| Introduction Diversity, the new buzzword in the | | | | of the Ivy League, U Penn intends to set an example |
| professional world and universities across the country | | | | by creating an environment of diverse views and |
| is definitely going to be a major issue as we step into | | | | opinions, life that is good for all students and |
| the millennium. Before we get any further, what | | | | recognize and accommodate the diversity in the |
| exactly is diversity? Diversity is a term covering all | | | | society. She defines the goal as "… not to |
| significant differences between people- not just the | | | | homogenize our differences, but to capitalize on and |
| obvious ones. These differences include age, | | | | learn from them". b) Universities in Florida According |
| education, role, abilities and experience as well as | | | | to the New Florida Survey, students say Diversity |
| gender, race, ethnicity, language and literacy skills. | | | | Education Brings Society together. Nearly two in |
| The dictionary defines diversity as a "situation that | | | | three Florida students (64 percent) say that, on |
| includes representation of multiple groups within a | | | | balance, America is growing apart and 66 percent |
| prescribed environment, such as a university or | | | | think diversity education can bring society together. |
| workplace. This refers to difference between cultural | | | | Two in three (66 percent) believe students should |
| groups, although it is used to describe differences | | | | have to study different cultures in order to graduate. |
| within cultural groups". America is probably the most | | | | Nearly nine in ten (88 percent) say that courses and |
| diverse country, with a majority of the population | | | | campus activities that emphasize diversity and |
| living in diverse neighborhoods. The rate of | | | | diverse perspectives have a positive effect in terms |
| immigration is increasing tremendously. A further | | | | of the education of students. As Eduardo J. Padron, |
| subset of the population believe that in about 20 | | | | President of Miami-Dade Community College, |
| years from now, they would be living in | | | | mentions "Higher education cannot occur in a distant |
| neighborhoods twice as diverse as now. Universities | | | | ivory tower; our institutions can and should be |
| across the country consider diversity to be their | | | | laboratories to understand our changing world. Our |
| major assets (University of Miami, Florida). The | | | | students need to be prepared to deal with different |
| professional world and universities are stressing on | | | | people and cultures." Independent surveys conducted |
| the importance of diversity and undertaking programs | | | | on this topic in Universities produced the following |
| to implement diversity successfully. Well before we | | | | results. Eighty-two percent of respondents agree |
| undertake any discussion on diversity, it is imperative | | | | that the changing characteristics of America's |
| to understand why this term has become so | | | | population make diversity education necessary. Ninety |
| sensational and taken the professional world and | | | | percent think that, in the next generation, people will |
| universities by storm. | | | | need to get along with people who are not like them. |
| Our country has always consisted of people from | | | | Eighty-six percent say that the global economy |
| diverse backgrounds. Furthermore, the other major | | | | makes it more important than ever for all of us to |
| happenings around the world today are collaboration, | | | | understand people who are different than ourselves. |
| technology advances and globalization. This increasing | | | | Seventy percent say they expect their future work |
| globalization has resulted in people working in foreign | | | | environment to be more diverse; 19 percent say it |
| locations. This calls for people from different cultures | | | | will be about the same; and 11 percent expect it to |
| to work towards a common goal, for which, one | | | | be less diverse. Three in five (60 percent) say the |
| needs to learn and accept the cultural differences. | | | | ability to work in teams will be more important in the |
| Coming from a diverse background and belonging to | | | | future, and 39 percent say individual knowledge and |
| a diverse country, we are of the opinion that | | | | expertise. Ninety percent say that business schools |
| diversity is important to the success of an | | | | should offer courses on managing a diverse work |
| organization. Our group members belong to the Indian | | | | force. More than half (55 percent) say that diversity |
| sub-continent, with 6 of us from India and one | | | | and multicultural courses raise academic standards and |
| person from Pakistan. This society was initially an alien | | | | one-third (33 percent) say they have no effect. Just |
| society to us. But the diversity in this country and | | | | 12 percent of students say these courses lower |
| the value given to it helped us in the process of | | | | academic standards. More students of color than |
| assimilation. We believe that we can learn from this | | | | white students say these courses raise academic |
| culture and teach our values to this culture in all our | | | | standards. Fifty-eight percent of students say that |
| actions. Diversity is a must and as Dr. John Hall of | | | | diversity education creates division and conflict. Yet |
