as reported by Loretta Daniels
“White police officer in South Carolina Charged in Fatal Shooting of Black Man. That was Newsweek’s headline March 7, reporting on an event that took place in a South Carolina city that was hosting a conference with a focus on diversity and inclusion. This tragedy highlights the importance of the work educators are doing in the area of diverstiy and the value of resources from conferences such as AAC&U and AABHE,” said Dr. Linda M. Lyons, assistant professor of education in the department of First-Year and Transition Studies.
Lyons recently attended two conferences that focused on building student success through campus diversity efforts and global learning.
The first of these, the Association for American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) Network for Academic Renewal Conference, took as its theme Diversity, Learning, and Student Success: Assessing and Advancing Inclusive Excellence. The second conference, hosted by the American Association for Blacks in Higher Education (AABHE), concentrated on Pathways to Success in Higher Education: Moving from Enrollment to Employment. “AAC&U continues to advance and expand its longstanding commitment to quality
of education, diversity, equity, and civic engagement. It is their goal to assist institutions of higher learning in creating campus climates and educational practices that evolve with today’s increasingly diverse population of students,” Lyons said.
The AABHE, whose mission is to pursue the educational and professional needs of
Blacks in higher education, focuses on leadership, access, and vital issues impacting students, faculty, staff, and administrators. This year’s conference examined the path from matriculation to employment and career as well as best practices that promote student success
in today’s global market.
Lyons’ take away from these national conferences was that educators have the responsibility to
provide comprehensive learning. “Our role is not only to support academic success but also to mentor, direct, and guide all students toward being self-directed, committed to global citizenry, and well prepared for entering a diverse workforce,” she shared.
"Social issues, as illustrated by the tragedy in South Carolina, remain a concern in communities across the nation. Such events not only impact our students but all of our academic partners. It is imperative that educators continue to engage in dialogue
and conduct assessment to advance equity
and inclusiveness among campus
constituents," Lyons said.
The work requires a commitment to addressing diversity, equity, learning, and student success as core values with measurable goals. By doing so, educators help ensure that all students reap the benefits of an engaged and comprehensive education as well as graduate fully prepared to succeed in a diverse and global society.
UC is committed to diversity and global learning in both curricular and co-curricular experiences such as the recent Selma, Ala. trip (read more). Consequently, educators are encouraged to increase their knowledge and skill sets within these field of study.
Student success begins with
Diversity and Global Learning
Dr. Linda Lyons