Open AccessAcross the Divide
Author(s) -
Robert Longwell-Grice,
Donna L. Pasternak
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
the journal of college orientation and transition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2690-4535
pISSN - 1534-2263
DOI - 10.24926/jcotr.v22i2.2892
Subject(s) - curriculum , diversity (politics) , class (philosophy) , pedagogy , sociology , race (biology) , mathematics education , medical education , public relations , psychology , political science , medicine , gender studies , computer science , artificial intelligence , anthropology
The School of Education at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee coordinated a precollege program with rural, urban, and suburban high schools students to explore issues of race, class and geography to ameliorate the divide that often exists when high school students from monocultural communities move to more culturally diverse institutions of higher education. Through this program, participants engaged with each other via a common curriculum while participating in school projects and joint discussions. The goal of the program was to influence changes in the behavior of college-bound students, behaviors that often result in conflicts on campus when diverse cultures co-exist in new settings. Findings reveal that when institutions of higher education help connect and facilitate discussions among high school students, the potential benefits are high. Exposing high school students to diversity issues, while introducing them to a college experience, helps prepare them to ultimately take an active role in their communities.