What is Racial Hierarchy of Value

In the United States, in higher education, gaps in retention and graduation rates for students from historically marginalized communities remain at the forefront of college and university diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts. This chapter proposes that DEI efforts must go beyond the implementation of a new initiative, program, or service to address the racial and social inequities that manifest as lagging academic outcomes. The author suggests that educators have the power to create environments that result in more equitable outcomes and the potential to advance social and racial justice with each interaction they have with students. By engaging empathy, educators can listen more closely to students' stories, understand those stories more keenly, challenge their explicit and implicit bias, and choose to incorporate new insight into their daily practice. Moreover, when educators consider the whole student experience with greater awareness and care, they help shape policies and procedures that serve students more equitably.