Helping Students Prepare for a Diverse World

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Helping Students Prepare for a Diverse World

• Janet Claus
• University College Advisement
• Illinois State University
• 20 October 2006
• 2006 NACADA National Conference

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The role of advisors

• NACADA's mission is to Champion the educational
  role of academic advisors to enhance student
  learning and development in a diverse world
• Preparing students for a diverse world is
  everyones job it doesnt just happen.

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Diversity the census and beyond

• Diversity in the United States is increasing.
• Types of diversity measured by the census
• Race and Hispanic origin
• Age and sex
• Other types of diversity are increasingly visible
  as well GLBT, religious, people with
  disabilities, others

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What techniques work?

• Open-ended questions
• An appetizing presentation
• Awareness of the students interests
• Connecting diversity awareness to major, career,
  civic, and other life goals

5
Case Studies Franklin

• Franklin is a freshman secondary education major
  preparing to register for second semester.
• He needs an elective, but isnt sure what to
  take.
• He is a devout follower of his faith, which holds
  strict positions on gender roles and issues of
  sexual orientation.
• Questions?
• Ideas?

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Case Studies Tiffani

• Tiffani is a junior Politics/Pre-law major.
• She is done with general education and only needs
  three more major courses.
• She is interested in a minor or something to do
  with her remaining hours.
• Questions?
• Ideas?

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Case Studies Chris

• Chris is a sophomore Chemistry major.
• Chris finds general education a waste of time
  and is especially unhappy about the need to take
  global studies coursework as part of his
  curriculum.
• Questions?
• Ideas?

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A few final suggestions

• Integrate discussion of diversity across your
  advising
• Share your experiences!
• Add skills in working with diverse populations
  to career materials. When employers rate
  candidate qualities/skills, four of the top seven
  are
• Communication skills 4.7
• Teamwork skills 4.6
• Flexibility/adaptability 4.4
• Interpersonal skills 4.4
• (5-point scale where 1Not at all important and
  5Extremely important)
• Source Job Outlook 2006. National Association of
  Colleges and Employers.

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Thanks for participating!

• If you have follow-up discussion or questions, my
  contact information is jlclaus_at_ilstu.edu or
• Janet Claus
• University College Advisement
• Campus Box 4060
• Illinois State University
• Normal, IL 61790-4060