College Diversity and Enrollment in Higher Education

A diverse student body in higher education is important to different schools for different reasons. It is concern that if minority access to higher education is not improved, the future of the state may be at stake; "because if the growing minority population doesn't receive an adequate higher education, the state's workforce will dwindle and the economy will suffer." Colleges and universities across the nation approach college enrollment diversity in many different ways. Some schools actively seek to diversify their student body, while other schools maintain that academic excellence should be the most important factor when considering a student for admission.

College diversity has become a major issue and fact of campus life for many colleges and universities. Diversity enriches discussions inside and outside the classroom and can prepare students to embrace a multicultural world upon graduation. Minority college students, faculty, and staff have inside knowledge on the ways in which people engage with diversity on campus. They can also provide insight on what it is like to be a member of an identity-based organization or department. If you are interested in a particular club or program at a school, don’t hesitate to contact its coordinator or a group member. Speak with as many people as possible to gain a variety of perspectives. A diverse curriculum can indicate a campus’ attitude toward embracing difference. Colleges that value diversity are more likely to have departments that focus on the literature and research of historically unrepresented peoples. Departments such as cultural and ethnic studies and gender and sexuality studies are often founded by diverse communities who wanted every voice to be considered on campus. Institutions can also promote diversity by providing a wealth of campus programming, such as guest speakers, performances, and workshops that focus on multicultural issues. Many campuses feature cultural organizations and campus centers where you can participate in discussions on diversity and difference, as well as find a supportive new community. Minority College may also offer programming and a curriculum designed to educate its community on issues of difference.

Diversity is often seen as just a negative to be tolerated because getting along with each other is the politically correct thing to do. Colleges and universities are also businesses. The ones that can effectively target foreign students will become popular institutions of choice from this overseas market. Companies that ignore the need for both market and workplace about diversity education will soon lose out in the modern business world of today. Forward thinking companies will minority recruitment and retain the best overall talent. These organizations will also be able to target diverse markets effectively. But companies need people who are well versed with diversity skills to make this happen.