1 Introduction to Hidden Student Populations
Rebecca Krouse
Prior to beginning my program I felt nervous since I had not been in school for quite some time, but taking this course during my first semester of graduate school inspired me to pursue the graduate certificate in Hidden Student Populations. I enjoyed the readings and discussions from this course, although some of the content was difficult to read at times. For our final project we were asked to create a digital story. I have added mine here. Since I did not identify with any of the hidden populations we studied, I chose to focus my digital story on my experience growing up fat in a country where obesity and disordered eating are stigmatized.
Within the ACPA and NASPA (2015) competencies, reflecting back I would say that this class incorporated all of them, but the most important one was personal and ethical foundations. Practitioners should study the foundational outcomes of this competency and keep them in mind when working with students who may be dealing with personal problems inside as well as outside of the classroom.
American College Personnel Association & National Association of Student Personnel Administrators. (2015). Professional competency areas for student affairs educators. https://www.naspa.org/images/uploads/main/ACPA_NASPA_Professional_Competencies_FINAL.pdf.