Establishing an “Intellectual Safe Space” A panel discussion on the formation and function of an interdisciplinary scholarly community for doctoral students

Establishing an Establishing an “Intellectual Safe Space”“Intellectual Safe Space”

A panel discussion on the formation and A panel discussion on the formation and function of an interdisciplinary scholarly function of an interdisciplinary scholarly

community for doctoral studentscommunity for doctoral students

Peter A. Bacevice Peter A. Bacevice Lisa C. Guzman Lisa C. Guzman Danielle K. Molina Danielle K. MolinaCenter for the Study of Higher and Postsecondary EducationCenter for the Study of Higher and Postsecondary Education

University of MichiganUniversity of Michigan

Yale Bouchet Conference on Diversity in Education March 30-31, 2007Yale Bouchet Conference on Diversity in Education March 30-31, 2007

Bacevice, Guzman, & Molina (2007)Bacevice, Guzman, & Molina (2007)

Goals for Today’s PresentationGoals for Today’s Presentation Share our story of creating a scholarly Share our story of creating a scholarly

community to mediate graduate school community to mediate graduate school challengeschallenges

Link these reflections to scholarship on the Link these reflections to scholarship on the graduate experience and scholarly communitiesgraduate experience and scholarly communities

Discuss the ways in which we all resonate with Discuss the ways in which we all resonate with this topicthis topic

Share ideas on how developing scholarly Share ideas on how developing scholarly communities might aid in your graduate communities might aid in your graduate experienceexperience

Generate ideas for future researchGenerate ideas for future research


The Graduate School The Graduate School ExperienceExperience


As a Graduate Student…As a Graduate Student…

What are some of the academic What are some of the academic challenges that you have challenges that you have encountered or expect to encountered or expect to

encounter?encounter?

What strategies have you used to What strategies have you used to mediate these challenges?mediate these challenges?


Three Graduate School ExperiencesThree Graduate School Experiences

DanielleDanielle Not so subtle cues: who’s “in” and who’s “out”Not so subtle cues: who’s “in” and who’s “out” Faith in your abilities and a sense of belongingFaith in your abilities and a sense of belonging

PetePete How to ask or not to ask: THAT is the questionHow to ask or not to ask: THAT is the question Academic grandstandingAcademic grandstanding

LisaLisa Testing boundaries but staying within the linesTesting boundaries but staying within the lines Standing to the right on a moving walkway: Standing to the right on a moving walkway:

watching fast-track students fly bywatching fast-track students fly by Finding a safe space between challenge and Finding a safe space between challenge and

supportsupport


Challenges to Graduate School Challenges to Graduate School SuccessSuccess


Role-Models: mentoring affects research agendas Role-Models: mentoring affects research agendas and successand success

Purpose of research: meaningful/ developmental or Purpose of research: meaningful/ developmental or to check another accomplishment off the list to check another accomplishment off the list (publication, vita, satisfying others’ expectations)(publication, vita, satisfying others’ expectations)

Professional knowledge and skill: ‘feel’, ‘judgment’, Professional knowledge and skill: ‘feel’, ‘judgment’, knowing when to act, ability to frame problems, knowing when to act, ability to frame problems, using new approachesusing new approaches

Frost, 1989; Green & Bauer, 1995; Paglis, Green, Frost, 1989; Green & Bauer, 1995; Paglis, Green, & Bauer, 2006; Pearson, 1996& Bauer, 2006; Pearson, 1996

Academic ChallengesAcademic Challenges


Organizational ChallengesOrganizational Challenges

Socialization: gaining entrySocialization: gaining entry Structure: social networksStructure: social networks Culture: language of the Culture: language of the

disciplinediscipline Integration: Commitment to Integration: Commitment to

department and goal of finishingdepartment and goal of finishing Identity: sense of belongingIdentity: sense of belonging

Baird, 1990; Cooke, Sims, & Peyrefitte, 1995; Baird, 1990; Cooke, Sims, & Peyrefitte, 1995; Corcoran & Clark, 1984; Fields, 1998; Corcoran & Clark, 1984; Fields, 1998;

