Disrupting the Current

I use the analogy of a river current to describe the difference between anti-racism and non-racism when facilitating conversations about race with students. The idea is that a river’s current represents the racist systems in which we exist. If we simply float in a river, we move in the same direction as the current. Inaction contributes to the original direction. It takes actively swimming in a different direction to disrupt that system. It takes intentionality, to not contribute to the problem and better yet, to improve the environment. As I reflect on college campuses, Bentley included, I think this analogy can apply to how we design supportive, inclusive environments where all first-generation college students can show up as they are and thrive. Building inclusive, supportive environments requires us to unlearn ineffective, exclusive practices and implement new ways of approaching student learning and support.

Our small but mighty team of first-gen forward staff at Bentley has spent this year setting the stage to do just that. With dedicated representatives like Melissa Giunta in financial aid, Vanessa Suavita in admissions, Jane Griffin and Jackie Masloff in academic affairs/faculty, and me (Ben Longstreth) in student affairs, we have critically examined our areas to identify changes that need to occur. Most notably in admissions, Bentley implemented the BentleyFirst scholarship that awards a significant scholarship to admitted first-gen students who have a household income less that $125,000. This resulted in an increase in first-generation college students planning to attend Bentley in fall 2022. Led by Melissa and Jackie, our First-Generation Student Support Committee is working with Bentley’s instructional design office to design a training for faculty and staff on best practices for building inclusive and supportive environments for first-gen students.

The committee also provided programming throughout the year for first-gen students like a campus-wide scavenger hunt and National First-generation College Student Week programming. Melissa and Jackie also met with Bentley’s President at the end of the year to discuss additional first-gen efforts. Jane coordinated the second year of the First-Generation Presidential Fellows Program, a program that covers the full cost of attendance for a cohort of first-gen students each year. Jane also continued building university-wide relationships to expand awareness of first-generation needs and efforts. In student affairs, Ben began working with departments to identify ways they can shift their work to be more inclusive of first-gen students and worked with the VPSA to advocate for a full-time first-generation focused staff position that will begin this summer.

While we each made headway in our areas, there is so much more to do. Our efforts have disrupted the current, but to redirect the current in a way that is supportive for all first-gen students, the work must continue. A challenging thing about being a fish in water is that it is not always easy to be aware of the current we are swimming in. However, as I reflect on my dedicated colleagues around Bentley, I feel encouraged that we are up for the challenges ahead.