ASSESSING SUPPLEMENTAL INSTRUCTION LEADERS’ INTERCULTURAL COMPETENCE AND CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE PRACTICES IN NON-TRADITIONAL LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS

Social justice researchers and practitioners have beckoned post-secondary institutions to provide inclusive and culturally responsive instructional practices that promote students' sense of belonging and empowerment. However, little research has demonstrated how competent intercultural behaviors can connect to one's integration of culturally responsive teaching. Therefore, this explanatory sequential mixed-methods study examined the interplay between these components within a distinguished undergraduate peer learning program, Supplemental Instruction (SI). Undergraduate SI leaders’ behaviors were examined for their intercultural competence level, potential influencers, and valued commitment to diversity and inclusion. This study was supported and guided by Hammer’s (2012) Intercultural Development Continuum (IDC) and Gay's (2018) Culturally Responsive Teaching (CRT) practices. Quantitative data were collected using Hammer's (2012) Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI), and qualitative data were in the form of interviews and analyses of leaders' session plans. The findings revealed that participants overestimated their intercultural competence. Relatedly, participants expressed concerns of uncertainty beyond solely acknowledging diversity and addressing intercultural insensitivity. Curricular and co-curricular programming were potential influencers to the leaders' intercultural competence knowledge (i.e., cultural self-awareness, culture-general, and culture-specific). Additionally, implications include recommendations for higher education administrators' initiatives for more inclusive and culturally responsive peer-learning programs.