Golde, 2000; Lango, 1995 Golde, 2000; Lango, 1995


Psychological ChallengesPsychological Challenges

ConfidenceConfidence Emotional Well-BeingEmotional Well-Being StressStress AnxietyAnxiety CopingCoping

Hyun, Quinn, Madon, & Lustig, 2006; Hyun, Quinn, Madon, & Lustig, 2006; Mallinckrodt & Leong, 1992; Munir & Mallinckrodt & Leong, 1992; Munir &

Jackson, 1997Jackson, 1997


Add concerns faced specifically by Add concerns faced specifically by underrepresented students…underrepresented students…

Lack of mentors from underrepresented groupsLack of mentors from underrepresented groups Devaluing of scholarship on race-related topicsDevaluing of scholarship on race-related topics Being stereotyped or encountering prejudiceBeing stereotyped or encountering prejudice Unspoken assumptions about race and statusUnspoken assumptions about race and status Exclusion from scholarly discourseExclusion from scholarly discourse

Carter-Obayuwana, 1995; Cheatham & Phelps, 1995; Chism & Pruitt, 1995; Davidson & Foster-Johnson, 2001; Dowdy, Givens, Murillo,

Shenoy, & Villenas, 2000; Fields, 1998; Gasman, Gerstl-Pepin, Fields, 1998; Gasman, Gerstl-Pepin, Anderson-Thompkins, Rasheed, & Hathaway, 2004; Lango, 1995; Anderson-Thompkins, Rasheed, & Hathaway, 2004; Lango, 1995;

Steele, 1999; Willie, Grady, & Hope, 1991


Mediating the Challenges of Mediating the Challenges of Graduate SchoolGraduate School


Blaze Your Own TrailBlaze Your Own Trail

However…However…

Scholarship is a social endeavor in which ideas Scholarship is a social endeavor in which ideas grow out of social interaction ritualsgrow out of social interaction rituals Competitive quest for cultural capitalCompetitive quest for cultural capital Community allows scholars to have the power of Community allows scholars to have the power of

ideological influenceideological influence

Collins, 1998Collins, 1998


Find Others to Share the JourneyFind Others to Share the Journey

Yet…Yet…

Students generally engage with Students generally engage with departmental colleaguesdepartmental colleagues

Students who perceive themselves as Students who perceive themselves as marginalized look for niche groupsmarginalized look for niche groups

Pallas, 2001; Pearson, 1996Pallas, 2001; Pearson, 1996


Problem with Homogeneous Social Problem with Homogeneous Social SpacesSpaces

Consensus, alone, does not advance Consensus, alone, does not advance knowledge. Too much agreement isn’t knowledge. Too much agreement isn’t necessarily a good thing (Pfeffer, 1993)necessarily a good thing (Pfeffer, 1993)

““Actions that strengthen the community Actions that strengthen the community weaken the scholarship. And actions that weaken the scholarship. And actions that strengthen the scholarship weaken the strengthen the scholarship weaken the community” (Weick, 1983)community” (Weick, 1983)


Designing Scholarly Designing Scholarly Communities that Mediate Communities that Mediate

Graduate School ChallengesGraduate School Challenges


Develop Interdisciplinary Develop Interdisciplinary Communities Communities

Strength of weak ties (Grannovetter, 1973)Strength of weak ties (Grannovetter, 1973) Gain from the knowledge of others who have Gain from the knowledge of others who have

different information than yourselfdifferent information than yourself Sensemaking (Weick, 1995)Sensemaking (Weick, 1995)

Ability to mediate evolving events by drawing Ability to mediate evolving events by drawing upon diverse perspectives and expertiseupon diverse perspectives and expertise

““complicate yourself”complicate yourself”


Create Intellectual “Safe” SpacesCreate Intellectual “Safe” Spaces

Groups with weak ties are beneficial when Groups with weak ties are beneficial when trust is present (Levin & Cross, 2004)trust is present (Levin & Cross, 2004)

Create environment where epistemological Create environment where epistemological experimentation is safe and encouraged experimentation is safe and encouraged (Pallas, 2001)(Pallas, 2001)

Encourage a sense of belonging: Encourage a sense of belonging: positively related to persistence, positively related to persistence, participation, and engagement (Cooke, participation, and engagement (Cooke, Sims, & Peyrefitte, 1995)Sims, & Peyrefitte, 1995)


