Colleges are continually making institutions of higher learning more diverse to prepare students for the diverse work environment they are likely to face in the future. Students are likely to interact with different genders, races, ethnicity, religion, socio-economic backgrounds and abilities in a diverse college.There have been many changes in diversity and American institutions of higher learning since the 1800s. There was a time when college admissions were explicitly for the white male population. However, more women and people of color are graduating in recent years. Fortunately, looking at the statistics available, the diversity rate keeps increasing. Students report better mental well-being in more diverse school environments. Additionally, organizations are seeking graduates from diverse colleges due to the rich and wholesome experience that diversification provides.
This article will look at the recent affirmative action in 2023, the facts and statistics on diversity in American colleges, and the benefits of ensuring diversity. So, let’s dig right in!
What are the demographics of colleges in the US?
To understand diversity in colleges, we need to analyze student populations according to racial/ ethnic groups. The main ethnic groups in American colleges are white, African American, Asian, Hispanic/Latina, and Native American. In fall of 2023, 15 million students were admitted in undergraduate programs. Among these students, 40.5% were white students. Hispanic and Latina students comprised 18.3% and were the second largest group enrolled. African American students stood at 10.8%, Asians at 5.9%, native Americans at 0.7%, while 18.2% is unaccounted for.
Additionally, we can look at diversity in the school type. In 2023, Private and nonprofit universities admitted 46% of white students, meaning the diversity rate is lowest in these institutions. In public undergraduate colleges, 45% of admitted students were white, while 39% identified as black, Indigenous, or people of color. In public two-year schools, 37% of the students were white, while 45% identified as black, Indigenous or people of color.
How has diversity changed over the years
In recent years, diversity has become more conscious, and there are more women and people of color. In the 1800s, students in higher learning institutions were only white and male. Inversely, in 2019, 57% of the graduates were women, while 38% of the population was people of color.
Affirmative action was a major milestone towards ensuring diversity in American institutions of higher learning. Affirmative action dates back to the 60s when white students comprised 57% of the student population. In 1997, California banned affirmative action which led to a decline of African American students from 8% to 4%.
On June 29, 2023, the Supreme Court banned race-conscious college admissions. The ruling overturned over 50 years of intentional efforts toward college inclusion and diversity. As it is now, admissions officers cannot see an applicant’s racial orientation during admission. However, many selective colleges still maintain that racial diversity is a top priority in the admission process. If selective colleges used grades as the only factor for admission, the college population would not be diverse. Following the ban, colleges are abolishing DEI offices and eliminating statements relating to diversity and inclusion on their websites. An effective strategy for selective colleges to ensure a diverse population is admitting students according to their backgrounds. Students from poor backgrounds typically perform poorly because of lack of resources. These students are predominantly black, Hispanic, or people of color.
Affirmative action was an important tool in ensuring inclusion and diversity. However, in 2019, a Pew Research Center survey revealed that 73% of Americans didn’t think race should be an essential consideration for admission. Many Americans are against race-conscious admissions because it may lead to the exclusion of white and Asian students. Additionally, some critics cite that affirmative action is divisive and wastes taxpayers’ money.
Why is diversity and inclusion important in colleges
Diversity programs aim at creating inclusive learning environments where students can achieve the American dream. College diversity programs go beyond race; they include other minority populations such as veterans, people with disabilities, and LGBTQ. As such, diversity efforts include ensuring all student populations have the needed resources and programs required for their success.
Studies show a direct correlation between future potential earnings and colleges with diverse student populations. Companies with a global reach tend to be attracted to students exposed to diverse learning environments. Attending a diverse college can improve your earnings by up to 5%.
Diversity makes the education system more enriched. Students can become aware of stereotyping and discrimination by interacting with diverse populations. That way, students can learn better ways of interacting with diverse populations.
Diversity in institutions of higher learning also helps promote personal growth and society as a whole. Such an environment helps students learn to respect and teamwork, allowing them to operate in a dynamic, pluralistic society. It helps fight the notion of judging people according to their appearance but rather character and contribution to society.
Diversity is helping build a better economy in America. Diverse student populations introduce different types of talent to a workplace. As such, America must take advantage of its diverse populations, which can add to its economic competitiveness.
Conclusion
Diversity and inclusion continue to be a topic of discussion, primarily because of the existence of systemic racism and discrimination in America. Institutions of higher learning have made great moves towards inclusion and diversity. Research shows that affirmative action and race-conscious admissions ensure the best outcomes for black and Latino/Hispanic students. However, critics of affirmative action maintain that it could have detrimental effects on white and Asian students. Diversity and inclusion in colleges has many advantages, including holistic growth for students, potential for higher earnings in the future, cultural awareness development, and better critical thinking skills. A diverse environment ensures that students enter the workplace as team players, leaders, and problem solvers because of their interaction with diverse perspectives and exposure. In 2023, the Supreme Court banned race-conscious college admissions. However, college admission offices are still trying to ensure diversity, such as checking students’ economic backgrounds. Even with the ban on affirmative action, future trends show colleges will continue admitting more students from diverse backgrounds.