Many colleges and four-year universities emphasize the fact that they are “equal opportunity” schools. However, students continue to voice the opinion that their colleges are not doing enough to address the needs of students from different ethnic, cultural, racial and religious backgrounds. During diversity-related protests, students may often point out bureaucratic flaws in higher education including statistical rates of admission for students of different ethnic backgrounds.
A well-rounded university represents the background of each student and allows students to better assimilate other cultures and feel at home. Campus diversity is about breaking down barriers and allowing students to develop a better-rounded worldview. At the same time, it is the job of faculty and special initiative programs to represent the needs of students.
Race and Ethnicity as a Social Construct
The nation is changing, and higher education institutions owe it to their students to accurately reflect diversity and honor students from a variety of backgrounds. People of color are not only the future workplace leaders of tomorrow, but they will also make up roughly half the future workforce. Supporting campus diversity now can pave the way for the next generation to make great strides in tolerance, acceptance and cultural understanding.
Understanding the Statistics
Communities of color have made great strides to bridge the educational gap in recent years. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, roughly 28 percent of Caucasians 25 years old or older have a four-year degree. However, only 17 percent of African-Americans and 13 percent of Hispanics obtain a college degree by age 25.
