For young people who enter higher education, college is a time of major transition. This process is complicated for students from backgrounds or with characteristics that are atypical from the majority. Lack of role models and peers, inattention to diversity in curricula, and campus environments can contribute to adjustment problems for atypical students as distinguished by characteristics such as race or ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, religion and spirituality, and culture.
To facilitate a favorable environment for students with diverse characteristics and to enhance learning for students from all backgrounds, a group of faculty and university administrative staff at Eastern Washington University developed a multidisciplinary Scholars’ Learning Community (SLC). The SLC collects and utilizes autobiographical case stories from students from diverse backgrounds to educate students about diversity and to enhance critical thinking as students analyze diversity issues from the case stories. Students are also provided the opportunity to share their own stories within the university community.
This presentation will be presented by SLC faculty from multiple disciplines about, a) development and function of the SLC, b) the use of case stories to educate students about diversity and to develop critical thinking skills, and c) facilitating case story development by students, faculty, and staff for personal growth and university enhancement. Case story samples will be provided and pedagogical use of stories demonstrated.

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Keywords

• Diversity
• Critical thinking
• Scholars' earning community
• College curriculum
• University environment

(30 min. Conference Paper, English)