Getting to Know ETSU Students
ETSU’s student population is a rich tapestry of backgrounds, experiences, and aspirations. From first-generation college students navigating higher education for the first time to outdoor enthusiasts drawn to the Appalachian region, the university’s students bring unique perspectives that shape their learning. Understanding how identity influences learning is essential for faculty who wish to support student success in a way that honors ETSU’s regional and cultural context.
How Identity Shapes Learning at ETSU
A student’s social identity, cultural background, and prior experiences all impact their approach to education. Factors such as socioeconomic status, race, gender, ability, and intersectionality influence classroom engagement, motivation, and sense of belonging. Faculty who recognize these dynamics can create learning environments that validate students’ lived experiences and encourage academic growth. This section highlights student diversity at ETSU, offering insights into how educators can design courses that support equitable participation and inclusive pedagogy.
Recognizing Your Own Identity as an Educator
Just as students bring their identities into the classroom, so do faculty members. Our race, gender, age, disciplinary background, and lived experiences influence our teaching practices, interactions with students, and even the assumptions we make about learning. Inspired by Jessamyn Neuhaus’s Picture a Professor and Lovett et al.’s How Learning Works, this section encourages educators to engage in self-reflection and explore how their own identities shape student engagement. By acknowledging systemic barriers and biases—whether related to first-generation status, neurodiversity, racial and ethnic backgrounds, LGBTQ+ identity, or financial constraints—faculty can take active steps toward creating a more equitable and dynamic classroom.
This guide serves as a starting point for educators who want to build inclusive, student-centered courses at ETSU. By understanding who our students are, how identity influences learning, and how faculty identity plays a role in shaping classroom dynamics, instructors can cultivate belonging, enhance learning, and foster academic success for all ETSU students.
