Abstract
This chapter examines the extent to which commitment to diversity is prevalent in contemporary American higher education. In human capital and social mobility theories, higher education plays a key role in empowering individuals, which in turn has led to the celebration of an expanded and inclusive higher education system. Accordingly, universities have changed their formal structures to promote diversity on campus. This study analyzes such change reflected in (1) the establishment of a diversity office and (2) the appointment of a senior-level diversity officer for a nationally representative sample of 236 universities, together with 28 elite universities. The findings provide little evidence of sectorial or regional difference. The highly elite institutions in the United States, however, have adopted these organizational features to a greater extent. (125 words)
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Notes
- 1.
Following common American usage, we use the word “university ” to include colleges (e.g., liberal arts colleges ).
- 2.
Full guidance can be found here: https://nadohe.memberclicks.net/standards-of-professional-practice-for-chief-diversity-officers.
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Kwak, N., Gabriela Gavrila, S., Ramirez, F.O. (2019). Enacting Diversity in American Higher Education. In: Christensen, T., Gornitzka, Å., Ramirez, F. (eds) Universities as Agencies. Public Sector Organizations. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-92713-8_8
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