Social Class on Campus

Staff Development Workshops, Teaching Presentations, Keynote Addresses

Will Barratt

I have found that I am getting a lot of calls to present a workshop, lecture, a keynote address, or something else about social class on campus. Toward this end I wanted to describe what I do, list what I have done, and list where I have done it so if you have questions you can put a context on my work.

The core presentation:

• Sets the context for a discussion of social class - why it is an important topic.
• Describes how social class affects individual growth and development, especially as class is related to education.
• Describes the campus social class climate.
• Defines social class as culture, then contrasts and combines this view with the classic economic view.
• Defines social class identity, using gender and ethnic identity as examples.
• Describes social class identity transition (also called class jumping).
• Discussion opportunities
  • Who is first, second, third, fourth generation college?
  • How has class affected our lives?
  • For those who moved up in class what were the challenges and how were you successful?
  • How can campus be at once a middle and upper-middle classing experience and remain respectful of students social class of origin?
• The application of social class concepts and practices comes at the end as I help participants understand the places on their campus that provide students with opportunities to gain economic, social, cultural, and academic capital. I also help participants understand their role in perpetuating the class structure of their campus.

I work with people to adjust the core presentation message, tone, tenor, and theme to meet their present needs. Some people like more personal material, some like a level of personal challenge, and some like content. All presentations start with awareness of social class.

My presentation is my own work and builds on the theory and research of others. The thoughts, ideas, and models presented are mine.

The presentation is fast paced, provocative, usually funny, and visual. PowerPoint is required. I am glad to hang around after a presentation and meet with students and anyone interested.

What's Next

More of the same. I plan to continue to make presentations on social class for a while yet. Each one unique and better than the last. While I specialize in social class on campus I have been getting some inquiries from the business community on presenting workshops on social class in the workplace.

Something new. I have added a new piece. I am currently working with Meagan Cahill, Angie Carlen, Minnette Huck, Drew Lurker, and Stacy Ploskonka to develop a set of social class staff development experiences that can work in multiple settings. While these interactive learning experiences are mostly focused on campus settings and intended for use in student affairs, the experiences are being designed to be applicable to a variety of settings from businesses to high schools. Each of the experiences will come with a full set of instructions, clear learning goals, and evaluation materials.

These experiences will be piloted in the Spring and Summer and be ready in the Fall of 2007. We are submitting proposals to present these at ISAA, GLACUHI, NASPA IV-E and other venues.

Keynote Presentations

The Ohio State University, Bridging the Gap, Spring 2007, Social class justice and injustice. Keynote speech and break out session.

Illinois College Personnel Association, Board Meeting, Spring 2006, Social class identity development and transition. Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, IL

Campus Presentations

Forthcoming - University of Indianapolis, Spring 2007

Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Spring 2007. Social Class on Campus, I will do a staff development presentation of 1 hour and a reception

University of Wisconsin Green Bay, Spring 2007. Social Class Identity and Transition, presentation to students, and a staff development workshop. 90 minutes each.

Butler University, Spring 2006.  Encounters with social class. Student affairs staff development, Butler University.

Indiana University, Spring 2006, Social class as a factor in career development. Arts and Sciences Career Center staff development. Indiana University.

Michigan State University, Spring 2006, Encounters with social class. Student affairs staff development, Michigan State University.

In-Class Guest Lectures

Indiana University, Spring 2007. Guest lecture in the Multicultural class. 3 hours.

Indiana State University, 2005-present. Guest lecture in the Multicultural class. 3 hours.

Presentations at National and Regional Conferences

Barratt, W. (2006, November). Social Class Identity and Transition in the College Experience. Paper presented at the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators Region IV-E Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL.

Barratt, W. (2006, October). Social class identity development. Paper presented at the Indiana Student Affairs Association Annual Meeting, Muncie, IN.

Barratt, W. (2006, March). Social class identity development and transition on campus. Paper presented at the American College personnel Association Annual Meeting, Indianapolis, IN.

Barratt, W., Cooper, D., Marsh, D. (2006, March). Roundtable discussion on social class on campus. Discussion presented at the American College personnel Association Annual Meeting, Indianapolis, IN.

 Barratt, W. (2006, March). Encounters with social class. Paper presented at the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators Annual Meeting, Washington, DC.

Barratt, W. (2005, November). Social class as a factor in career development. Invited speaker for the Career Development Professionals of Indiana annual conference, Indiana State University.

 Barratt, W. (2005, October). Encounters with social class on campus. Paper presented at the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators Region IV-E Annual Meeting, Schaumburg, IL.

 Barratt, W. (2005, October). Encounters with social class on campus. Paper presented at the Indiana Student Affairs Association Annual Meeting, Franklin, IN.

Barratt, W. (2005, April). Socio Economic Status: The inequitable campus. Paper presented at the American College Personnel Association Annual Meeting, Nashville, TN.

Barratt, W. (2004, October). SES as a Risk Factor among First Generation Students. Paper presented at the Indiana Student Affairs Association Annual Meeting, Bloomington IN.

Barratt, W., Jaworski, L., & Welch, A. (2003, October). Student and Campus Socio-Economic Status: Issues and Applications. Paper presented at the Indiana Student Affairs Association Annual Meeting, Indianapolis, IN

Barratt, W., Burrow, H., Kendrick, C., Parrott, J., & Tippin, K. (2003, March). Client and Counselor SES: Issues and Applications. Paper presented at American Counseling Association, Anaheim, CA

How Much?

A reasonable honorarium plus expenses.

 Last Revised 05/16/2007

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University Learning Outcomes Assessment

College Student Affairs Personnel Administration Leadership Management Higher Education Graduate Study Program Master's Masters MS M.S. MA M.A. CAS