| Drexel University puts it, "Diversity has only | | | | two in three (66 percent) say that, in order to |
| advantages, there are no cons. The cons are nothing | | | | graduate, every college student should have to study |
| but barrier to diversity in an organization". We feel | | | | different cultures. It is evident from these results |
| that the advantages of diversity far exceed its | | | | that diversity is becoming increasing popular among |
| disadvantages. With the current emphasis on teams | | | | students, college boards and faculty. An enormous |
| and with the increasing globalization, diversity is | | | | amount of money is being invested to improve |
| imperative to achieve success. Our opinions are | | | | education on this issue. Colleges are gearing their |
| expressed in detail in the final section. In the following | | | | students to enter the diverse workplace. Education in |
| sections, we are going to discuss several issues such | | | | this respect has truly extended beyond national |
| as diversity - pros and cons, incidents of diversity in | | | | frontiers. We are living in a heterogeneous society |
| the workplace and universities and our view on this | | | | and tributes have to be paid to all universities |
| issue. Our paper lays an emphasis on diversity in | | | | addressing diversity to resolve conflicts and instead |
| universities, though in certain sections we have | | | | improve education. Drexel University and Diversity |
| discussed diversity in the workplace. A greater | | | | Views of Profs, students and board members. We |
| emphasis has been placed on diversity in universities. | | | | are thankful to be a part of the diverse community in |
| We believe that as we enter the millennium, this issue | | | | Drexel. There is definitely something to be gained and |
| will be addressed more efficiently if programs are | | | | nothing to be lost. Diversity: Pros and Cons a) Pros: It |
| incorporated in the universities to ensure that our | | | | can increase the creativity and innovation in |
| students are better equipped in the professional | | | | organizations. In this era where companies constantly |
| world. Process of diversifying the College Community | | | | seek competitive advantage through new |
| In this section, we discuss briefly the methods | | | | innovations, this can be of vital importance. Working |
| adopted by colleges to diversify their community. | | | | in teams has become popular in academics as well as |
| College campus community projects are initiated in | | | | in the workplace. A diverse team can improve |
| almost all colleges across the country. Their efforts | | | | decision making by providing different perspectives |
| include expanding the curriculum, diversify the faculty, | | | | on problems (Robbins, Organization Behavior - Pg. 14). |
| and improve campus climate. The college also | | | | People look forward to work with other cultures as it |
| increases the number of international students. In | | | | is a personal learning process and they can recount |
| addition to programs for locals to understand other | | | | their experiences to others. The textbook mentions |
| cultures, orientations are held, so that the | | | | that diversity in teams can improve efficiency, as |
| international students appreciate and understand the | | | | there is a lot of intellectual conflict within the |
| local culture. Thus, it is a two way process. | | | | members of the team. Diversity in Universities can |
| Movement to a heterogeneous environment: Causes | | | | help prepare students for the increasing diversity in |
| and Consequences Many institutions of higher | | | | the workplace. In universities, diversity establishes |
| education across the nation are currently struggling | | | | values and build personality. For e.g. experience with |
| with a more diverse population of students, faculty | | | | diversity may alter one's attitude to other cultures |
| and internal debates about the meaning of | | | | and eliminate any racist attitudes previously held. It is |
| multiculturalism on their campuses. Many colleges have | | | | a process of self-education. It also helps students |
| attempted to address the issue of cultural diversity | | | | understand the cultures to which their friends belong |
| through revisiting its mission statement and building | | | | to and broaden their knowledge of the world and |
| linkages with the surrounding community. In the past, | | | | traditions followed across the globe. b) Cons: |
| educational systems, like most other institutions | | | | Diversity is like a double-edged sword and has to be |
| assumed that there was a common culture to which | | | | managed properly. Dissatisfied employees in an |
| all aspired. Whether it was the core curriculum, | | | | organization could respond with high rates of |
| teaching methods, or just general expectations about | | | | absenteeism and turnover. It could also lead to lower |
| the role of faculty, students, or higher education in | | | | performance on the job that could produce |
| general, there was comparatively little disagreement | | | | disastrous results. A major problem resulting in a |
| about the basic values. This was in part, because the | | | | diverse environment is the possibility of |
| people who populated the higher educational systems | | | | miscommunication. Words and expressions have |
| of the United States were all socialized into the | | | | different meanings across different cultures. Thus, |
