UWEC [AND] the Something New Domestic Intercultural Immersion ASB : An Exploration of the Impact of High-Impact Practices on Blugold Attitudes Surrounding EDI Initiatives 2.0

Abstract

Immigration and the vast array of refugee experiences have been in the forefront of media recently. The current political climate surrounding immigration may potentially create confusion for individuals who do not have a high ego-involvement in the subject of immigration. This research explores student experiences on the Something New Alternative Spring Break (ASB), a university-supported Domestic Intercultural Immersion (DII) high-impact practice. The primary purpose of the current research is to expose Blugolds to the reality of the refugee under the current political climate, activism, and community partnerships. Conclusions and implications exemplify the significance of DII trips in supporting the development and implementation of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity (EDI) initiatives on campus, assessed and contextualized utilizing tenets of Social Judgment Theory.