In the wake of significant world events, social issues, and political flashpoints, students on college campuses have turned to collective advocacy and organization to demonstrate solidarity with marginalized groups and call for action from higher education administrators. Although the power of student advocacy in college campuses has been prominent since the anti-war protests of the 1970s, recent movements to institutionalize the diversity, inclusion, and equity (DEI) field provide an opportunity for administrators to develop education policy that meets the needs of students.
After working with Spitzer School of Architecture to evaluate community perspectives on current DEI efforts, I realized that campus-supported advocacy has a larger impact on institutionalized responses to issues of equity. In a focus group meeting, one participant mentioned that strengthening student organizing and advocacy could have a positive impact on the general climate of the school, which would also strengthen the administrative power to work with advocates on proposed changes to make campus more inclusive and equitable. This year, Almora Advisors has worked closely with Spitzer to develop ways of legitimizing activist power and ensuring that feedback from community members is incorporated into all levels of governance of the college.
The development of a comprehensive report from survey results of students, faculty, and staff, as well as insights from focus group listening sessions, demonstrates a view of the current campus climate and provides suggestions on a path moving forward. By focusing specifically on views about DEI, higher education institutions can collect feedback on this issue while also demonstrating a commitment to hearing community members’ opinions.
When evaluating responses from community respondents, it is key to include these components in the analysis:
- Understanding demographics: Collecting a representation of the different backgrounds that community members come from is key to understanding diversity. Analyzing statistics of demographics can also reveal gaps in DEI resources, and can provide ideas for how to better expand DEI efforts.
- Experiences of discrimination: Seeing how many community members have experienced discrimination from both a qualitative and quantitative view shows the breadth of this issue and personal stories of discrimination.
- Qualitative discussion: Listening to community members speak on their experiences provides a personal way for administrative members to gain insight into how people truly feel about DEI on campus, and offer an opportunity for two-way dialogue.
- Community input: Learning what community members would suggest as solutions to issues that they experience is a good way of gauging support for community initiatives, and involving community members in the planning and execution of DEI efforts.
Student advocacy can be a driver for social change, and the incorporation of student voices in policy development can drive colleges and universities to implement more tailored initiatives to increase DEI, along with garnering community input and involvement in the process. Universities can create roles for student advisors and increase transparency on policies that directly impact DEI, as well as release public information about the survey and outreach session results. Fostering a climate of increased student advocacy can expose structural issues that are needed for change, and encourage other faculty and staff members to voice their opinions. Other nonprofit institutions representing a diverse body can also follow suit, creating efforts from within the organization that call for open dialogue and community input in new initiatives. Overall, receiving input from community members is crucial to responding to increased calls for change in DEI and improving equity in a diverse community.