Practicing trust between academic developers and faculty for equitable assessments: a reflection on practice

We explore the role of trust in fostering equitable assessment practices in higher education, as navigated by academic developers. Trust emerges as foundational for embracing equity and inclusivity in assessment. Drawing on our personal experiences, the authors discuss the necessity of trust, factors supporting and undermining it, and strategies for building trust within academic contexts. The importance of situational and institutional forces, in addition to personal and interpersonal factors, are emphasized. Recommendations for academic developers and directions for future research highlight the importance of trust in advancing transformative educational practices, emphasizing mentorship, community building, and the exploration of trust dynamics.