Table 2.
Summary of Theory and Recommendations
| Theoretical approach | HU student challenge to persisting | Short-term recommendation | Long-term recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stereotype threat | Agents of academic environment hold negative stereotypes regarding HU group performance | Increase individual’s resilience to threat, increase cues of belonging in environment, reduce threat priming in classrooms and research environments | Increase understanding about stereotype threat among all educators and eliminate negative stereotypes in academia and society |
| Self-affirmation theory | Negative feedback confirms negative stereotypes and undermines positive self-concept | Increase affirmation of individuals’ self-concept | Academia institutionalizes positive, affirming environment for all students |
| Race-sensitivity | Students sensitive to racism are negatively impacted by academic environments that do not foster belonging and equal participation for all students | Foster social belonging through both cross-group and within-group friendships; build trust and empathy between educators and students | Increase representation among all stakeholders of educational enterprise; structure programs and evaluations to reduce or eliminate negative bias |
| Communal goal affirmation | Academia strongly emphases agentic or individualistic values, which are not congruent with HU student values | Provide opportunities for students to link academic work with communal goals in classrooms and programs | Academia institutionalizes the inclusion of individualistic and communal goals as valued in curriculum, policies, and image. |
| Expectancy value theory | Academic curriculums and courses contents disengages students from STEM career pathways | Curriculum provides opportunity for students to connect personal values with course content | Academic curriculums intentionally connect to all student’s intrinsic values (not just majority group) |
| Critical race theory | Institutionalized racism is imbedded in all aspects of academia | Increase radical inclusiveness at all levels of academic institutions | Abolish racism |