I’m not white. Will I make it?

The Problem… Statistically, despite equivalent A levels results, admission into universities and Russell group universities is lower for ethnic minorities (Boliver and Parel, 2014). Studies by Equality Challenge Unit (2010) has Identified an achievement gap between BME students and White student of 18% obtaining first class honours and upper second honours. Under representation of ethnic minority staff. According to University and College Union (2012) only 1.1% of academic staff are black and only 0.4 are British born professors. In particular, it failed to address the fact that BME students, though well represented in the sector as a whole, are under represented in the more prestigious institution and continue to be less likely than white students to gain good honours degree At BCU white students are attaining higher academic achievement then the ethnic minority. Statistically, ethnic minority are less likely to get a 2:1 than white students. Why?

Are there any barriers to ethnic minorities success? “There is a standard way of thinking that is hegemonically White, and students from ethnic minorities either have to get with the programme or do worse” (Respondent, HE, 2011). Statistically Black women achieve the lowest percentage of 1sts - 5.7% in comparison to 18.3% of white women. Black men are the second lowest. (Shilliam, undated) Is this statistic surprising? Do you believe there are barriers regarding your own success ? Do staff influence academic achievement? Are there any barriers to success that you can point out specifically during your time at BCU?

Are there academic stereotypes about ethnic minority groups? ‘Being in a minority occasional harmful racial/gender stereotypes that are held against isolated Black academics by mostly white senior colleagues and managers are expressed through implicit biases’ (Equality Challenge Unit 2013b) Do you agree with this statement? ‘What is remarkable is that, at the same time evidence of racial disadvantage remains stubbornly persistent What are your experiences? Can you see these qualities in students at BCU? Do you think that staff impose educational stereotypes, of ethnic minorities, onto their students?

Do you think your course is culturally diverse? According to Pilkington (2013) anti- discrimination policies in higher education institutions are ineffective as they act as a ‘smoke screen’ for judgement which can be indirectly discriminatory. Higher Education Statistics Agency (2014) found that out of a total 17,880 professors, 950 were Asian, 85 were Black, 365 were Other (including mixed) and the majority (15,200) were white. Do you think there is a difference between the diversity of staff in comparison to students, if so why? Does this lack of equality effect you? Is your curriculum white?

What can be done to improve academic achievement within ethnic minority ?