Top Tips: Advising Students of Color

Submitted by: 2017-2018 Race & Ethnicity Task force Sub-group #2

Recently, there has been a focus on increasing diversity representation in study abroad. While attention has been paid to recruiting students of color to programs through inclusive marketing and various financial incentives, less attention is paid to how best to serve students of color through advisement. If international education is to be something equally accessible and attainable for all students, it is imperative to work towards more inclusive advising practices before, during and after the student’s study abroad experience. Drawing from the Access, Inclusion, and Diversity (AID) Roadmap guideline on Diversity & Inclusion and the Top Five Tips to Developing a Diversity & Inclusion Strategy, the Race and Ethnicity Task Force would like to offer the top tips/best practices for advising students of color through a series of do’s and don’ts.

Top Tips: Advising Ethnically Diverse Students MSI

Developed by 2017-2018 Minority Serving Institutions Task Force

Cultural sensitivity is as important domestically as it is internationally when reaching out to ethnically diverse students to talk about study abroad. Therefore being conscious as study abroad advisors about our own assumptions about students from diverse ethnic backgrounds may enhance our efforts to be more inclusive when recruiting these students to study abroad. While ethnically diverse students as a group tend to be underrepresented among study abroad participants nationwide, their experiences with international travel, their particular interests and motivation, as well as their perceived barriers to studying abroad may vary from one ethnic group to another. Recognizing that African American, Hispanic-American, Asian American, and other ethnic groups may voice distinct concerns during conversations about studying abroad will enable advisors to help students identify a program and study destination that best suits them.