Enhancing Student Learning Through the Tenets of Cultural Competence, Social Justice, and Civic Responsibility

Nova Southeastern University, Davie, Florida, USA

Introduction: An increase in racial and ethnic diversity among US colleges requires multicultural competence. However, there remains a gap in cultural awareness among college students and faculty. A lack of multicultural sensitivity impedes collaborative student learning. A successful learning environment may be achieved by promoting the concepts of civic responsibility and social justice to enhance multicultural awareness. Purpose: To examine the barriers to successful learning in a multicultural collegiate setting. Also, to explore ways civic responsibility and social justice can enhance intercultural competencies. Methods: Articles were searched between 2014 – 2019 in CINAHL Complete and PubMed. Articles related to multicultural awareness, civic responsibility, and social justice. Results: A total of 6 articles were included in this review. Most of the articles (5) were from the United States. Three themes from the articles include: (1) the influence of an organization’s environment such as tolerance and sensitivity to cultural competence; (2) awareness of social determinants like access to health care, public safety, and availability of resources; (3) promoting social justice and respecting human rights and preserving human dignity. Conclusion: A college-wide program that promotes multicultural competence, civic responsibility, and social justice can lead to a successful, student-centered Enhancing learning environment.