Radical Inclusivity: Crafting Community in Foundation Visual Arts Online

Abstract Covid-19 protocols in Canada created travel barriers for international learners and limited cohort size at the New Brunswick College of Craft and Design (NBCCD) in Fredericton, New Brunswick. In response, a fully online Foundation Visual Arts (FVA) certificate program was developed and launched in the Fall of 2021. It welcomed an international cohort of 18 students. Many of these students subsequently earned a seat in one of our diploma areas, moving to Canada to graduate from our college. “Community” is one of the core values at NBCCD; creating a sense of community was central to the development of the pilot program. Considerations of accessibility and inclusivity concerning language, time zones, neurodiversity, and technology were part of the cohort-based online pilot. These priorities support learner diversity and are directly related to the principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL). Some tools designed to support learner diversity in the FVA online program have been adapted to hybrid use in the in-person studio classes at NBCCD. Now in its fourth year with doubled enrollment, the FVA online offers an inclusive and flexible learning opportunity for distance learners with diverse needs and preferences. It has become a proven pathway to continued study at NBCCD.