The learning environment and teaching styles
Within universities , both the building and staff composition can impact a student ’ s sense of belonging ( Sanders & Rose-Adams , 2014 ). BAME staff at universities , especially on veterinary courses , are hugely disproportionate to white staff , particularly in decisionmaking roles ( Advance HE , 2018 ). Not only does this starve BAME veterinary students of role models that resemble themselves , but it also gives the impression that their issues will not be heard , related to , or acted upon . Price ( 2010 ) used a linear probability model to show that having one black lecturer could increase black student persistence by 8.1 %, closing the university persistence gap between white and black students . Diversity within the staff is not shown to have any detrimental effects on white students and , instead , has positive effects for both minorities and majorities ( Price , 2010 ).
Universities should design recruitment strategies to target BAME veterinary professionals ( Alworth et al ., 2010 ). As this is a lengthy process , universities could instead make an effort to invite BAME practitioners to lead talks and workshops . This would be beneficial in encouraging BAME students to persist while also normalising successful BAME professionals for white students . In the age of social media influencers , there is easy access to inspirational professionals , and research into historical veterinary figures such as Dr Jotello Festiri Soga ( Figure 2 ).
University buildings can also make BAME students feel unwelcome . Universities need to reflect on how the
campus environment and traditions may be perceived by BAME students ( Alexander et al ., 2015 ) and what could be considered offensive or intimidating , such as solely celebrating white idols or glorifying historical figures known for their participation in slavery and colonisation . These aspects of the university need to be re-evaluated and updated so they are more appropriate , encouraging and welcoming to students through cultural humility ( Alvarez et al ., 2019 ).
Dr Jotello Festiri Soga , 1865 – 1906 , was the first black member of the RCVS register . He returned to his birth country of South Africa and played a key role in the cure of rinderpest ( cattle plague ) through his animal health research and his ability to speak Xhosa to local farmers . He had a major role in his government-formed team of veterinarians . However , as a black veterinarian , he was denied a permanent position and his research was deliberately hidden .
Information based on World Veterinary Association ( 2011 ) Media Releases .
Figure 2 . Dr Jotello Festiri Soga
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