| common values and beliefs of their rather narrow | | | | there is a potential for the intended meaning not |
| gender, class, and racial backgrounds. In the past few | | | | being communicated to the other party. Another |
| decades, that world has changed. Higher education is | | | | disaster is the potential of cultural shocks. Certain |
| currently struggling to meet the needs of a more | | | | members in a diverse setting may not be able to |
| diverse student body and to educate students to | | | | adjust with the other cultures and assimilate with it. |
| meet the needs of a more diverse society. To | | | | This mental block could be a barrier and result in |
| prepare students for such a society may require | | | | negative synergy. Loss of originality could also be a |
| substantial reform of the conventional curriculum, | | | | long-term disadvantage of diversity. E.g. America is a |
| teaching strategies, and many nonacademic aspects | | | | diverse country. A Chinese person settled here, soon |
| of college life. How colleges respond to these | | | | loses his typical Chinese culture and assimilates into |
| challenges now and in the future may determine | | | | the American culture. After some time, his behavior |
| whether they will thrive, and perhaps even survive, | | | | and attitudes are almost American, though his values |
| as centers of higher education. The following example | | | | may be Chinese. Thus we see that the situation is |
| illustrates how Lenoir-Rhyne College attempted to | | | | not entirely diverse as we expected it to be. With |
| address this issue. The College revisited their mission | | | | globalization, we observe that individualism suffers a |
| statement and building linkages with the surrounding | | | | blow and cultures are no longer distinct. The charm of |
| community. About 56% of the student population are | | | | a particular culture in a setting disappears. Diversity |
| female, 11% belong to racial or ethnic minorities or | | | | when mishandled could result in interpersonal conflicts. |
| international students and there is an increase in the | | | | Institutions could face situations where members go |
| number of older or non-traditional students attending | | | | against one another. Racism and negative attitude |
| the night programs. The college was a religiously | | | | towards acceptance of other cultures, is not a con, |
| affiliated institution and had been affected by the | | | | but can be mentioned as a barrier to diversify a |
| increasing secularization. Thus the mission statement | | | | community. When a society tends to discriminate, it |
| was revised and efforts were made to link the | | | | functions as a barrier to diversity, which we believe, |
| strongly religious past with the secular present. | | | | affects the coherence in the community. Diversity is |
| Efforts were initiated in 1995 to respond to the | | | | known to improve the productivity of teams. |
| increasing cultural diversity of the nation. These | | | | However, diversity within teams increases the |
| efforts included inculcating leadership in students to | | | | number of ideas and can be more time consuming if |
| prepare them for a diverse work setting. They | | | | there is failure to agree to a certain suggestion. We |
| believed in educating them in a community that | | | | have now discussed, in our opinion, the major facets |
| reflects the reality of the world. This was achieved | | | | of diversity in universities and, to a smaller extent, in |
| by increasing the diversity in the campus, by | | | | the workplace. Most of our examples included the |
| increasing the population of international students, | | | | use or initiation of diversity programs in Universities |
| American students of color and increasing the | | | | and their success. These do not include those |
| diversity of faculty and staff. Opportunities were | | | | organizations and universities that have not realized |
| made to for students to interact with foreign visitors | | | | the importance of diversity within their organism. In |
| and enable students to study in other countries and | | | | the introduction and in the section about diversity in |
| cultures. Diversity was more than just race and | | | | the workplace, we mentioned the "Global Village". |
| ethnicity. It also involves including those that have | | | | With more and more collaboration between the |
| disabilities. Socialization and interaction among the | | | | major firms, improved telecommunications and |
| diverse population was an important component in | | | | globalization, this global village is going to be complete |
| this learning process. The college emphasized that | | | | shortly. More and more people are likely to work if |
| understanding different populations does not | | | | foreign locations. We believe that the disadvantages |
| necessarily involve understanding their cultures and | | | | of diversity are few and can be managed. Their |
| cultural differences, but, more importantly, being open | | | | benefits on the other hand, are immeasurable. We |
| to differences. Additionally, race, class and gender are | | | | believe that at this instant we are at this University |
| important to understand people's lives, institutional | | | | to educate others about our culture, our values and |
| systems, contemporary social issues, and possibilities | | | | the traditions we follow. As a responsible member of |
