Justice In Higher Education Research Articles

Not in the Greater Good: Academic Capitalism and Faculty Labor in Higher Education

American public universities have assumed business-minded practices and norms that more closely align with the goals and values of corporations than social institutions charged with creating and disseminating knowledge. One consistent strategy to lower costs involves faculty labor. Institutions have outsourced educational missions to a largely contingent workforce to decrease instructional costs; over the last two decades, the number of adjunct or part-time faculty now comprises 70% of all faculty. As a result, policies have decreased instructional costs and provided administrators with increased flexibility to respond to student demands. However, research indicates compromised student outcomes, less shared governance, and faculty work–life pressures that can undermine commitment, motivation, and professional identity. The following literature review examines the locus of academic capitalism and faculty labor, theorizing how faculty labor policies infer consequences for equity, inclusion, and social justice in higher education.

The role of advocacy organizations in student activism: Black lives matter and stop anti‐Asian hate

AbstractAdvocacy organizations work in partnership with students, scholars, institutions, organizers, and policymakers to help advance racial justice in higher education. They amplify student activism through strategies such as coalition building, lobbying, and research. We provide recommendations for institutional leaders to work with advocacy organizations to support students as change agents.

Introduction Video to Volume 1 of the International Journal of Equity and Social Justice in Higher Education

Introduction Video to Volume 1 of the International Journal of Equity and Social Justice in Higher Education

Epistemological Breaks for Social Work Training and Practice: Participatory Research Through Photovoice in Disadvantaged Neighbourhoods

ABSTRACT The capabilities approach and participatory research are effective means to promote epistemic justice in higher education. Both have important roles, given the current commoditisation of University knowledge and professional practice, which do not promote inclusive epistemes that take into account the social problems of disadvantaged groups. Facilitating educational experiences that generate epistemological breaks and promote epistemic justice is a necessary task. Contributing to it was one purpose of the teaching innovation project carried out by the University of Jaén (Andalusia, Spain). The project aimed to stimulate collective reflection and dialogic encounters between complementary knowledge fields. It had three focal points: developing capabilities in students; fomenting participation and collective reflection in the community; heightening the visibility of people living in disadvantaged areas and conveying these realities, and people’s knowledge and concerns, to policymakers. The results show that co-production of knowledge by universities and local communities favours learning and practical reasoning; increases recognition and respect for diversity; foments participation and the environment necessary for citizens to exercise their political capabilities. This paper presents only the project’s first focal point; specifically, it shows how horizontal knowledge production using Photovoice can enhance in students certain capabilities of great relevance in their future profession.

Social Justice in Higher Education: Revisited, Practices, and Grievances

Social justice is a fundamental concern for ideal social structure and human rights. To develop social order and philosophical discourses, higher education is one of the holistic approaches to educating it. It elevates the level of idealized modern state formation among students. The present study was designed to examine the contexts of students about practices and malpractices of social justice in higher education. The quantitative approach was adopted to gather the data from 630 university graduates. All the data were gathered through a self-made questionnaire. The findings of the study explained that the participants were not satisfied with practices of social justice in higher education. Most of the participants expressed malpractices of social norms.Especially female students claimed their injustice experiences in higher education. The researcher recommended bold recommendations to uphold the social justice in higher education departments

The Effect of Organizational Justice and Service Quality on Customer Perceived Value among University Students: Controlling the Effect of Demographic Variables (Age, Gender, Social-Economic Status, and GPA)

This study investigates the effect of a university's organizational justice and service quality on the students' perceived value of higher education institutions. Many studies have investigated the importance of customer perceived value in business. Several predictors have been identified, such as service quality and fairness in service. However, business and public sector services have distinct characteristics that define each sector. Considering the importance of education services and the role of higher education institutions, this study explored the contribution of organizational justice and service quality to students' perceived value. There were 517 students from higher education institutions who participated in the study. They were recruited through online advertisements, and the survey was completed online. The results confirmed the contribution of organizational justice and service quality to students' perceived value. The results were consistent after controlling the effect of other demographic variables (e.g., gender). This study suggested that organizational justice and service quality should be fostered in Indonesian higher education institutions. Organizational justice in higher education can instil a sense of proper educational management while service quality assures the university's high standard of services. Like other customers in business, students in higher education also expect value for their education. However, if they find injustice and poor services at their university, they will be more likely to perceive low value. This study has confirmed the application of organizational justice and quality service theory in higher education services.

