This study tests a holistic admissions approach in health sciences education at Salt Lake Community College and its impact on the BIPOC healthcare workforce. Higher education admissions have always been fraught with systematic racism, given the equity gaps existing within the standardized tests relied upon in the process. The holistic admissions model involves including representatives from the medical system in the admissions interviews and taking into account a students lived experiences with adversity. The research team will pilot several holistic admission metrics for the nursing, dental hygiene, and radiologic technology degree programs at Salt Lake Community College and evaluate this approach as well as intercultural competence among admitted and non-admitted students. The multidisciplinary research team is using interviews and cultural competence training and assessments, and situational judgement testing to ultimately determine if holistic admissions decrease healthcare workforce attrition. This one-year pilot study will be completed in partnership with Salt Lake Community College, Crossroads Utah Area Health Education Center (AHEC), Utah Hospital Association, Utah Health, and Intermountain Health.

Principal Investigators:
Robert Pettitt
Dean, School of Health Sciences, Salt Lake Community College

Stephanie Richardson
Associate Dean, Division of Nursing, Salt Lake Community College

Project Details:

Year: 2024
Funding Amount: $99,960
Status: Active