Advocating Cultural Competence in College Students as a Component of Moral and Civic Development

Abstract

This article encourages the application of cultural competency as a factor in the development of character in college students. Student affairs practitioners can help students explore cultural competency’s two general components: awareness of one’s own culture and knowledge of the cultural identities of others. Educators can advocate for such moral and civic development resulting in acquisition of an identity persona in students that is both culturally self-aware and open to new and different experiences from diverse cultural perspectives, attitudes, and behaviors.