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Chapter 11 - Ethnically Diverse University Communities

Challenges for Students and Staff from Black, Asian and Other Minority Ethnic Backgrounds

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 February 2024

Jane Morris
Jane Morris
Affiliation:
University of Aberdeen
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Summary

Better nurturing of ethnic diversity can be associated with improved academic achievement as well as more ethical university communities. Despite ‘wake up calls’ such as the Black Lives Matter movement, there is no room for complacency. The UK does not have predominantly black universities, though student cultural societies allow a sense of belonging. Individuals from minority ethnic groups should not automatically have to take responsibility as BAME campaigners. White staff and students need to overcome defensiveness to prevent ‘white fragility’ from blocking progress. In choosing a university, families of all ethnicities can ask whether the institution is signed up to Advance HE’s race equality charter (REC). Staff should assertively support BAME staff appointments and grant applications, and ensure that racial awareness trainings are evidence based. University Disciplinary procedures need to offer greater openness to complaints of discrimination and harassment. In University counselling services appointing more BAME practitioners improves the ethnic diversity of the clinical group, whether or not clients opt to meet with a clinician of non-white ethnicity. BAME students need extra support to return to academia after a mental illness as they are at greater risk of ‘dropping out’.

Keywords

Student mental healthethnic diversity at university BAMEracism at universityintersectionalityUniversity mental health student mental healthrace and mental healthrace equalityBAME university counsellors
Type
Chapter
Information
Improving University Mental Health , pp. 160 - 177
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2024

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