, which seeks in part to dismantle racist and oppressive systems.

“On behalf of the Adler University community, we thank Fifth Third for its support of our efforts to advance a socially just learning environments that better equip graduates to effectively serve our diverse society,” said Kahan Sablo, D.Ed., vice president of the Center for Diversity and Inclusion.

Transforming the curriculum is a multi-year initiative designed to address the narrowness of a traditional, white-centered approach to the education and training of socially responsible practitioners. Since January 2021, a steering committee of faculty, staff, and students, led by Cheryl Richardson, Ph.D., has guided TCI efforts. Together they developed a vision of learning environments that will:

• Prepare students who understand the needs of various communities from their perspectives.
• Equip students with tools to work effectively with marginalized groups toward healthy outcomes.

This year, the grant will support a consultant who will engage the community in concretely defining its curricular goals and a process for changing Adler’s learning environment.

Especially salient for Adler is that a major barrier to BIPOC populations receiving behavioral health care treatment is mistrust of a medical system that lacks diverse, culturally informed providers.

“The initiative will assess and reshape the University’s current curriculum, policies, and teaching practices to encompass the perspectives, social needs, and assets of a variety of communities,” Dr. Sablo said.