2019 Annual Conference

Colleges and Universities

Shared Concurrent Session (Approx. 12 or 20 minutes)

This presentation will explore studies that were conducted on the experiences of lesbian student-athletes and gay students of color to capture how diverse populations experience higher education and how support staff practitioners (i.e., academic advisors, faculty members) play a role in the level of comfortability and inclusivity these students experience. 

This presentation will specifically address some of the most current issues facing two marginalized sub-populations in higher education using a queer perspective.  So, the following audience will be beneficial for professional and faculty advisors (i.e., support staff practitioners), athletic department personnel, student affairs personnel, and higher education administrators who work with queer students and strive to create and sustain LGBTQ-friendly environments. This research presentation will inform higher education practitioners on how to implement practical culturally responsive advising methods and strategies in order to create spaces that are more inclusive. 

After attending this session, participants will be able to do the following: 1) understand the experiences of sub-populations within the LGBTQ+ higher education environment; 2) be able to develop resources needed to help queer students; 3) be responsive to queer students’ needs; and 4) be able to develop practices and protocols to help and protect the queer population and learning environment.

The purpose of this presentation is to provide a better understanding of how practitioners in higher education can be more inclusive and helpful by implementing culturally responsive advising methods and strategies.  It is imperative for people to understand the importance of inclusion, diversity, and intersectionality as heterosexism and homophobia ideologies still permeates higher education cultures and as a result, influences students’ experiences.  Broadly, campus environment shapes the overall climate and influences the perceptions and experiences of students (Renn & Patton, 2010).  Importantly, those individuals who coexist within the environment play a vital role in how the culture takes shapes and can either reinforce a heterosexist environment or conversely, an accepting one.  Therefore, support staff members have an influential role in creating safe spaces for students and impact how students experience the higher education environment.  Thus, it is crucial they exercise inclusive practices when working with students.  Through education, acts to deinstitutionalize norms of exclusivity and heterosexism can work to create new, inclusive norms.  Innovatively, this presentation is going to address research from two unique sub-populations within the LGBTQ+ higher education community: lesbian student-athletes and gay male students of color and conceptualize best practices when working with students from diverse backgrounds.

The presenters will first start the session by going over both studies in order to capture how diverse populations experience higher education and how support staff members play a role in the level of comfortability and inclusivity these students feel on campus. Next, the presenters will go over the conceptualization of resources and strategies advisors, researchers, and practitioners can use to be culturally responsive to students’ needs. Additionally, the audience will be presented with role play scenarios so the participants can practice critical conversations in a safe space.  Last, the session will be concluded with a reflection period and questions.