Stephanie Doscher, assistant vice provost for curriculum internationalization at the University of Minnesota, told NAFSA's International Educator magazine that unconscious bias is especially detrimental in higher education, where it undermines the essential collaborative spirit of academia, hindering faculty, staff, and students in the exchange and creation of new knowledge.

“Unconscious biases lead us to exclude others and dismiss their ideas, trapping us in a bubble of our own confirming beliefs. The pursuit of new knowledge demands that we actively and intentionally seek out diverse perspectives and challenge our assumptions.”

Some of the most effective efforts to combat bias on campus are those that intentionally create opportunities for open dialogue and transparent discussions, benefiting administrators, faculty, and students.

“Our internal research at the University of Minnesota indicates that students want to engage with diverse perspectives, but they need faculty support to do so,” says Doscher. The University of Minnesota’s microcredentialed Teaching in Globally Diverse Classes professional development program, open to participants inside and outside the university, addresses this need by offering a variety of experiential learning workshops, helping educators identify and transform their unconscious biases while equipping them to guide their students through a similar process.

“We also partner with the university’s Center for Educational Innovation and Office for Equity and Diversity to host a range of workshops and open discussions aimed at fostering a fully inclusive campus climate,” says Doscher.

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