The Story Behind Creating Our The Story Behind Creating Our Interdisciplinary Scholarly Interdisciplinary Scholarly

CommunityCommunity


The Coordinators The Coordinators

Team of 6 Doctoral StudentsTeam of 6 Doctoral Students Doctoral Students in the Schools of Doctoral Students in the Schools of

Business, Information, and EducationBusiness, Information, and Education All Members of Weick’s Social Psychology All Members of Weick’s Social Psychology

of Organizing Classof Organizing Class Each have participated as members of Each have participated as members of

other homogeneous and interdisciplinary other homogeneous and interdisciplinary academic groups (e.g., summer institute, academic groups (e.g., summer institute, ICOS)ICOS)


The ResourcesThe Resources

Rackham’s value in interdisciplinary studyRackham’s value in interdisciplinary study Pre-existing program to support the Pre-existing program to support the

development of interdisciplinary work-development of interdisciplinary work-groupsgroups

Financial ResourcesFinancial Resources Personal CommitmentPersonal Commitment


Rackham Interdisciplinary Rackham Interdisciplinary WorkshopsWorkshops

http://www.rackham.umich.edu/Events/interdis.htmlhttp://www.rackham.umich.edu/Events/interdis.html

Ongoing program of interdisciplinary graduate student and faculty Ongoing program of interdisciplinary graduate student and faculty workshops. The groups to be supported should be:workshops. The groups to be supported should be:

Self-organized by the participantsSelf-organized by the participants Have an ongoing core membership, and Have an ongoing core membership, and Meet regularly throughout the academic yearMeet regularly throughout the academic year

GoalsGoals Encourage exchange and collaboration among students and faculty Encourage exchange and collaboration among students and faculty

who share intellectual interests -- but do not necessarily have an who share intellectual interests -- but do not necessarily have an easily available forum in common, because they have different easily available forum in common, because they have different academic affiliations.academic affiliations.

Help advanced doctoral students form working groups that support Help advanced doctoral students form working groups that support the development of research projects and dissertation-writing. the development of research projects and dissertation-writing.


UM Graduate Interdisciplinary GroupsUM Graduate Interdisciplinary Groups A&D Life: Creative Engagement of ContemporarA&D Life: Creative Engagement of Contemporar

y Art and Life Sciencey Art and Life Science Advanced Media StudiesAdvanced Media Studies African History Workshop Series African History Workshop Series American History Graduate Student WorkshopAmerican History Graduate Student Workshop American PoliticsAmerican Politics The Black Humanities CollectiveThe Black Humanities Collective Boundary Crossing and Cultural Exchange in EaBoundary Crossing and Cultural Exchange in Ea

rly Modern Europe and the Near Eastrly Modern Europe and the Near East Caribbean WorkshopCaribbean Workshop CirculoCirculo MicaelaMicaela BastidasBastidas Classics and Architectural HistoryClassics and Architectural History Complexity in Industrial Ecology WorkshopComplexity in Industrial Ecology Workshop Complex Systems Advanced Academic WorkshComplex Systems Advanced Academic Worksh

opop Consumption JunctionConsumption Junction Conversations Across Social Disciplines (CASD)Conversations Across Social Disciplines (CASD) Development, Conservation, and Sustainable LiDevelopment, Conservation, and Sustainable Li

velihoodsvelihoods East Asian Gender ForumEast Asian Gender Forum Experimental Approaches to Understanding VertExperimental Approaches to Understanding Vert

ebrate ebrate NeurogenesisNeurogenesis

The Future of Performance Studies The Future of Performance Studies Interdisciplinary Group Seminar (IGS) Interdisciplinary Group Seminar (IGS) International Macro WorkshopInternational Macro Workshop Judaic Studies Reading GroupJudaic Studies Reading Group

