From Theory to Practice: Evaluating the WHOLE Experience Framework for Faculty and Staff Development at a Hispanic Serving Institution

This study examines how faculty and staff experienced the WHOLE Experience Framework (WEF) and its perceived effectiveness in facilitating Belonging, Access, and Inclusive Excellence (BAIE) professional development workshops at a Hispanic Serving Institution. Grounded in andragogical theory and Universal Design for Learning, the WEF comprises five core components: Welcoming, Holistic, Open, Liberating, and Empowering. Using the workshop research methodology, this study engaged 164 faculty and staff across five workshops, assessing participants’ experiences with the framework and their confidence in applying BAIE principles in their professional practice. The survey results (n = 51) revealed high levels of participant satisfaction and reported increases in BAIE knowledge and confidence. Facilitators modeled active learning strategies to implement WEF components. The findings suggest that participants experienced the WEF as an effective framework for facilitating meaningful professional development experiences that prepare participants to integrate culturally responsive and access-centered practices into their work environments.