“We Really Have to Come Together”: Understanding the Role of Solidarity in Asian American College Students’ Social Justice Activism and Advocacy

Structural oppression continues to be one of the most pressing problems in U.S. society, and college students have always played a major role in addressing systemic inequities. Yet, much remains to be learned about the experiences of students advocating social justice in higher education, and there is a paucity of research on Asian American students involved in such efforts. This study sought to understand how Asian American undergraduates understand the role of solidarity in social justice work. The authors analyzed interviews with Asian American students engaged in social justice activism and advocacy in the Midwest. Findings show that participants recognized interconnected realities among oppressed communities, centered solidarity in social justice work because of this recognition, and utilized intersectional approaches to integrate solidarity into social justice activism and advocacy. Implications for future research and practice are discussed.

Teaching Race and Racial Justice: Developing Students’ Cognitive and Affective Understanding

Effectively addressing both cognitive and affective dimensions of learning is one of the greatest obstacles to teaching race and racial justice in higher education. In this article, we first explore the need to integrate attention to cognitive and affective development, along with evidence-based strategies for doing so. We then provide a case study of an undergraduate sociology course on environmental justice in which the instructor intentionally adopted holistic pedagogical principles of teaching race. Analyzing student responses from a pre- and post- course survey, course assignments, and instructor observations of student participation, we find that both white students and students of color experienced significant growth in their cognitive and affective understanding of the complexities of race and work toward racial justice. However, results also show how challenging it can be to create the conditions for productive multiracial dialogues that produce extensive affective development, particularly interpersonal skills of racial reconciliation. Reflecting on the limitations of the case, we conclude that more holistic teaching approaches are necessary to develop both students’ cognitive and affective abilities to navigate race and work against racism, and we make suggestions for faculty development and administrative support.

Teaching Race and Racial Justice: Developing Students’ Cognitive and Affective Understanding

Effectively addressing both cognitive and affective dimensions of learning is one of the greatest obstacles to teaching race and racial justice in higher education. In this article, we first explore the need to integrate attention to cognitive and affective development, along with evidence-based strategies for doing so. We then provide a case study of an undergraduate sociology course on environmental justice in which the instructor intentionally adopted holistic pedagogical principles of teaching race. Analyzing student responses from a pre- and post- course survey, course assignments, and instructor observations of student participation, we find that both white students and students of color experienced significant growth in their cognitive and affective understanding of the complexities of race and work toward racial justice. However, results also show how challenging it can be to create the conditions for productive multiracial dialogues that produce extensive affective development, particularly interpersonal skills of racial reconciliation. Reflecting on the limitations of the case, we conclude that more holistic teaching approaches are necessary to develop both students’ cognitive and affective abilities to navigate race and work against racism, and we make suggestions for faculty development and administrative support.

Towards a humane community: The search for disability justice in higher education through African moral thinking

Background: The central claim of this article is that African disability justice is possible through analysing, re-examining and reimagining realities that distort and disempower the being of individuals with disabilities. Aim: In this article, I argue for an African disability justice. Methods: I do this by establishing that higher education ought to produce citizens who are responsive and are able to reinvent Africa through the idea of (community) serving. I borrow these ideas from the African ethical thinking and practice of relational attitude and communal living. Setting: In traditional African thinking, as informed by Ubuntu [I am, because you are] social thinking, disability was recognised and respected. Results: I, therefore, develop the concept of reflective-creative education (RCE) as carrying this African ethos for social justice (responsive and enabling citizens) towards members with disabilities. In that endeavour, African higher educational institutes ought to prepare and empower Africans to be responsive and to enable others to live confidently and inclusively in transformed communities that address the needs of citizens. Conclusion: In this way education becomes a tool (RCE) for changing attitudes and developing citizens to be proactive in building better communities to live in.

