CHAPTER 11: Crossover Pedagogy out of Practical Necessity

There are great examples in higher education where faculty members have fully embraced crossover pedagogy, and these examples have also inspired and paved the way for areas of practice in student affairs. Almost 50 years ago today, a coalition of student organizations representing diverse communities of color went on the longest strike in the history of higher education to demand the establishment of an ethnic studies department. The field of ethnic studies evolved out of the Civil Rights Movements of the late 1960s and early 1970s. It was a major influence on the growing self-awareness and sociopolitical awakening of many communities of color. In addition, the National Association for Ethnic Studies was founded in 1972 to foster interdisciplinary discussions for scholars across campus. These conversations drew from a wide range of pedagogies and disciplines: from anthropology, to sociology, to American studies, to out-of-classroom learning such as “student of color organization advising,” recruitment and retention initiatives, programs supporting first generation students like TRIO programs, and educational opportunity programs.