The B3 Scholar Seal
Year: 2024
Type: book-chapter
Abstract: This chapter describes how the Bilingualism, Biculturalism, and Biliteracy (B3) Institute at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) developed the B3 Scholar Seal. Since its founding, UTRGV has provided a rare example of dual language education at the university level, offering courses taught bilingually or in Spanish across diverse disciplines. However, the language of these courses was not formally recognized upon graduation. The B3 Institute developed the B3 Scholar Seal to acknowledge students who successfully complete five courses, including at least three courses taught in Spanish or bilingually and at least one course, including culturally sustaining pedagogy. In this way, the B3 Scholar Seal encourages and promotes the development of bilingualism, biculturalism, and biliteracy through relevant undergraduate-level coursework. Furthermore, it marks a break from the English-only monolingual norm that dominates higher education. This program is especially important and powerful within the context of South Texas, with its predominantly Hispanic and Spanish-speaking population. This chapter describes the history, design, development, and implementation of the B3 Scholar Seal as an example of how universities may develop an alternative to the Seal of Biliteracy that fits their own unique context.
Source: Routledge eBooks
Language: English
Subfield: Linguistics and Language
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
SDG: Quality education
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W4404698390