Building Connections: Fostering Community Through Awareness
Multicultural.
Multinational.
Multilingual.
Our
world
is
an
exciting
blend
of
ethnicities,
races
and
cultures.
Your BW student is immersed in a campus setting that is diverse. Through academic initiatives, co-curricular activities and campus programs, your student can gain valuable insights and experiences.
Encountering Differences, Embracing Respect
For some students, college may be the first time they have encountered individuals whose experiences, cultures, values and social norms differ from their own. These situations may challenge your student's comfort zone. But studies show these experiences can have positive effects socially, cognitively and academically.
Whether it is inside or outside the classroom, on campus or across the world through study abroad trips, students who have encountered diversity through interpersonal interactions, group dynamics, and participation in multicultural and intercultural activities are better able to respect differences in others. In addition, they benefit from enhanced skills in critical thinking, articulation, interpersonal communication and mediation.
Through the richness of these opportunities, students gain self-confidence as well as an awareness of and appreciation for diversity and its role in society, in the workplace and in the community.
Diversity Opportunities at BW
At BW, diversity relates to the importance of acknowledging and respecting persons whose beliefs, practices and norms differ from one's own. Students are encouraged to explore, engage in and embrace the uniqueness of self and others. Opportunities include:
-
Taking
courses
that
explore
diversity
and
multicultural
issues,
such
as
religion,
international
studies,
foreign
language,
sociology,
history,
education,
business,
political
science
and
others
-
Majoring
or
minoring
in
a
foreign
language,
international
studies
or
a
similar
area
-
Volunteering
or
interning
with
organizations
that
serve
marginalized
individuals
and/or
are
focused
on
international
initiatives,
advocacy
or
policies
and
programs
that
are
diversity
associated
-
Participating
in
study
abroad
opportunities
-
Joining
campus
organizations
that
are
comprised
of
individuals
whose
race,
ethnicity,
culture,
sexual
orientation
or
opinions
differ
from
their
own
or
whose
focus
is
on
diversity
issues
- Attending BW campus programming that is sponsored by multicultural and diversity organizations