Social justice is defined as both a process and a goal that includes the knowledge, skills, and dispositions needed to create learning environments that foster equitable participation of all groups and seeks to address issues of oppression, privilege, and power (ACPA & NASPA, 2015). I believe social justice and inclusion is an important topic within the higher education field. It is a topic that is continuously evolving, and practitioners are constantly finding new ways to incorporate theories and development. Educators may incorporate social justice and inclusion into their own practice through seeking to meet the needs of all groups, equitably distributing resources, raising social consciousness, and repairing past and current harms on their campus communities (ACPA & NASPA, 2015).
Although I am still fairly new to the professional side of this career, I have high hopes for contributing to an office environment both diverse and a safe space. I believe having an open inclusive environment for students, faculty, and staff is extremely important. It will allow individuals to feel included and know they can open up about anything they need to. Not only would I like to engage in ensuring the department office is inclusive, but the overall campus also. The more people behind the scenes helping to make the campus atmosphere diverse and inclusive the more students are inclined to be more engaged.
Another hope I have is to incorporate an equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) committee through my future positions. This committee would provide trainings for faculty, staff, and students on diversity, inclusion, and many other important topics. This committee will also provide faculty and staff with learning opportunities and resources to be help aid their role on campus of being an advocate for students of different races, ethnicities, and backgrounds.
Lastly, another goal I hope to accomplish is to make multiple safe spaces throughout campus. These areas would be open rooms, lobbies, or anywhere students request so they can Blog 3 3 have somewhere dedicated to their identity. For example, having a space that represents the LGBTQ+ community. This area would be a place where individuals can come and be themselves in their whole identity. Establishing multiple spaces like this for all different identities will allow for students to have a safe space, meet new people, and make memories they will be able to share for a lifetime. These are just a few of my hopes I have for when I become a practitioner in student affairs. I believe I will gain more knowledge and have more experiences to share as I continue my career in this field. I am excited to learn more and be able to make the campus environment more inclusive for every student.
References: American College Personnel Association and National Association of Student Personnel Administrators. (2015, August). Professional competency areas for student affairs educators. Retrieved from https://www.naspa.org/images/uploads/main/ACPA_NASPA_Professional_Competencie s_FINAL.pdf
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