Reflections on Social Class Identity and Our Work
About the Session
As higher education professionals, we are often asking ourselves how to reach all students and ensure programs are as accessible as possible. However, despite our awareness of challenges presented to low-income and first-generation students, social class as a dimension of identity is often oversimplified or even ignored. In this session, participants will explore theoretical frameworks of social class identity and spend considerable time reflecting on their own experiences to develop a personal understanding of social class. Following personal reflection and group discussion, participants will discuss actionable ideas to better support students and colleagues across class backgrounds.
Session II, Anne Belk Hall, Room 119
Learning Outcomes
Through participation in this session, participants will be able to:
- Articulate some of the factors that make up social class identity
- Describe how social class identity has impacted their personal experiences in higher education
- Formulate 2-3 action steps in their professional practice to better support students across class backgrounds
