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Making Diversity work on Campus: A Research-Based Perspective
The authors discuss recent empirical evidence, gathered on behalf of the University of Michigan Supreme Court defense, demonstrating the educational benefits of diverse learning environments. These are environments that must be intentionally planned and nurtured, where diversity is conceived of as a process toward better learning and not merely an outcome that one can check off a list. Included are numerous suggestions for how to engage diversity in the service of learning, ranging from recruiting a compositionally diverse student body, faculty, and staff to transforming curriculum, co-curriculum, and pedagogy to reflect and support goals for inclusion and excellence. (.PDF File)
Achieving Equitable Educational Outcomes with All Students: The Institution’s Roles and Responsibilities
The authors discuss the responsibility institutions have to examine the impact that traditional higher education practices have on those students historically underserved by higher education, including African American, Latino/a, and American Indian students. Given the persistent achievement gap facing many students, institutions must systematically gather evidence of what does and does not work for historically underserved students and build institutional reform around such evidence. Included is one campus's process for systematically monitoring students' achievement and for addressing the inequities it discovered. (.PDF File)
Toward a Model of Inclusive Excellence and Change in Postsecondary Institutions
The authors offer a framework for comprehensive organizational change to help campuses achieve inclusive excellence. Campuses must consider multiple dimensions of organizational culture in mapping out a change strategy and monitor the results that come from introducing new systems and new practices. Included is a model that helps campus leaders focus simultaneously on the "big picture"—an academy that systematically leverages diversity for student learning and institutional excellence—and the myriad individual pieces that contribute to that picture. (.PDF File)
Strengthening Diversity in Maryland Colleges and Universities: A Legal Roadmap
On March 13, 2009, the Maryland Attorney General Douglas Gansler released this report that he hopes will help state schools achieve greater diversity among students and employees. It outlines the benefits of diversity on state campuses and reviews traditional affirmative action under civil rights laws. (.PDF File)
Now is the Time: Meeting the Challenge for a Diverse Academy
Using policy discourse analysis, the author analyzed 21 diversity action plans issued at 20 U.S. land-grant universities over a 5-year period to identify images of diversity and the problems and solutions represented in these documents. Dominant discourses of access, disadvantage, the marketplace, and democracy were most prominent in conveying images of diverse individuals. These discourses shape individuals' ways of thinking and acting, meaning these discursive practices produce (at times competing) possibilities and constrain, even conceal, alternatives. These findings are discussed and recommendations are delineated for how Extension personnel might reframe diversity efforts. (.PDF File)
A Measure of Equity: Women's Progress in Higher Education
A Measure of Equity: Women’s Progress in Higher Education presents the only current comprehensive overview of data on women’s status in higher education. It documents areas of progress and identifies needed action to move even further down the path towards equity for women in higher education. This publication details specific areas of concern and actions that would advance gender equity in colleges and universities. The research examines women’s access to college, areas of study in undergraduate and post-graduate work, and women’s status as faculty, administrators, and college presidents.
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