This study describes the development of two empirical measures designed to assess educators' personal and professional beliefs about diversity. A review of related studies and existing beliefs and/or attitudinal measures on diversity is provided. Steps utilized for instrument development and revisions are presented. Summaries of pilot, preliminary, and field testing developmental stages are provided, including results of our assessment of reliability and construct validity of the scales. These results provide promising support for internal consistency and (face and construct) validity of the instruments.Recommendations for educational and research uses of the measures are also provided.

By examining Hispanic students both currently and formerly enrolled at a private, Hispanic-serving Institution located in the Southwestern region of the United States, this study attempts to understand the factors that lead to Hispanic undergraduate persistence to graduation. Adapting Bronfenbrenner’s theoretical approach, this study explores three dimensions that are critical to understanding Hispanic undergraduate persistence to graduation: (a) the role of the student context (b) the role of the university context in the student’s decision to persist; and (c) the interaction between the two contexts.

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A primary component of any course in multicultural education must be the issue of racism. However, strong consideration must be given on how best to approach this topic. Although there is no "one best way" to help preservice teachers begin to understand and confront the issue of racism, this article provides an overview of the approach used by the authors in a required course on multicultural education at the University of Nebraska. Key aspects of the approach include establishing a safe learning environment based on the principles of effective dialogue, cultural immersion tactics, and specific resources. Several strategies are shared to generate discussion and to help preservice teachers understand the many dimensions of racism and the ways in which it has been perpetuated. Multicultural Perspectives 15Multicultural Perspectives, 2(3), 15-20

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This paper addresses challenges and contradictions between the culture of higher education and the cultures of diverse students. Significant gaps in student success are cause for serious concern in higher education. Responses to this concern include various diversity initiatives. A general overview of the culture of higher education and the new student demographic is presented, followed by a summary of common diversity initiatives. A culture-centric model is presented as a framework for comprehensive institutional transformation to reduce the cultural gap.

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