1. Cultural Competence in Academic Advising

2. What is cultural competence? O The ability to effectively interact with people from different cultural backgrounds. O Cultural competence is comprised of four main components: O (a) Awareness of one's own cultural worldview. O (b) Attitude towards cultural differences. O (c) Knowledge of different cultural practices and worldviews. O (d) Cross-cultural skills.

3. Why is cultural competence important? O Increased diversity is already present: O 1/5 of students in the public schooling system are immigrants or children of immigrants. O By the year 2050, European Americans will no longer be the numeric majority. O Colleges today embody a multitude of ages, cultures, races, ethnicities, sexual orientation, languages, nationalities, etc.

4. New reality for Academic Advisors O Academic Advisors will be working with increasingly diverse student populations. O Advisors need to be able to respond appropriately to their needs. O How can we learn to do this? O Through cultural competence training…

5. Cultural competence training O Can be used to… O Raise awareness (of self and others). O Gain knowledge about diverse student populations. O Learn skills to adjust/adapt behavior. O For more information about cultural competence training and cross-cultural issues in advising, check out this NACADA webpageNACADA webpage

6. Developmental Model of Intercultural Sensitivity

7. 1) Denial -- The inability to construe cultural difference. 2) Defense -- Recognition of cultural difference coupled with negative evaluation of most variations from native culture -- the greater the difference, the more negative the evaluation. 3) Minimization -- Recognition and acceptance of superficial cultural differences such as eating customs, etc., while holding that all human beings are essentially the same. 4) Acceptance -- Recognition and appreciation of cultural differences in behavior and values. 5) Adaptation -- The development of communication skills that enable intercultural communication. 6) Integration -- The internalization of bicultural or multicultural frames of reference.

8. References Bennett, M. J. (1993). Towards Ethnorelativism: A developmental model of intercultural sensitivity. In R. M. Paige (Ed.). Education for the intercultural experience. Yarmouth, ME: Intercultural Press. Cardenas, V., Ajinkya, J., & Leger, D. G. (2011). Progress 2050: New ideas for a diverse America. Retrieved from: http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2011/10/ pdf/progress_2050.pdf Martin, M., & Vaughn, B. (2007). Strategic diversity & inclusion management. San Francisco, CA: DTUI Publications Division.