Inequitable rewards: experiences of faculty of color mentoring students of color

ABSTRACT Employing the analytical lens of Critical Race Theory, I explored how faculty of color view their mentorship of students of color at predominantly White colleges and universities. The research was conducted through an anonymous online questionnaire shared with faculty of color at 136 predominantly White institutions. Three main themes emerge and show that faculty of color feel: (a) a sense of social responsibility to their communities of color; (b) that this demanding and often specialized work comes at a cost to their professional careers, and; (c) that shared marginalized identities create unique mentorship responsibilities and demands. I then discuss the implications for social justice in higher education.

La cuestión de la justicia en la Educación Superior en América Latina. Una revisión de su abordaje

La juventud constituye un sujeto de derechos prioritario y la educación superior, además de ser uno de sus derechos, es un preciado bien público que puede favorecer su transición a la vida adulta, la ciudadanía y el mundo del trabajo. La región más desigual del planeta resulta terreno propicio para la reflexión en torno a cómo se piensa la justicia en la posibilidad de hacer ejercicio pleno de este derecho. Este artículo recupera la producción académica latinoamericana de los últimos 20 años en materia de justicia en la educación superior, a partir de una búsqueda en Scielo y Google Scholar. A partir de la revisión de los 50 artículos seleccionados se reconstruye la aproximación a las nociones de justicia, igualdad, equidad e inclusión, el tratamiento diferenciado para distintos grupos que viven exclusión escolar o social y se recuperan planteamientos para abonar a la investigación y la intervención. Se reconoce un campo prolífero y diversificado, que centra la cuestión de la justicia en ámbitos reducidos dentro de las instituciones o políticas estatales y deja de lado aspectos más sustantivos como el reconocimiento de lo común, y potencia en el diálogo y la construcción de fines comunes entre quienes propugnan la justicia.

Medical Dominance in Nursing Education: Qualitative content analysis

Background: Training specialist manpower requires social justice in higher education and inequality leads to the emergence of hierarchies of power and types of dominant or dominated groups. Aim: The aim of the present study was to explain the perceptions and experiences of the heads of nursing departments of Iranian nursing schools regarding medical dominance in nursing education. Methods: The present study was a conventional content analysis. Data collection was carried out using purposeful sampling and in-depth semi-structured interviews with 24 participants. The data analysis process was performed according to Graneheim and Lundman’s qualitative content analysis (2004). Findings: Data analysis led to the emergence of the theme of "Medical dominance in nursing education" and the three main categories of “physician-centered university education", "weakened educational status", and "belittling nursing education in medical system”. Conclusion: The findings of the present study indicated that physicians enjoy special and superior position in the structure of the Ministry of Health and Medical Education of Iran. Physicians manage the entire system including medical education due to their greater power in managing the system at all micro and macro levels. Thus, other disciplines including nursing education, which are closely related to medicine, are highly ignored.

Affective assemblages matter in socially just pedagogies

Social justice in higher education is a core concern in South Africa. It involves matters of pedagogy, curriculum, recognition, as well as access to tertiary institutions. In light of the massification of higher education, the question that vexes many educators is how to promote student learning through pedagogical practices that are socially just in themselves and that can also promote social justice. A focus on, and sensitivity to, affect provides a way of addressing this concern. We open up our experiences as educators in different professional fields by using an ethico-onto-epistemological methodology, describing relationships that emerged from our classroom engagements. Affective forces and intensities materialising in our teaching and learning assemblages provide a novel relational approach to enacting social justice. We suggest that an attunement to the affective forces circulating in pedagogical practices has the potential to transform conventional teaching habits thereby promoting socially just teaching.

The Social Justice Syllabus Design Tool: A First Step in Doing Social Justice Pedagogy

Despite increased attention on social justice in higher education, underrepresented students often experience the classroom as unwelcoming and even hostile. Although theoretical and pedagogical research exists, what appears to be lacking are examples of concrete social justice pedagogy strategies that can be implemented in the classroom setting. This article describes the Social Justice Syllabus Design Tool (SJSDT) created to facilitate a greater emphasis on social justice in courses. Using an integrative framework and highlighting the focus areas of relationship, community, and process, the SJSDT offers a systematic approach to course re-design by which instructors can assess their classroom environment and course content. A syllabus that signals belongingness, growth mindset, communal goals, clear and positive expectations, and success-orientation assists in setting a welcoming tone that leads to greater student achievement and engagement. Such a syllabus may also help reduce the potential for triggering stereotype threat or other forms of alienation that affect student success among women and students of color in STEM programs. Feedback received from faculty who utilized the tool to revise their course syllabi are discussed, in addition to limitations and recommendations for future practice.

