Consulting

Do you know if your student policies and practices reflect the intended organizational values related to gender? Have you considered soliciting an audit on how the policies and practices are being perceived? For example, when was the last time you looked at the athletics dress code? Do the student government policies and structures create the conditions for equal access? Are there any other handbook policies that might infringe upon students’ right to equal opportunities?

The impact of inequity in education is serious. You may be surprised to learn that graduates who were denied equal college opportunities, such as student leadership positions, take a hit on their paycheck for the rest of their lives (U.S. Department of Education. 2016. Advancing Diversity and Inclusion in Higher Education.). Student policies and practices matter.

It helps to have fresh eyes review the policies and practices for alignment between what the college intends to convey and its perceptions and implications. A policy audit can identify any misalignment and offer recommendations to enhance the policy language and corresponding practices. Your students will benefit through an inclusive, welcoming environment that stems from intentional policy design based upon the intended institutional values. Your organization will benefit from a more welcoming campus climate that translates to higher student enrollment, retention and satisfaction.

I won’t tell your university what to believe. But I can help your university align what it believes with what its policies enact. My research explores how institutional policies at Christian colleges and universities reveal the schools’ values and beliefs about sex and gender and how the policies affect campus climate. Tactics for evaluating policy language are offered for college leaders seeking to review and update policies.