Black-affirming campus spaces are vital for Black student academic success

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******-affirming campus spaces are vital for ****** student academic success

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Several universities and colleges in Canada signed on to the

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on Anti-****** Racism and ****** Inclusion in ********* Higher Education in November 2021.

In so doing, universities and colleges committed to promoting ****** flourishing in their classrooms and campuses.

In the context of these urgent aims, it’s important to acknowledge

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and understand the role they play in ****** student well-being and academic success.

******-affirming academic community spaces are designed specifically for ****** students and have an explicit focus on academic success. These spaces also provide opportunities for psycho-social skill development and opportunities for exploring ******* counter-narratives.

As such, ******-affirming community spaces offer ****** students a physical space to develop positive ****** identities, which are vital for academic success.

Countering anti-****** racism

The prevalence of racism—specifically anti-****** racism—in higher education is well-documented across several different contexts.

Studies show that in the

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and the

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, ****** students are subjected to both covert and overt forms of racism in post-secondary institutions.

U.S.-based studies have also shown that in a context of pervasive anti-****** racism, dedicated ****** community spaces support ******

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and

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.

A

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is emerging in Canada. For example, in recent years, the

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,

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, and

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have opened ****** student spaces.

Student voices now

Following commitments by some universities to open or sustain ****** community spaces, in 2023, we and colleagues conducted a study. We are currently finalizing analysis of the data in preparation for publication.

The study was conducted under the leadership of Beverly-Jean Daniel, one of the authors of this article and an associate professor in the School of Child and Youth Care at Toronto Metropolitan University.

The study aimed to document the experiences of ****** students in ********* post-secondary institutions, and to assess the formal and informal resources ****** post-secondary students draw upon.

Researchers conducted interviews with over two dozen ****** college, undergraduate, masters and Ph.D. students in Ontario between December 2022 and March 2023 to identify the supports ****** students employ to navigate institutions of higher education.

The students hailed from seven universities and colleges across Ontario and represented diverse disciplinary backgrounds.

While some participants had access to permanent dedicated ****** academic spaces, others discussed their experiences with virtual or pop-up ****** spaces on campus.

Peer-to-peer support

A master’s student described ****** community spaces as spaces of “****** life making … [an] environment for ****** people to succeed.”

Participants shared that ******-affirming academic community spaces are centers of peer-to-peer support,

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academic success.

Participants noted that ****** students from across different programs and disciplines offer mutual aid and support, share resources and opportunities, and establish informal mentoring relationships in these spaces. Students reported that seeing other ****** students’ academic success increased their confidence, motivation and the belief that they can excel in their fields.

In addition, they shared that ******-affirming academic community spaces provided the emotional support and encouragement that empowered them to persevere in difficult circumstances.

Second, students described how these spaces provide them a place to share their experiences with anti-****** racism in higher education.

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show that having spaces to unpack covert and

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they experience is vital for the well-being and positive development of ****** youth.

Participants said they could freely and openly share their experiences with anti-****** racism without ***** of judgment or dismissal in these spaces. These spaces therefore serve as hubs for important conversations around race and racism both in academia and in broader society.

Sharing ****** cultures and histories

Moreover, respondents shared that these spaces facilitate sharing ****** cultures, histories and futures in holistic ways, which enabled them to develop positive ****** ******* identities. With this sharing, students said they found mutual support to counter the

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they frequently receive.

Resourced spaces needed

What we heard from students in our research echoes earlier findings, and provides additional data to

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for dedicated and resourced

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in ********* institutions of higher education.

Signatories to the Scarborough Charter should lend material and institutional support to cultivate designated spaces on campus that can serve as community hubs. Planning for this should begin now, as campuses forge plans for a new cohort of students in the fall.

Additionally, universities and colleges should provide financial and institutional support to bolster ****** student groups and community organizations who are working to create ****** community spaces.

****** community spaces have begun to

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from some commentators.

In the face of this, it is vital that institutions publicly state and consistently demonstrate their commitment to protecting these spaces. This is critical as part of their efforts to promote the inclusion of ****** students.

Together, these actions can play a key role in supporting ****** flourishing and inclusive excellence, two of the overarching principles guiding the Scarborough Charter.

Provided by
The Conversation

This article is republished from

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under a Creative Commons license. Read the

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Citation:
******-affirming campus spaces are vital for ****** student academic success (2024, June 28)
retrieved 28 June 2024
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