K-16 WorkshopK-16 Workshop Language & Rhetorical Studies GroupLanguage & Rhetorical Studies Group Middle East and North Africa Scholars WorkshoMiddle East and North Africa Scholars Worksho

pp Michigan Student Symposium for InterdisciplinarMichigan Student Symposium for Interdisciplinar

y Statistical Science 2007y Statistical Science 2007 MicrofluidicsMicrofluidics for Biology for Biology Music of the Americas Study GroupMusic of the Americas Study Group Networks Across DisciplinesNetworks Across Disciplines Pacific Island Studies WorkshopPacific Island Studies Workshop SNRE Millennium Ecosystem Assessment InterSNRE Millennium Ecosystem Assessment Inter

disciplinary Workshop and Seminar Seriesdisciplinary Workshop and Seminar Series SensemakingSensemaking Interdisciplinary Workshop Interdisciplinary Workshop Socio-Technical Infrastructure for Electronic TraSocio-Technical Infrastructure for Electronic Tra

nsactionsnsactions South Asian Reading Group (Kitabmandal)South Asian Reading Group (Kitabmandal) Spiritus Aevi-An Interdisciplinary Workshop for Spiritus Aevi-An Interdisciplinary Workshop for

MedievalistsMedievalists Statistical Methods in Molecular BiologyStatistical Methods in Molecular Biology Statistical Learning and Data MiningStatistical Learning and Data Mining Statistics/Biostatistics Student Seminar SeriesStatistics/Biostatistics Student Seminar Series Trans/Formation of the Disciplines: Evaluating Trans/Formation of the Disciplines: Evaluating

the Project of Anthropology and Historythe Project of Anthropology and History Visual Archives: Narrative and History in Film Visual Archives: Narrative and History in Film

and New Mediaand New Media Workshop for Integrating & Discussing Topics in Workshop for Integrating & Discussing Topics in

Healthcare/WIDTH Healthcare/WIDTH


Sensemaking Interdisciplinary Sensemaking Interdisciplinary Forum (SIF)Forum (SIF)

http://webuser.bus.umich.edu/organizations/sensemaking/index.htmhttp://webuser.bus.umich.edu/organizations/sensemaking/index.htm

ObjectivesObjectives Broaden the knowledge of graduate students and professors alike beyond the Broaden the knowledge of graduate students and professors alike beyond the

scope of their chosen disciplines. scope of their chosen disciplines. Generate high-quality professional connections that will cultivate vanguard Generate high-quality professional connections that will cultivate vanguard

interdisciplinary research projects. interdisciplinary research projects. Engender high-quality personal connections that provide support to graduate Engender high-quality personal connections that provide support to graduate

school students and faculty members. school students and faculty members. Provide students with experience in presenting their research and opportunities Provide students with experience in presenting their research and opportunities

to work on dissertation ideas as well. to work on dissertation ideas as well.

WebsiteWebsite

ActivitiesActivities Research IncubatorsResearch Incubators Firesides TalksFiresides Talks Annual ConferenceAnnual Conference


Personal Reflections on the Personal Reflections on the Creation and Impact of SIFCreation and Impact of SIF

DanielleDanielle Building a web of resources across different scholarly Building a web of resources across different scholarly

communitiescommunities Learning from both shared and divergent perspectives, paths, Learning from both shared and divergent perspectives, paths,

and experiencesand experiences

PetePete Collaborating on projects that are personally meaningfulCollaborating on projects that are personally meaningful Discovering what type of scholar you want to be and the Discovering what type of scholar you want to be and the

tradeoffs of pursuing different pathstradeoffs of pursuing different paths

LisaLisa Freedom to explore and experiment with ideasFreedom to explore and experiment with ideas Developing a unique and authoritative voiceDeveloping a unique and authoritative voice


Your Thoughts on the MatterYour Thoughts on the Matter


DiscussionDiscussion

In what ways does this topic reflect, or not In what ways does this topic reflect, or not reflect, your experiences as graduate reflect, your experiences as graduate students?students?

What are your thoughts on scholarly What are your thoughts on scholarly communities and the ability of graduate communities and the ability of graduate students to develop “intellectual safe students to develop “intellectual safe spaces”?spaces”?

What do you find to be compelling What do you find to be compelling questions for future research?questions for future research?


Thank You!Thank You!

Documents

Establishing an “Intellectual Safe Space” A panel discussion on the formation and function of an interdisciplinary scholarly community for doctoral students