A faculty and staff workshop on microaggression and implicit bias: Knowledge and awareness of student, faculty, and staff experiences

Abstract

Background and purposeThis paper describes the context and experiences of a workshop to raise knowledge and awareness of a college of pharmacy's faculty and staff about microaggressive behaviors and implicit biases. The workshop was intended to provide a non-threatening, interactive, and informative professional development program to demonstrate the cumulative marginalizing effects on students, faculty, and staff who may perceive themselves as targets. Educational activity and settingA half-day workshop was conducted during July 2018. Participants were initially provided with definitions and categories of microaggression and implicit bias. To bring the subject matter “alive” and foster receptivity, interactive videos were shown with scenarios depicting situations reflective of microaggressions and implicit biases. College faculty, staff, and students made these relatable. To foster objectivity, an outside consultant was hired to facilitate the ensuing roundtable and plenary discussions. FindingsSixty-eight participants responded to a pre-survey designed by the workshop team, and 78% indicated never having attended a training/seminar on microaggression and/or implicit bias. Sixty-two individuals responded to the post-survey with 92% indicating increased knowledge gained from workshop. Anecdotal reports suggested that the workshop had an ongoing impact, as faculty and staff continued the discussions in subsequent months and requested additional training sessions. SummaryThe workshop heightened awareness and increased faculty and staff knowledge on microaggressive behaviors, implicit biases, and the potential consequences thereof. It also demonstrated the importance of addressing conversations that are perceived as difficult, in order to create a diverse and inclusive workplace and learning environment for all.