What We Heard
ISSOTL members connected their sense of belonging with the extent to which they felt the organization fulfilled its mandate to be a truly international organization and one that is welcoming of all disciplines.
Reflecting on the International and Interdisciplinary Nature of ISSOTL
Many participants noted that they appreciate the work done by ISSOTL in recent years to enhance the diversity of its membership and its inclusion of scholars from various disciplines, regions, and levels of experience with SoTL. Some participants connected this directly to a sense of belonging and feeling welcome in the organization.
At the same time, participants noted some of the challenges inherent in the workings of an international society. While generally very encouraging of ISSOTL’s efforts, they voiced some of the ways in which diversity, inclusion, and accessibility could be enhanced.
Issues of Global Geography
Participants articulated different perspectives on how to best include SoTL scholars from across the globe, particularly from outside of North America. They noted recent ISSOTL efforts that have encouraged active participation from international SoTL scholars. These include moving the conference on a regular basis to locations outside of North America. The previous chapter noted the challenges of conference travel and how this may preclude participation from global scholars due to cost and logistics. Nevertheless, participants noted that rotating the conference globally was a key part of being an international organization.
Participants also commented that the recent appointment of ISSOTL Vice-Presidents from Latin America and the Caribbean, the Middle East, and Africa was a step in the right direction in ensuring that the ISSOTL Board reflects its international membership.
Language and International Inclusivity
Participants spoke of the importance of language in fostering belonging within ISSOTL. They noted that offering conference sessions, activities, and publication opportunities in languages other than English could greatly enhance the sense of belonging experienced by non-English speaking SoTL scholars. Some participants recognized the logistical issues attached to offering ISSOTL events and initiatives in multiple languages, particularly the cost of these activities as borne by a volunteer society with a slim budget. There was, however, support for the idea of broadening the society’s offerings.
Disciplinary Inclusivity
The idea of the “big tent,” a space inclusive of various disciplinary methodologies, resonated with many participants. They felt that, regardless of their disciplinary background and experiences, they were part of the SoTL community and that ISSOTL displayed a real commitment to disciplinary inclusivity. A few participants noted, however, that they felt the organization (and SoTL in general) seemed to prioritize social science methods and that the approaches taken by humanities scholars were less recognized.
