Why do some people seem to effortlessly succeed in college, graduate school, or as faculty-and why do many others struggle? The answer to this can be found in a phenomenon called the “hidden curriculum,” the unwritten set of rules of the game in academia that can determine who finds and climbs the ladders, and who falls through the chutes. Familiarity with the “hidden curriculum” and how to navigate it is part of the academic safety net that increases resilience, persistence to matriculation, and success in academia-and afterward-at all levels. If academia is a game, the “hidden curriculum” is the secret map showing where the pitfalls are and how to avoid them. It shows where the opportunities are and how to leverage them to advance to the next level.


Academic Chutes & Ladders: The Hidden Curriculum that Makes or Breaks Academic Careers is both an action plan and a rallying cry; it exposes the academic chutes and ladders, and outlines the systemic changes needed to best serve all scholars and to support institutional missions in a way that makes academic success-whether defined as matriculation and degree attainment, tenure and promotion, or other career achievement milestones-more accessible for everyone.

Dr. Kerry Crawford is an Associate Professor and the Department Chair of Political Science at
James Madison University. She was the International Studies Association's 2015-2016 James N.
Rosenau Postdoctoral Fellow.


Dr. Leah Windsor is an Associate Professor of Applied Linguistics in the Department of English
and the Institute for Intelligent Systems at The University of Memphis. She also has Faculty
Affiliate status with CAESER (Center for Applied Earth Science and Engineering Research) and
in the Department of Political Science.