Diversity Initiatives in Higher Education Just How Important Is Diversity in Higher Education?(Personal Perspective) (Report‪)‬

Introduction Diversity in educational settings is generally understood as the body of services and programs offered to students, faculty, and staff that seek to ensure compliance with non-discrimination and related policy and law, and to affirm social membership group differences (broadly considered) in curricular, co-curricular, and workplace contexts. Given the current state of the economy in general and education funding in particular, many higher education institutions are asking the question, "How important is diversity?" While this is framed as a resources question, at its core, it is far more a political one--do we value diversity enough to fund it at all? In tight fiscal times? And, if so, toward what end?