The Positive Educational Effects of Racial Diversity on Campus.

N

13

Affirmative Action; College Admission; Consciousness Raising; Diversity (Student); Educational Environment; Higher Education; Interpersonal Competence; Minority Groups; Outcomes of Education; Racial Attitudes; Racial Differences; Racial Relations; Self Concept; Student Surveys

This study examined links between racial diversity on college campuses and positive educational outcomes. Data came from the Cooperative Institutional Research Program database, a longitudinal set of student and faculty surveys and research that assessed the impact of college on students. This study used data from a 1985 freshman survey and the 1989 follow-up of the same students. The survey examined demographics, high school experiences, college expectations, values, attitudes, life goals, self-confidence, and career aspirations. The follow-up survey also asked students to reflect on their experiences and perceptions of college. Information on students' SAT scores, ACT scores, and educational attainment and on African American, Asian American, Hispanic, and White undergraduate student enrollment was collected. Several campus climate measures were merged with the data sets. Faculty data were collected from full-time teachers at the same institutions for which student information was available. Faculty discussed how they spent their time and interacted with students, teaching and evaluation methods, perceptions of institutional climate, and sources of stress and satisfaction. Overall, campus diversity had a small but significant positive impact on students' college experiences. Both socializing across racial lines and discussing issues of race were reported as positive educational experiences. (Contains 36 references.) (SM)

2002

ED456198