Is Diversity Overrated? (NY Times Column--NO BARF!)

NY Times Op-Ed ^ | 3-29-03 | STANLEY ROTHMAN

[Pharmboy]

NORTHAMPTON, Mass. The Supreme Court hears arguments next week in the cases that may determine whether racial and ethnic preferences in higher education admissions and hiring are preserved or discarded. Whatever it decides, the court should be skeptical of one of the most popular justifications for preferential treatment of minority applicants: that a diverse student body necessarily improves the quality of education for everyone.

One of the most comprehensive studies ever undertaken of diversity in higher education indicates that this contention is at least questionable. The study's findings show that college diversity programs fail to raise standards, and that a majority of faculty members and administrators recognize this when speaking anonymously.

With my colleagues, Seymour Martin Lipset and Neil Nevitte, I measured views of the educational benefit of diversity as it is now incorporated in higher education policy. We wanted to know this: Is diversity truly seen, as the former president of the University of Michigan has said, "as essential as the study of the Middle Ages, of international politics and of Shakespeare" to a well-rounded education?

To find out, in 1999 we surveyed a random sample of more than 1,600 students and 2,400 faculty members and administrators at 140 American colleges and universities, asking them to evaluate the quality of education at their institution, the academic preparation and work habits of the student body, the state of race relations on campus and their own experiences of discrimination. Then we correlated their responses with the proportion of black students attending each institution, based on government statistics.

If diversity works as advertised, we surmised, then those at institutions with higher proportions of black enrollment should rate their educational and racial milieus more favorably than their peers at institutions with lower proportions.

The results contradict almost every benefit claimed for campus diversity. Students, faculty members and administrators all responded to increasing racial diversity by registering increased dissatisfaction with the quality of education and the work ethic of their peers. Students also increasingly complained about discrimination.

Moreover, diversity fails to deliver even when all else is equal. When we controlled for other demographic and institutional factors like the respondent's race, gender, economic background and religion, or an institution's public or private status, selectivity and whether it offers an ethnic or racial studies program, the results were surprising. A higher level of diversity is associated with somewhat less educational satisfaction and worse race relations among students.

We also tested for the effects of higher Hispanic and Asian enrollment. Hispanic enrollment has little effect on any group's ratings of the educational or racial climate. As the proportion of Asian students increased, however, faculty members and administrators perceived an improvement in the academic quality of their students. Thus support for the diversity argument comes with respect to a minority often excluded from preferential admissions programs.

We also asked students about policies used to increase diversity. Three out of four oppose "relaxing academic standards" to increase minority representation, as do a majority of faculty members. And an overwhelming 85 percent of students specifically reject the use of racial or ethnic "preferences"— along with a majority of faculty members. More telling, 62 percent of minority students oppose relaxing standards, and 71 percent oppose preferences.

Among the most striking findings is the silent opposition of so many who administer these programs — yet must publicly support them. Although a small majority of administrators support admissions preferences, 47.7 percent oppose them. In addition, when asked to estimate the impact of preferential admissions on university academic standards, about two-thirds say there is none. Most dismaying, of those who think that preferences have some impact on academic standards, those believing it negative exceed those believing it positive by 15 to 1.

One cannot help but wonder why the public and private views of higher education's leadership differ so greatly. It would be useful to have some good studies of that question.

Stanley Rothman, professor emeritus of government at Smith College, is director of the Center for the Study of Social and Political Change.

[LOC1]

Consider the University of Texas or Texas A&M. She will receive a good quality education, at a reasonable cost, without nearly so much PC stuff.

[Spyder]

Thanks - I'll have her check out their architecture programs. We've lived off and on in TX and still vote there, though once my husband retires in 2005 we'll have to lose that in-state status. UH (Hawaii) has an architectural program, but in discussions with architects we've met, it's not particularly highly regarded.

[dark_lord]

To find out, in 1999 we surveyed a random sample of more than 1,600 students and 2,400 faculty members and administrators at 140 American colleges and universities, asking them to evaluate the quality of education at their institution, the academic preparation and work habits of the student body, the state of race relations on campus and their own experiences of discrimination. Then we correlated their responses with the proportion of black students attending each institution, based on government statistics.

And the problem is revealed -- "diversity" is a code word for "black".

