|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
America's colleges and universities differ
in many ways. Some are public, others are independent; some. are
large urban universities, some are twoyear community colleges,
others small rural campuses. Some offer graduate and professional
programs, others focus primarily on undergraduate education. Each
of our more than 3,000 colleges and universities has its own specific
and distinct mission. This collective diversity arnong institutions
is one of the great strengths of America's higher education system,
and has helped make it the best in the world. Preserving that
diversity is essential if we hope to serve the needs of our democratic
society.
Similarly, many colleges and universities share
a cornmon belief, born of experience, that diversity in their
student bodies, faculties, and staff is important for them to
fulfill their primary rn¦ssion: providing a quality education.
The public is entitled to know why these institutions believe
so strongly that racial and ethnic diversity should be one factor
among the many considered in admissions and hiring. The reasons
include:
Diversity enriches the educational experience.
We learn from those whose experiences, beliefs, and perspectives
are different from our own, and these lessons can be taught best
in a richly diverse intellectual and social environment.
It promotes personal growth-and
a healthy society. Diversity challenges stereotyped preconceptions;
it encourages critical thinking; and it helps students learn to
communicate effectively with people of varied backgrounds.
It strengthens communities and the workplace.
Education within a diverse setting prepares students to become
good citizens in an increasingly complex, pluralistic society;
it fosters mutual respect and tearnwork; and it helps build communities
whose members are judged by the quality of their character and
their contributions.
It enhances America's economic competitiveness.
Sustaining the nation's prosperity in the 21st century will
require us to make effective use of the talent and abilities of
all our citizens, in work settings that bring together individuals
from diverse backgrounds and cultures.
American changes and universities traditionally
have enjoyed significant latitude in fulfilling their missions.
Americans have understood that there is no single model of a good
college, and that no single standard can predict with certainty
the lifetime contribution of a teacher or a student. Yet, the
freedom to determine who shall teach and be taught has been restricted
in a number of places, and come under attack in others. As a result,
some schools have experienced precipitous declines in the enrollment
of AfricanAmerican and Hispanic students, reversing decades
of progress in the effort to assure that all groups in American
society have an equal opportunity for access to higher education.
Achieving diversity on college campuses does
not require quotas. Nor does diversity warrant admission of unqualified
applicants. However, the diversity we seek, and the future of
the nation, do require that colleges and universities continue
to be able to reach out and make a conscious effort to build healthy
and diverse learning environments appropriate for their missions.
The success of higher education and the strength of our democracy
depend on it. ENDORSEMENTS AACSB The International Association for Management Education ACT (formerly American College Testing) American Association for Higher Education American Association of Colleges For Teacher Education American Association of Colleges of Nursing American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Adn¦issions Officers American Association of Community Colleges American Association of Dental Schools American Association of State Colleges and Universities American Association of University Administrators American Association of University Professors American College Personnel Association American Council on Education American Indian Higher Education Consortium American Medical Student Association American Society for Engineering Education APPA: The Association of Higher Education Facilities Officers Association for Institutional Research Association of Academic Health Centers Association of American Colleges and Universities Association of American Law Schools Association of American Medical Colleges Association of American Universities Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities Association of College Unions International Association of Community College Trustees Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities Coalition of Higher Education Assistance Organizations College and University Personnel Association Consortium on Financing Higher Education Council for Advancement and Support of Education Council for Higher Education Accreditation Council of Graduate Schools Council of Independent Colleges Educational Testing Service Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities Law School Admission Council Lutheran Educational Conference of North America NAFSA: Association of International Educators National Association for College AdmissionCounseling National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education National Association of College and University Business Officers National Association of Graduate and Professional Students National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities National Association of State Universities and LandGrant Colleges National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators National Association of Student Personnel Administrators National Collegiate Athletic Association National Council of Educational Opportunity Associations NAWE: Advancing Women in Higher Education Society for Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science The College Board The College FundlUNCF The Education Trust
University Continuing Education Association
Updated 3/11/98 |
|
|
E-mail President Leitzel If you have questions or comments on this site,
|