Cultural & Linguistic Competence - IHE

The percent of ethnically and racially diverse college students is growing every year. While there are many things that contribute to this—including the U.S. as a whole growing more diverse—IHEs’ diversity, equity, and inclusion policies and practices are a significant factor.

However, there are still chronic disparities in educational outcomes. Students from underserved populations graduate high school at lower rates, are less likely to enroll in college, and when they do enter college, are less prepared than White and Asian students and graduate at lower rates.

IHEs have opportunities to address these gaps by increasing diversity of their student bodies and improving graduation rates among underrepresented students.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Minority Heath provides these definitions:

Cultural Competence: A set of congruent behaviors, attitudes, and policies that come together in a system or agency or among professionals that enables effective interactions in a cross-cultural framework.

Linguistic Competence: Providing readily available, culturally appropriate oral and written language services to limited English proficiency members through such means as bilingual/bicultural staff, trained medical interpreters, and qualified translators.

When IHEs foster cultural and linguistic competence, they create culturally responsive learning environments that affirm and support all students. This helps students in their educational attainment and preparation for further education and the workforce.

McKinsey Institute. (2022). Racial and ethnic equity in US higher education. https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/education/our-insights/racial-and-ethnic-equity-in-us-higher-education

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Minority Health. (2000). Assuring cultural competence in health care: Recommendations for national standards and an outcomes-focused research agenda. https://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/Assets/pdf/checked/Assuring_Cultural_Competence_in_Health_Care-1999.pdf