Universal Design for Learning Access: Faculty-Centered Community Design

The researchers present an exploratory approach to a collaboratively designed, developed, and piloted university program for a faculty-centered community on Universal Design for Learning (UDL). The need for this program stemmed from the pivot to remote learning due to the pandemic and related endeavors for inclusive learning. In collaboration with instructional designers, media developers, and graduate students, faculty focused on the importance of creating learning spaces, regardless of the location or mode, where students could engage in the learning process with a sense of belonging. Faculty involved in co-creating the program share their reflections as the program unfolded. The faculty community of practice (CoP) has evolved with the development of an asynchronous self-paced UDL training and hybrid and interactive professional learning sessions. Practical examples and reflections will help similar faculty professional development programming, with a focus on UDL and the shaping of inclusive learning environments.