LGBTQ+ Student Experiences in College Classrooms

• In Event: Saturday Roundtable Session 1:15 pm
  In Roundtable Session: Discussions Around Learning Environments Research (Table 8)

Abstract

LGBTQ+ college students are more likely to encounter discrimination and stigma as they experience higher rates of harassment, bullying, and microaggressions, which can impact their academic success. Moreover, there is limited to no opportunity for professors to participate in faculty development that focuses on working effectively with LGBTQ+ students. This study consisted of an online qualitative survey designed to investigate the college classroom experiences of LGBTQ+ students. Major themes in the data show that personal acknowledgment of students’ identities and curricular material and/or in-class discussions play a major role in making classes LGBTQ+ inclusive, while instructor’s ignorance and heteronormativity make a class non-inclusive.

Authors

• Lynda R. Wiest, University of Nevada - Reno

• Zarmish Tariq, University of Nevada - Reno