Abstract:
Considering current and past events in higher education related to race-related issues, it is essential that college counselors and student affairs professionals are trained to appropriately address current issues in higher education as they are often the first responders to address students' needs or concerns. This qualitative ethnographic study explores counselor educators' use of past and/or current race-related incidents as teachable moments in the college counseling and student affairs specialization program. The rationale for this study arises from the researcher's belief that exploration of this phenomenon can assist educators in preparing future college counseling and student affairs professionals to better support students before, during, and after a race-related incident. The purposefully selected sample of 8 counselor educators who teach courses in a college counseling and student affairs professionals specialization program. The primary data collection methods were the use of in-depth interviews as well as supportive methods such as surveys, critical incidents, and documents (i.e. course syllabi). The data was analyzed using a three-phase model including data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing and verification. The research revealed that all of the counselor educators acknowledged personal knowledge and experience with diversity-related conflicts in higher education. The researcher found that most of the counselor educators implemented this knowledge and experience in the college counseling and student affairs professional specialization curriculum. Recommendations are offered for current and future counselor educators in the college counseling and student affairs specialization programs and suggestions for future research.
