Educational Justice for All: A Roadmap Toward Progress

Addressing social determinants of learning improves educational access and success for students who face barriers.

Karen Cox, PhD, RN, FACHE, FAANChamberlain University President

Chamberlain University, the leading grantor of Bachelor of Science in nursing degrees to under-represented minority students in the United States, recognizes the impact that these Social Determinants of Learning may have on our current and future students. Through a diversity, equity and inclusion lens, Chamberlain is developing holistic student-facing programs that will address areas such as the University’s holistic admissions process, curriculum, student-support services, research endeavors and workforce development in substantive ways that ensure educational justice.

The Social Determinants of Learning

In United States higher education, we see significant growth in applications from and admissions of racially and ethnically diverse students, including in nursing schools. However, there are lower rates of degree completion for students who face barriers. It’s important we understand why this dynamic is happening, in order to change it. When we dig in, we find there are socially imposed forces that impact individual lives, known as “social determinants.”

Chamberlain University has published research findings on the role social factors play in achieving learning effectiveness. The framework, Social Determinants of Learning (SDOL)™, is an actionable model to address learning disparities and expand learning opportunities to support nursing student diversity, equity and inclusion.

The Social Determinants of Learning fall into six main domains: physical health, psychosocial health, physical environment, social environment, economic stability and self-motivation. Within an academic setting, these social determinants of learning can impact academic progress for students. 

Physical Health, which includes a person's access to healthcare. Even in perfect circumstances, pursuing a degree is difficult. Universities need to understand their students' individual needs and put programs in place to support their physical health – from the application, through enrollment and degree completion.

Psychosocial Health, which includes resilience and self-belief. So much of attaining an education relies on emotional and psychological endurance. Institutions of higher learning need to believe in students, remove hurdles from the time of their application path and nurture them to believe that even in the face of doubt or difficulty, they can and will succeed.

An individual's Social Environment and Community also affect education. To what extent does the institution recognize structural barriers, such as transportation insecurity, and create policies and practices that mitigate inequities and strengthen access?

Economic Stability, which takes into account a person's job security, generational poverty and the need to work while in school. Institutions of higher education need to adjust their programs to suit the needs of working students and provide all students with a clear path to success.

Physical Environment and Community, which factors for things like homelessness, Internet and wifi access and workplace and neighborhood safety. If a student doesn't have a home, that impacts every aspect of the student experience: sleep, safety, food, money for books and technology. Universities need to make sure students have these basic needs taken care of to put them on a level playing field and provide an opportunity to succeed.

Self-Motivation has been linked to academic success. This includes motivation to learn, critical thinking skills, attention focus and lifestyle choices. In what ways do universities consider and nurture this attribute?

The Social Determinants of Learning Framework

We developed our Social Determinants of Learning framework to help address these learning disparities and expand learning opportunities to support nursing student diversity, equity and inclusion. We’re committed to educational access and justice for all students and prospective students and believe that a holistic application process is an imperative when considering prospective students.

The Social Determinants of Learning address the non-academic barriers to student success that ethnically diverse students may encounter. These are part of the culturally responsible framework that we use to evaluate our curriculum, assessment strategies, and environment. This same culturally responsive framework is used to ensure our curriculum, environment, and instruction are grounded in multicultural excellence as we strive to graduate health care practitioners who can identify and act on the social determinants of health.