Despite the CSU’s historic commitment to access, too often we utilize a “deficit model” to both design programs for students from historically and currently underrepresented groups and to explain persistent, achievement, and graduation gaps. This deficit model assumes that students who do not succeed in the CSU are the problem that needs to be fixed. What happens if, instead, we focus on our educational model as the leading contributor to a lack of student success? The CSU Center for Community Engagement believes all students have the talent, drive and motivation to succeed. We strive to deliver supportive high-quality learning opportunities that honor their characteristics, knowledge, practices and attitudes. Therefore, we have adopted three core frameworks: Community Cultural Wealth, Spheres of Influence and Cross-Cultural Understanding. In this session participants will: • Develop a shared understanding of the benefits and challenges of the current use of language being used across higher education institutions to describe students historically and currently underrepresented in STEM degree programs. • Expand knowledge of several frameworks and models of theory, • Deepen our capacity to advance students’ education experiences using an equity lens.
