Understanding Participation in Campus Diversity Workshops: Faculty and Staff Perspective

• In Event: 56.081 - Roundtable Session 24
  In Roundtable Session: 56.081-6 - Enacting Equity-Focused Faculty

Abstract

Benefits of diversity education for students have been studied, however, there is paucity of research about faculty and staff participation in campus diversity programs. Based on responses from 106 participants at a public university in Northwest United States, this paper examines the rationale for faculty and staff participation in campus diversity workshops. The study is based on a qualitative survey that was analyzed using text segmenting (into idea units) and open coding with constant comparison. Preliminary results show that faculty and staff have both professional and institutional reasons to participate in non-mandatory workshops. The study provides insights about assessing the needs of diversity workshop participants and designing engaging programs that respond to their expectations.

Author

• Christina Patricia Van Wingerden, Western Washington University