Cultivating Comradery

The January 2025 Faculty Spotlight features the Departmental Action Research Plan (DARP) for the Humanities, Communications, and Languages (HCL) Department at Santa Fe College. The DARP aims to build a sense of belonging in the classroom. Loretha Cleveland, a faculty member in the HCL Department, is leading the initiative. She has implemented a Scavenger Hunt assignment, designed by Stacy Badics and the Speech Department, which encourages students to explore campus, interact with staff, and familiarize themselves with resources. In Loretha’s class, the activity fostered a vibrant sense of community, with students forming connections and presenting their findings. The project also includes early- and late-semester surveys to measure the impact of the practices. Preliminary results have shown promising improvements in students’ sense of belonging at Santa Fe College. The HCL DARP is showcased on the CTLE Canvas Page, and the college encourages instructors to share their own innovative teaching strategies.