T.E.A.C.H.
Centering Culture
T.E.A.C.H. Course
Cultural Competence
One area of improvement MESAS is working on is to implement institutional change. Thus, the creation of a cultural competence course is meant to help bring about that change on Utah State University campuses.
Cultural competence is recognizing and appreciating other cultures and the ability to work effectively with others with diverse cultural identities.
The goal of the cultural competence course is to establish appreciation among faculty, staff, and non-Indigenous students for the role Native Americans and other underrepresented groups play in enriching campus life for all USU community members.
Cultural Competence Course
This course on Cultural Competence was designed as part of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Inclusive Excellence Initiative grant awarded to USU.
“This initiative is about encouraging colleges and universities to change the way they do business ─ to become institutions with a significantly greater capacity for inclusion of all students, especially those from nontraditional backgrounds… Engaging these students and bringing their diverse perspectives into the science community is critical for achieving scientific excellence and finding creative solutions to difficult problems”.
We believe this course will encourage future actions to improve our service to members of other under-served groups. In addition to strengthening Native American students’ academic preparation, we recognize that we must lower the institutional barriers to their success in Logan and address the social needs of these students, who are displaced 400 miles or more from their homes. USU recognizes that much of the discomfort that Blanding students feel upon transferring to the Logan Campus results from a lack of knowledge of, and sensitivity toward, Native American students on the part of Logan faculty, staff, and non-Native students. It is imperative that such cultural sensitivity be developed as quickly as possible by all Logan faculty, graduate teaching assistants, and administrative staff with whom the Blanding students will interact directly.
The cultural competence course is composed of 4 online modules designed to increase awareness of self and others, knowledge, and skills based on Sue’s (2001) cultural competence model. The fifth component is a one hour face-to-face skills building session aimed at enhancing perspective taking and building intercultural empathy. Through the course we collect pre-post data to help gauge effective change. To date we have adapted this course for use with faculty, staff, and graduate students engaged in summer research mentoring, residence life, and elementary education. Future iterations of the course will help increase positive interaction with Native American students across campuses broadly and in multiple settings including the classroom and administration.
Online Modules
Awareness of Self
Learn About and Recognize Your Culture
Define your Values and Beliefs
Evaluate your Privilege, Bias, Prejudices, and Stereotypes
Knowledge
Learn Key Historical Events
Become Aware of Sociopolitical Issues
Know the Dynamics of Racism, Discrimination, and Stereotyping
Awareness of Others
Recognize Differing Values and Beliefs
Understand How others are Treated
Take Perspectives and Ethnocultural Empathy
Skills
Apply Course Material Through Experience and Practice
Learn How to Listen, Give Others Space to Speak-Up, and Ask Questions
Interact with People of Diverse Backgrounds