Engaging Faculty in Shifting Toward Holistic Review: Changing Graduate Admissions Procedures at a Land-Gran Hispanic-Serving Institution

Purpose: The aim of this tutorial is to share lessons learned from a speech, language, and hearing sciences department at a land-grant, Hispanic-serving institution (HSI) after revising the graduate admissions review process and subsequent discussions related to equity in assessment. This tutorial describes the department as a case example and includes guiding questions that may be helpful for other organizations. Method: An adaptive case study approach was used and centered on supporting students at Hispanic-serving institutions. The approach was characterized by structured collaborative reflection throughout the process and engagement of relevant stakeholders at multiple levels. The adaptive method allowed for interim synthesis of stakeholder discussions to inform subsequent phases of the reflection process. Results: This tutorial shares critical motivations, barriers, facilitators, and phases that were identified in moving toward holistic evaluation for graduate admissions. Targeted areas for continued improvement related to diversity, equity, and inclusion are described. Conclusions: This tutorial outlines lessons learned from changing graduate admissions practices toward holistic review. Self-reflection prompts are provided for institutions and organizations considering changes to their review process. In order to best support diverse communities, increased workforce diversity is needed in the speech, language, and hearing sciences professions, and holistic review practices are recommended as one way to support increased diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Automated summary

This tutorial shares the experience of a university's speech, language, and hearing sciences department in revising the graduate admissions review process and discussing equity, providing useful guiding questions for other organizations. The adaptive case study approach was used to support students at Hispanic-serving institutions, with structured collaborative reflection and engagement of stakeholders at multiple levels. Key motivations, barriers, facilitators, and phases in moving towards holistic evaluation for graduate admissions, as well as areas for continued improvement related to diversity, equity, and inclusion, are outlined in the tutorial.