I am a Person- Not a Label

Alexander WashingtonMississippi State University

Mississippi Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators

Overview

• Diversity in Higher Education

• Importance of a Diverse Environment

• Diversity in MASFAA

• Circles of my Multicultural Self

Objective

• Bring awareness to…• Our individual characteristics that are

often misunderstood or portrayed in a negative manner

• Identify personal stereotypes, whether proud or sensitive, that allows us to properly educate and promote a healthy financial future for students

Past, Present, & Future• In the south, racial segregation started to decline in higher

education in the 1950’s

• The impact in the post-segregation era feeds discussion and debate as educators and politicians wrestle to find clear answers to desegregation and equal opportunity

• “Today, leaders at public and private TWIs often find themselves walking on egg shells as they try to strike a balance between the past, present and future of a profound social change, the kind of change about which many segregation-era parents could have only dreamed, the kind that many post-segregation era opponents find offensive.” (Stuart, 2013)

Accept the Challenge

Take the Challenge make the Change

Be you

Be proud

Be the one

Diversity in the Workplace

• Diversity in the workplace strives to make people of all socio-economic backgrounds feel comfortable

• Promotes equal opportunities among all employees to be hired and promoted based on merit not race, gender or creed

• Promotes equality when counseling, processing, & awarding students

How we use “Labels”

• Categorize students by:• Socioeconomic Status

• Expected Family Contribution (EFC)

• Ethnic Stereotypes• Communication Stereotypes• Physical Appearance

MASFAA Assessment

• Survey conducted October 1, 2012- October 30, 2012

• Emailed using the MASFAA Listserv

• 45 members participated—36.3% of listserv

MASFAA AssessmentAs an Administrator, does diversity have

any value at higher education institu-tions?

Yes No

MASFAA Assessment

Rank the diversity efforts of your department/office?

Excellent Progressing

Moderate Infrequent

No Efforts

Circles of My Multicultural Self

• Activity to engage participants in a process of identifying what they consider to be the most important dimensions of their own identity

• Stereotypes are examined as participants share stories about when they were proud to be part of a particular group and when it was hurtful.

Circles of My Multicultural Self

Alex

Male

Black

Religious

Mississippian

Circles of My Multicultural Self

“I am (a/an) _________

but I am NOT (a/an)

___________!”

Circles of My Multicultural Self

“I am a

FINANCIAL AID COUNSELOR

but I am NOT

PERFECT!”

We are ALL People—Not Labels

“Once you LABEL me, you NEGATE me”

Discussion/Questions