Making the Invisible Visible: Exploring Cultural Differences of Faculty Working on a Multicultural Team

Abstract

In an educational environment, where many cultures are represented, it is essential that the environment is inclusive and every culture is embraced. Training programs for faculty members on how to cope in a new diverse environment in ways that develop strong, culturally relevant interpersonal skills have been missing in many educational institutions. The purpose of this mixed method study was twofold. First, the researchers examined faculty member's reactions to working in a culturally diverse environment. Secondly, the researchers wanted to uncover best practices or strategies that might improve cultural awareness in workforce development in terms of navigating daily life within an educational institution. This study delved into the experiences faculty members reported having in their workplace. The study involved 224 faculty members across various departments and career statuses working at a public coeducational research institution in the United States of America. The survey and interview responses to a predetermined set of questions were analyzed in order to draw out commonalities and to address the research questions. The results of the study revealed that an intensive cultural orientation training program is needed to help faculty members develop effective communication skills in order to work more collaboratively in an educational institution.