WHY IS MY CURRICULUM WHITE
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What are the key goals for this campaign?
The ‘Why is my curriculum white?’ campaign aims to increase cultural awareness for all students, promote equitable opportunities for all and, most importantly, ensuring that all students are equipped with the knowledge to thrive in today’s society.
Where could I go for further information?
For more information, please refer to the link provided on this page or alternatively, feel free you email us at: yoursubu@bournemouth.ac.uk.
Why did you use those particular statistics to raise awareness for the campaign?
The statistics provided were national stats which were used to illustrate the attainment gap for different ethnic groups.
A lot of students have claimed that one of the posts for the campaign is causing division, how does SUBU respond to this?
This is far from the case. Here at SUBU, we believe in diversity and equitable opportunities for all students, hence why we have decided to back a campaign that does exactly that. However, in order to be progressive as an institution, we must continue to challenge the status quo and address disparities that students on campus face.
What is the BME Attainment Gap and what causes it?
The BME Attainment Gap is the difference between the number of BME students who achieve a 2:1 or higher and the number of white students who achieve a 2:1 or higher. The national gap is currently 17% between white students and BME students achieving a 2:1 or higher.
As it stands, there is no one primary cause for the attainment gap. The curriculum, a student’s financial background, mode of entry into university (BTEC or A-Level) and whether or not you’ve had a parent that has gone to university can all be factors that affect a student’s engagement with their course, therefore leading to an attainment gap.
Lenrick - (the SUBU VP Education) during your studies, did you notice the effects of this?
As an engaged student with the Students' Union, I have had the opportunity to attend various conferences and seminars regarding the HE sector. Through learning about the BME Attainment gap, I made many parallels with what I’ve learnt and what I study and realised there is a lot missing from our curriculum, such us, non-western contributions to knowledge and academia. Understanding that this is a national issue and understanding the lived experience of BME students on campus, I believe that it is the time to address this disparity. -
Did anonymous marking impact these statistics?
Anonymous marking is something that has been highlighted by many institutions across the country as a need, due to the fact that it reduces unconscious racial biases. Unconscious racial biases are a factor that contributes to the BME attainment gap. BU has also adopted anonymous marking which will be piloted in second during Semester 2 (AY 2018/19). The pilot will include a limited number of units from levels 4 & 5 across all four faculties.
What does 'white' represent in this campaign? Does this include white people when English is not their first language - e.g. Russians, Welsh, French etc.?
What the curriculum being “white” means is that it reflects only a certain part of society and for a lot of courses that will be straight white male voices as for a long time, those were the only voices considered valid in education. This campaign challenges the idea of ‘acceptable’ thoughts and ideologies taught in education, and lobbies for more non-western thinkers and theorists to be implemented in our curriculum.
What can we do about these issues as a Students’ Union?
As a Students’ Union, we believe in challenging the status quo and empowering students to make sure they have the tools and opportunities to thrive during their studies and in society. We will continue to raise awareness and provide opportunities and support system to ensure that the disparities that all of our students face are minimalised.
Do we have anecdotal evidence from BME students have been affected by this?
Yes, there is anecdotal evidence of BME Students on campus who disclosed how they have been affected. Thus, our VP Education is collaborating with our Black Students’ Campaign, AAEM (Asian, Arab and ethnic minority) campaign and ACS (African and Caribbean society) to do further research on the lived experience of BME students on campus.
How does the race of an author affect how people engage with their work based on their own race?
Lack of engagement with your reading material due to not feeling represented or connected does contribute to lower grades. If students begin to see themselves within the curriculum and the framework of the university, then greater measures into digging deeper into course materials would be made by all students.
Is there evidence to show that BME authors are being deliberately excluded from the curriculum?
This campaign is not suggesting that BME authors are being deliberately excluded from the curriculum. Due to the constant perpetuation of Western ideologies throughout our curricula, non-Western contributions to knowledge and academia are constantly being overlooked and ignored. Once we being to change the academic narrative, we will begin to recognise and embrace the diversity of thought regardless of race, gender, sexuality or disability.
Do these results imply BME students either don't want to engage with non-BME lecturers or feel unable?
The results of the BME attainment gap suggests that lack of engagement with your reading material or academic staff due to not feeling represented or connected does contribute to lower grades.
Everyone has to learn from the same curriculum but that does not mean that the curriculum is representative of those who have to learn it.
Learn more:
https://www.subu.org.uk/mycurriculum/