Building Community From Diversity

Abstract

Many institutions of higher education across the nation are currently struggling with a more diverse population of students, internal debates about the meaning of multiculturalism on their campuses, and challenges in the communities in which they reside that encourage, if not require, a reasoned response by colleges and universities as organizations of leadership. This article provides a case study of how one religiously based college attempted to address the issue of cultural diversity through revisiting its mission statement and building linkages with the surrounding community. Significant to the process was collaboration with both local institutional leadership and representatives from immigrant and minority populations as well as a dialogue that took all voices seriously. The authors argue that, although this approach may deviate from those of many religious academic institutions, it provides a better model for community engagement, both for the college and the community.

Leadership Practices and Diversity in Higher Education: Transitional and Transformational Frameworks

“…They can also develop and implement institutional strategic plans that include diversity initiatives that can contribute to changes in institutional practices. One can regard these leadership practices as focused on changing the organizational culture to diversify the faculty ranks (Judkins & LaHurd, 1999;Smith, 2000). Regarding our purpose in this paper, leadership practices that seek to implement diversity in the organizational culture of higher education must advance the social reality that diversity is real, it has meaning, and it has a purpose in society.…”

Diversity in Higher Education: The Three Rs

“…Although diversity is defined broadly in terms of providing exposure to multiple frames of reference and opinions, for most schools it boils down to socioeconomic and ethnic diversity in the background of the students (Judkins & LaHurd, 1999).…”

The Texas 10% law and its impact on admitted students.

“…Although defined broadly in tenns of providing multiple opinions and frames of reference, for most educational institutions the word refers to ethnic and socioeconomic diversity in students' backgrounds (Judkins & LaHurd, 1999).…”