I have researched race-conscious policies in higher education for many years as it was central to my dissertation research 20 years ago. Learning of the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS)’s decision to strike down the use of race as a factor in admissions is no surprise. From the Clinton Administration to President Biden, this has been a long game. In 2003, Justice … [Read more...]
Promoting Disability As Diversity and Accessibility as an Institutional Priority
In the United States, legal challenges to race-conscious higher education policies have required that practitioners and researchers continue to focus on race/ethnicity to the exclusion of other diverse populations, including students with disabilities. In Canada, postsecondary institutions are not besieged with such challenges. On the contrary, instead of race/ethnicity, … [Read more...]
Integrating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Into the DNA of Public Universities
Too often executive leaders view diversity work as either a numerical problem (i.e. not enough diversity among the workforce or student population) or a problem of compliance that needs managing. However, to truly integrate the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) throughout public postsecondary institutions, a multifaceted and longitudinal approach is required, as … [Read more...]
Historically Underserved Students: What We Know, What We Still Need to Know
In the twenty-first century, the processes by which students move from high school to college—including college choice, access, readiness, matriculation, and completion—are more important than ever before. Students from all walks of life and diverse backgrounds must negotiate these processes if they wish to thrive in an information-and-service-driven economy. However, not all … [Read more...]
Using Qualitative Methods to Assess Academic Success and Retention Programs for Underrepresented Minority Students
Programs that serve underrepresented minority students have long faced many challenges. Court decisions and state referendums have served as barriers to developing effective programs. The political and legal debates over the years about race-based initiatives have created environments that are more critical and circumspect of programs for Black, Indigenous, and/or racialized … [Read more...]