Leaps of Faith: Stories from Working-Class Scholars

Leaps of Faith: Stories from Working-Class Academics presents narratives of working-class students and scholars, highlighting their experiences of negotiation, transition, and challenge. It situates contributor stories in adult learning and development, enhancing dialogue and understanding of a still-hidden population in the academy. The collection concludes with implications for working-class students, supporters, and higher education institutions and programs.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 296 pages
Publication date: 30 September 2018
Publisher: Information Age Publishing

Leaps of Faith: Stories from Working-Class Academics is a collection of narratives that highlights the “on-the-ground” experiences of working-class students and scholars. These stories of negotiation, transition, and challenge, of struggle, and of beating the odds, have gained traction in recent years as discourses and programming to support diversity and inclusion across higher education have intensified. The early works of Ryan and Sackrey (1984), Sennett and Cobb (1993), and Dews and Law (1996) raised the voices of working-class academics, and the subject of class in higher education has gained traction, especially with the increasing focus on the enrollment and persistence of first-generation college students. This project situates contributor stories in adult learning and development, with the goal of enhancing dialogue and increasing understanding of a still-hidden population in the academy.

The collection concludes with a discussion of salient implications for working-class students and scholars, those who support their learning and development, and higher education institutions and programs. The scholar-contributors share their strengths and gifts, and the opportunity to “turn the stories” through accessible and meaningful reflective “telling” is presented.

Leaps of Faith: Stories from Working-Class Academics is a valuable resource for anyone interested in understanding the experiences of working-class students and scholars in higher education. It provides a platform for these individuals to share their stories and perspectives, and to contribute to the ongoing dialogue about diversity and inclusion in the academy.

Weight: 478g
Dimension: 157 x 236 x 16 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781641134620