My personal perspective from the military, university, and business is that diversity overall is a very good thing - as long as diversity is understood as having a mixture of ethnic groups, "races", religions, geographical origins, and gender. Having worked with teams composed of hispanics from the southwest, "mountain people" from the kentucky hills, mormons, pakis, Indians, cowboys (goat-ropers), etcetera -- I can tell you that a diverse team is a strong team. So I have no objections to true diversity -- it is a lot of fun.

[Pharmboy]

Excellent point.

[MainFrame65]

I haven't checked it out personally, but I have heard some good things about Pepperdine.

[Spyder]

I don't see that Pepperdine has an architectural program. Also, I think it's above our price range unless she gets mostly a free ride via scholarships... possible with her grades, SAT scores, and extracurricular activities but less likely because of our income and race.

[quitwhining]

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Gorgeous campus, long history of strong arkkie program. A great value for the money, always highly rated in the yearly college rankings.

And yes, I went there >;->

[Michael2001]

If we're all equal, why would racial diversity increase education?

[Spyder]

I briefly checked their website - I'd have to add up and compare fees, though, since we definitely couldn't be considered residents there (CA). It does have the 5-year program she wants, and that is a gorgeous area. Thanks for the heads up! UT Austin looks like a good option, too, and we have friends in Killeen, about 60 miles from there.

[Pharmboy]

As you very well know, it is difficult to avoid the liberal monopoly on higher education. And, as I am also sure you know as a Freeper, a well-prepared kid can withstand the onslaught. Two of my kids have already graduated college (one's a Freeper; my Cornell graduate is a staunch Republican young woman). There aren't many places worse than Cornell.

I'm sure yours will do fine.

[cyborg]

STOP SOUNDING SO INTELLIGENT!

[Henrietta]

"A higher level of diversity is associated with somewhat less educational satisfaction and worse race relations among students."

Well, that seems obvious. When you have a critical mass of people on campus obsessed with nurturing a permanent racial grievance, race relations are going to be worse. And they're going to bitch until things are dumbed down enough so that they can get grades commensurate with what they think they deserve.

[CGTRWK]

Diversity has come to mean forced proximity with bitter seperatists whose goal usually seeems to be shocking and offending the mainstream to show off how different they are. Noone needs a study to figure out that this is hardly beneficial to people around them.

If this kind of diversity were a good thing, it wouldn't need to be forced on people without discussion.

[exDemMom]

But it is a foretaste of what will happen to all of us if the grip of the cultural left is not removed from our institutions.

This reminds me of the story about the mice afraid of a cat, who decided that tying a bell on the cat would be a perfect solution to their problem. The only hitch was that none of the mice wanted to be the one to tie the bell to the cat.

Likewise, how are we to wrest our colleges and universities away from the socialist/communist left that has had a stranglehold on them for so many decades?

[tiki]

If diversity and forced equality worked there would be no racial strife in America.

[Spyder]

Thanks. I don't worry at all about her getting indoctrinated - she knows more about politics than most college students and has a pretty strong stance on her views. She can always log on to FreeRepublic for a dose of common sense if she needs it as well. The worry would probably be more that a radical lefty teacher would grade her down because of her political views, though she does know to keep them to herself around such individuals.

[dix]

Try Rice, it has one of the best schools of architecture, and even though it has a lib element, a conservative can be perfectly happy there. Also check into Baylor, I’m not sure if they have a school of architecture, though. Forget about UT. Austin is a liberal cesspool.

[dix]

Hello, homeboy. Why don’t you come to one of our local Houston Chapter Of Freerepublic meetings? Here’s the link HoustonLiberty.com. to our local website. I think you will like what you see.

BTW it was the Stop- N-Go at the corner of Shepherd, and Vermont across the street from the club. LOL

[Spyder]

I don't see that Rice has a 5-year Bachelor of Architecture, but I'll have the daughter take a look. I know Austin is a liberal hotbed, but it's not that far up to Killeen to escape it occasionally. She really liked the look of the Cal Poly site, and it isn't as expensive as I would have thought.

[dix]

Be sure to look into Rice, and it’s history. They are a very prestigious college, and US News And World Report always rates them among the best buys in higher education. You get what is the equivalent of an Ivy League education at an affordable price. FYI they are very generous about giving scholarships because Rice is a very wealthy university.

I am in real estate in the historical neighborhoods in Houston, and The Rice Design Alliance is the final word about all things architectural in Texas, and the degree carries a lot of weight.