Inclusion, Equity, and Program Improvement with the APS/AAPT Guide to Effective Practices in Physics Programs (EP3)

In light of the numerous challenges faced by Physics programs in the United States, along with feedback from the physics community, the Council of the American Physical Society formed a national blue-ribbon task force charged with creating a living guide to equip undergraduate physics programs to address these challenges. Developed in partnership with AAPT, the Effective Practices for Physics Programs (EP3) Guide will assist physics programs nationwide by providing a practical set of practices, approaches, and tools deemed effective by the community or informed by current research. Topics covered by the Guide span the areas of curricula, pedagogy, mentoring, recruitment, retention, career/workforce preparation, resources, and faculty professional development. Considerations of inclusion and equity are woven throughout the Guide and also appear as stand-alone sections within the Guide to motivate broader discussions of inclusion.
The work of the task force is underway and the first release of the Guide is expected in Spring 2020. This talk will outline and introduce the Guide, highlighting how it can be an effective tool for individuals and departments to improve their programs by adopting practices that are inclusive and equitable.