ATL Conference 2014 College Culture Brokers
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Transcript of ATL Conference 2014 College Culture Brokers
College Culture BrokersA Model for Supporting First-Generation College Student Success
Sally E. Heilstedt
Presentation Outline
• First-Generation College Students
• College Culture
• Good Information and Meaningful Relationship
• Cultural Brokers
• College Culture Brokers: Implications for Practice
First Generation College Students
Students whose parents did not earn baccalaureate degrees.
Characteristics:• Low-Income• Older• Ethnic minorities• English Language Learners• Employed while in school• Dependent children
(NCES, 1998)
Challenges:• Lack of preparation• Anxiety (A LOT)
• Finances• Failure
• Lack of connection to the college environment
Impact: Lower persistence, academic achievement, and degree completion
(Mis)Perceptionsand
Assets & Abilities
College Culture
Consider what you take for granted.
Language
Processes
Norms
Values, Beliefs, and Assumptions
Good Informationand
Meaningful Relationship
Cultural BrokersRoles and Alignment with First-Generation Students’ Needs
Role Characteristics Student Need(s) MetLiaison Knowledge of both cultures
Ability to communicate between culturesInformation
Cultural Guide
Deep understanding of both cultures Respected and trusted in both cultures
Information and relationship
Mediator/Mentor
Ability to establish and maintain trust through meaningful relationships
Willingness to invest time Use of relationship to address difficult
issues
Information and relationship (emphasis on relationship)
Change Agent
Ability to create inclusive and collaborative environments
Use of knowledge and understanding of both cultures to address institutional and college culture issues
Willingness to serve as student advocate
Information and relationship
(NCCC, 2004)
Cultural Sensitivity and Competence
The Importance of Self-Reflection (Hofstede &
Hofstede, 2005)
Crucial Questions:• Was my status first-generation or non-
first-generation?• How did participating in the college
culture impact my personal development?• What cultural values, beliefs, and
practices informed my approach to college? And now, my approach to students and the issues they present?
• How has integration into the college culture impacted identity and values?
• What norms are taken for-granted?
Good Information
Use multiple avenues for communicating good information• Office Hours• Pre- or Post-Class Sessions• Handouts• Blogs
Stay up-to-date
Build relationships
Meaningful Relationship
“We let people tell their stories. We honor what they say.”
Patricia Hunter, Associate Dean of TRiO Projects at LWTech
Intentionally seek out students
Follow up
Celebrate!
Initiating Change
Advocating for First-Generation College Students
Provide good information to and develop meaningful relationships with staff, faculty, and administrators
Lead by example and through more formal avenues (Goleman, 1998)
College Culture BrokersMeeting the Need for Good Information
and Meaningful Relationship
References
Goleman, D. (1998). What makes a leader? Harvard Business Review, 93-102.
Hofstede, G., & Hofstede, G. J. (2005). Cultures and organizations: Software of the Mind – Intercultural communication and its importance for survival (2nd ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.
National Center for Cultural Competence. (2004). Bridging the cultural divide in health care settings: The essential role of cultural broker programs. Retrieved from Georgetown University Center for Child and Human Development, NCCC website: http://www.culturalbroker.info/index.html
NCES. (1998). Characteristics of first-generation college students. Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy, 42(3), 220.