Demystifying the 'hidden curriculum' for minoritized graduate students
Michael J Hopkins1, Brittni N Moore2, Jasmin L Jeffery3
1Department of Biological Chemistry, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States.
Elife
|March 12, 2024
Summary
A student-led initiative at Johns Hopkins University successfully increased preparedness for graduate school among minoritized students by addressing the "hidden curriculum". This program offers a scalable model for other institutions seeking to support underrepresented groups in biomedical sciences.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Sciences
- Graduate Education
- Student Support
Background:
- Graduate programs invest in recruiting underrepresented minority students.
- These students often lack access to the informal knowledge ('hidden curriculum') crucial for success.
- Navigating graduate school requires understanding unstated academic and professional norms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe a student-led initiative designed to bridge the 'hidden curriculum' gap for underrepresented graduate students.
- To assess the impact of this initiative on student preparedness.
- To propose this model for adoption by other institutions.
Main Methods:
- A student-led initiative, the Hidden Curriculum Symposium, was organized at Johns Hopkins University.
- The symposium aimed to equip new underrepresented graduate students with essential knowledge for academic and professional success.
- Surveys were used to gather preliminary data on student preparedness.
Main Results:
- Preliminary survey data indicate that the Hidden Curriculum Symposium enhanced the preparedness of participating minoritized students.
- The initiative provided valuable insights into the graduate school experience for attendees.
- Student feedback suggests the program effectively addressed key aspects of the 'hidden curriculum'.
Conclusions:
- Student-led initiatives can effectively address the 'hidden curriculum' gap in graduate education.
- The Hidden Curriculum Symposium model shows promise for improving graduate school readiness among underrepresented students.
- This approach has the potential to be replicated at other academic institutions to foster inclusivity and success.
Keywords:
diversityeducationequitygraduate schoolhidden curriculuminclusionmedicinenoneprofessional developmenttrainingMore Related Videos
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