| for social change. History of other cultures was | | | | a diverse community, our duty includes to learn what |
| included in the curriculum. Working relationships with | | | | members from other cultures have to offer about |
| community based organizations for addressing issues | | | | their practices and beliefs. We believe that this |
| such as cultural diversity, racial justice and cultural | | | | process is a lot more than just understanding their |
| harmony were created. To this effect, the Institute | | | | culture. It is a process of learning to work with |
| of Multicultural Education and Training (IMET) was | | | | others productively, achieve a common goal, take |
| formed. Since then, various projects were initiated by | | | | their input, combine with ours and produce the best |
| the College which were successful in creating a | | | | results. Diversity in our opinion is important to attain |
| coherent diverse community (Building Community | | | | SYNERGY. This project was a learning process for us. |
| from Diversity, American Behavioral Scientist - Feb | | | | It helped us rediscover our definition and |
| 99). Diversity Promotion Projects and Studies in | | | | understanding of diversity. As we undertake our daily |
| Colleges and Universities In an earlier section, we | | | | lives, we now look at our friends from different |
| discussed how Lenoir-Rhyne College handled diversity | | | | backgrounds with a different perspective. We have |
| in its community. In this section, we would like to look | | | | learnt to respect their ideas and value their opinion. |
| at projects initiated in other universities. a) University | | | | As I mentioned earlier, our group members consisted |
| of Pennsylvania We approached the President of the | | | | of 6 Indians and a Pakistani. Though India and |
| University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Judith Rodin, for an | | | | Pakistan are neighbors and their culture is believed to |
| interview. We wanted her views on this topic and | | | | be the same, the main religion in both the countries is |
| understand how this issue is addressed in another | | | | distinctively different. Diversity also includes religion. |
| university. We had already interviewed a few | | | | Through our association previously and currently, |
| members of the Drexel administration, faculty and | | | | during the course of this project, we have |
| student body for their views. We believed that views | | | | exchanged several ideas. This is a small example, but |
| from the President of an Ivy League university would | | | | definitely an indicator of the importance of diversity. |
| deepen our understanding of this topic. However, Dr. | | | | In conclusion to this paragraph, I would like to |
| Rodin due to her busy schedule was unable to grant | | | | emphasize that our group members are strongly |
| our request. In turn, she supported our project with | | | | advocating for diversity in any organism. It is |
| two strong articles written by her on this topic for | | | | important for all to realize the importance of diversity |
| the University's newsletter. We received the | | | | and work towards achieving a coherent diverse |
| photocopies from Dr. Rodin and the following section | | | | setting. Diversity helps us to appreciate people from |
| is based on the information we received from her. | | | | all backgrounds. It teaches us to accept the |
| To make the campus more diverse, Judith Rodin, the | | | | drawbacks of others and learn from their strengths. |
| President of University Pennsylvania, announced a | | | | A diverse organism will definitely possess the very |
| four-point program. This program included, Additional | | | | best and with cooperation can overcome their |
| annual allocation of $1 million for the recruitment and | | | | cumulative drawbacks. To be concise, one can only |
| retention of minority students and staff. A $20 million | | | | gain and not lose by learning to live in a diverse |
| fund raising effort, with proceeds to create an | | | | community. We can create a community in which |
| endowment to improve diversity in the university. | | | | individual and group differences form a mosaic, not a |
| • Effort to secure $250,000 for research by | | | | melting pot that tries to mask them in a |
| Penn faculty and students to study the educational | | | | heterogeneous mix. We are a community of |
| benefits of diversity in an university setting. | | | | different identities, and we must create a context in |
| Appointment of a member of the standing faculty to | | | | which a true diversity of views, opinions, persons and |
| serve as Special Advisor to the President, to monitor | | | | groups, politics and perspectives, is nurtured, valued |
| and report the progress made by the other initiatives. | | | | and shared (Judith Rodin, President of U PENN). We |
| Dr. Judith Rodin believes that one can learn the best | | | | must learn to appreciate our similarities and |
| and most "from those who are different than us in | | | | differences and become responsible members in the |
| race, culture and beliefs". She explains that a diverse | | | | community. When you have rich cultural diversity, you |
| setting may certainly be complicated, but one would | | | | have something out of the classroom as well as in |
| undergo real education with commitment and hard | | | | the classroom that you can take to the workplace in |
| work to understand new perspectives. As a member | | | | terms of intellectual development. |