Creating Inclusive Campus Environments for Cross-Cultural Learning and Student Engagement

Shaun R. Harper, Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania

Abstract

Diversity, multiculturalism, and inclusion are values espoused by most colleges and universities; yet many educators, including those in student affairs, expect students to “magically” interact with peers from different cultural backgrounds on their own. With recent calls for accountability in higher education, it is more important than ever for educators to reconsider ways in which they prepare students for participation in a diverse democracy. This book shows how to capitalize in educationally meaningful ways on the diversity that exists on campuses across the nation. It offers forward-thinking strategies and examples of good practice that will reshape the way readers think about approaching the work of multicultural education. Written by seasoned researchers and emerging scholars in diversity issues and student affairs practice, this provocative book offers practical solutions, innovative models, and pedagogical guides for creating inclusive environments that facilitate learning via cross-cultural engagement. In addition, first-person narrative accounts from undergraduate students provide illuminating insight not often found in other works on diversity. CREATING INCLUSIVE CAMPUS ENVIRONMENTS is the leading resource for higher education professionals seeking to understand and facilitate cross-cultural learning.

This book is available for purchase on Amazon.com and through the publisher's website:

http://bookstore.naspa.org/creatinginclusivecampusenvironmentsforcross-culturallearningandstudentengagement.aspx

PRAISE FOR THIS BOOK:

“No challenge is more important than creating the conditions whereby ALL college students can acquire the skills and competencies that will enable them to survive and thrive in the 21st century. As Harper and his colleagues make plain, student affairs educators are key players in helping students convert the rich harvest of out-of-class learning opportunities into developmentally powerful outcomes.” – GEORGE D. KUH, Chancellor’s Professor and Director, Center for Postsecondary Research, Indiana University

“Creating Inclusive Campus Environments is a must read for cultural practitioners — a role ALL of us share as campus educators and administrators. This superb scholarly yet practical book brings the best theory, research, and wise advice for transformative campus practices in diversity and multiculturalism. The exceptionally compelling chapters are an excellent framework for a transformative staff development program on any campus.” – SUSAN R. KOMIVES, Professor, College Student Personnel Program, University of Maryland, College Park

“Although many campuses claim to value the importance of diverse perspectives for students’ personal and professional growth, few have an understanding of the “why” and “how” of integrating best practices. Harper’s book fills a huge void in understanding the “why” of the imperative for inclusive campus environments for learning and student engagement and also addressing “how” campuses can begin to develop promising practices. Moreover, the range of institution types examined in this book mandates it as essential reading for all of higher education.” – KASSIE FREEMAN, Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs and Professor of Education, Southern University and A&M College System

“Student learning will be enriched as more colleges and universities purposefully transform into the inclusive, cross-cultural environments envisioned in this inspiring book. Community and two-year college student affairs professionals and others will fi nd this NASPA publication challenging and insightful, yet practical in its approach to theory, good practice models, and ideologies about how to create multicultural spaces, learning, and engagement inside and outside our classrooms.” – MAGDALENA H. DE LA TEJA, Dean of Student Services, Austin Community College

“Harper and colleagues have done a wonderful job of addressing critical issues related to developing environments that lead to student learning in our institutions of higher education. I have learned from them, and trust other readers will as well.” – JOHN H. SCHUH, Distinguished Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, Iowa State University

“Finally, a book for higher education practioners that speaks to the complexity of U.S. higher education in the ‘here and now.’ With contemporary data, Harper and his colleagues have put together a text that will help colleges and universities work with enrollments that refl ect the changing demographic reality that is the United States. From residential liberal arts colleges to state university and faith-based institutions of higher learning, Creating Inclusive Campus Environments should be required reading for all higher education professionals.” – XAVIER E. ROMANO, Vice President for Student Development and Dean of Students, Knox College

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

FOREWORD

Sylvia Hurtado

Chapter 1

NOT BY ACCIDENT: INTENTIONALITY IN DIVERSITY, LEARNING AND ENGAGEMENT

Shaun R. Harper and anthony lising antonio

Chapter 2

STUDENT VOICE AND SENSEMAKING OF MULTICULTURALISM ON CAMPUS

Stephen John Quaye – with Donna K. Lin, Cullen R. Buie, Melissa Abad, Adam Labonte, Joanna Greenberg, and Jesse W. Hall

Chapter 3

RESEARCH ON RACE AND ETHNIC RELATIONS AMONG COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS

William Maxwell and Diane Shammas

Chapter 4

STUDENT RESISTANCE TO CROSS-CULTURAL ENGAGEMENT: ANNOYING DISTRACTION OR SITE FOR TRANSFORMATIVE LEARNING?

Susan R. Jones

Chapter 5

STUDENT AFFAIRS AND CULTURAL PRACTICE: A FRAMEWORK FOR IMPLEMENTING CULTURE OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM

Toby S. Jenkins and Clayton Walton

Chapter 6

TRANSFORMING PHYSICAL SPACES INTO INCLUSIVE MULTICULTURAL LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS

Jillian Kinzie and Shaila Mulholland

Chapter 7

MAKING CAMPUS ACTIVITIES AND STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS INCLUSIVE FOR RACIAL/ETHNIC MINORITY STUDENTS

Kimberly A. Griffin, Andrew H. Nichols, David Pérez II, and K. Dex Tuttle

Chapter 8

COLLABORATION FOR CULTURAL PROGRAMMING: ENGAGING CULTURE CENTERS, MULTICULTURAL AFFAIRS, AND STUDENT ACTIVITIES OFFICES AS PARTNERS

Lori D. Patton and Michael D. Hannon

Chapter 9

UNDERSTANDING THE DIFFERENCE DIVERSITY MAKES: FACULTY BELIEFS, ATTITUDES, AND BEHAVIORS

Jeffrey F. Milem and Paul D. Umbach

Chapter 10

FRAMING THE EFFECT OF MULTICULTURALISM ON DIVERSITY OUTCOMES AMONG STUDENTS AT HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES

Brighid Dwyer

Chapter 11

FOCUSING ON INSTITUTIONAL FABRIC: ASSESSING CAMPUS CULTURES TO ENHANCE CROSS-CULTURAL ENGAGEMENT

Samuel D. Museus

Chapter 12

ENACTING MULTICULTURAL AND DEMOCRATIC IDEALS ON CAMPUS: CHALLENGES AND POSSIBILITIES

Dominique C. Hill and Peter M. Magolda