Jesuits and Social Justice

This article examines the history of social justice ministries within the Society of Jesus. Despite the fact that the term is fraught by a great disagreement both about its meaning and its place within Jesuit apostolates, successive Jesuit general congregations have upheld its importance over the last five decades. Even though what we now consider to be social justice has been a part of Jesuit life since the order’s founding, this paper primarily considers the period 1974–present, so as to coincide with GC 32 (1974–75). Social justice has taken many forms, based both on geography and personal interests of the particular Jesuit in question. The broad term covers issues such as the Jesuit Refugee Service, the Plowshares Movement, justice in higher education, and Homeboy Industries. Finally, the paper concludes by considering two growing edges for the order regarding social justice: the role of women in Jesuit apostolates, and the ecological question.

The Unfinished Business of Social Justice in Christian Higher Education

In this essay, we contend that there is much unfinished business ahead for Christian higher education. Our argument is grounded in the cumulative impact of long-standing frameworks and an expanding knowledge base on diversity and social justice in higher education. In 2013, we edited a special volume of this journal calling for focused work on faith, diversity, and social justice within Christian higher education. Since then, we feel heavily influenced by racialized events in the United States and our concern as educators regarding the role and responsibility of Christian higher education in educating its students. The purpose of the article is to challenge and extend the conversation on diversity and social justice in Christian higher education. To that end, we suggest questions that Christian higher education leaders should be asking of themselves. We emphasize how Christian higher education can take the lead in advancing social justice as part of its mission. We explore definitions and old paradigms and discuss the significance of current events and cultural thinking. We then outline actionable institutional frameworks and initiatives that can move Christian higher education forward.

What Have We Learned from Critical Qualitative Inquiry about Race Equity and Social Justice? An Interview with Pioneering Scholar Yvonna Lincoln

In this article, two Black women scholars in higher education share a conversation with our distinguished senior colleague, Yvonna Lincoln, a pioneering scholar of qualitative research methodology about what we have learned from her, and more specifically, how this research paradigm has been used to advance racial equity and social justice in higher education. The readers will learn, through her lens, about issues that emerged over the years and what she envisions for the future of higher education and qualitative research. This article presents implications for higher education, including faculty, students, and administrators working in higher education institutions.

The Future of Teaching-learning in Africa: The Quest for Ubuntu Justice in Higher Education

Much of the pedagogical work with which I have been involved over the last three decades in higher education directly concerns my relations with students and vice a versa. More recently (Waghid, 2019), I have given some thought to my pedagogical relations vis-à-vis the virtue of caring in an attempt to make sense of my encounters with students in higher education. This article reflects a closer look at pedagogical encounters between students and myself (as a university educator). In a way, I firstly reflect on my teaching and learning in a university context by making a connection between what it means to engage in pedagogical encounters through the act of caring. Secondly, I show how pedagogical encounters constituted by care could enhance both teacher and student autonomy, before, thirdly, tackling the notion that caring in pedagogical encounters cannot be remiss of deliberative iterations. Finally, I argue why caring pedagogical encounters are inextricably connected to an enactment of play which, in my view, corroborates the future of teaching.

Inside a Box: Using Objects To Collaboratively Narrate Educator Experiences of Transformation in Higher Education

This article is a reflection on the use of object memory in creating a collaborative arts-based narrative that explores educator experiences with transformation in higher education. The collaborative arts-based narrative that I present here emerged from my doctoral thesis in which I collaborated with participants to explore how our memories and experiences could help us understand and approach issues of social justice in education. In this article, I reflect on the way in which memory objects guided the creation of a collaborative arts-based narrative of educators' autobiographical experiences, educational encounters, and anti-oppressive education. Memory objects are used to explore educator identity, subjectivity, and experience in relation to issues of social change and social justice in higher education. Through this exploration, I hope to highlight the entanglement of context, experience, and the theoretical understandings of social justice and anti-oppressive education. The aim of this article is to reflect on how objects were used to make new connections and exciting discoveries through a collaborative narrative of memories and experiences of educators working towards social change in higher education.