Infusing Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) into the Community College Curriculum

ABSTRACT

At a number of community colleges, many students, particularly those in urban community colleges, might be suffering from low levels of social and emotional competencies. This hinders academic success, contributes to low persistence, and lessens opportunities to attain future social mobility. Leading social and emotional competencies include self-awareness, social awareness, responsible decision making, self-management, and responsible management. This study argues for the infusion of social and emotional learning (SEL) into course curriculum at community colleges. This infusion of SEL promotes students’ social and emotional development, increases opportunities for academic success, and contributes to facilitating entry into the global workforce. This study describes the experience of integrating a module enhancing SEL competencies into a communication course at an urban community college to enhance the job interview skills students urgently need. The description of this activity offers an example of how SEL can be integrated into the curriculum of community colleges promoting the development of cognitive behavioral and social skills in a manageable, meaningful, and effective manner. To offer comparative analysis, a description of infusion of SEL into curriculum at the university level is also provided. SEL has much to offer teachers and students. The question is this: Will more community college professors integrate this learning into their curriculum?