Who Defines Diversity Anyway? An Examination of Black Student Versus Institutional Constructions of Diversity at Two Predominantly White Universities

• In Event: Poster Session 9
  In Poster Session: Postsecondary Research 1

Abstract

This paper presents the results of a qualitative research study about how diversity-related discourses are differentially constructed by Black students and Diversity Administrators at two predominantly White universities. For this study, diversity-related discourses are linguistic practices that refer to elements of social identity. A cross-sectional sample of 32 Black students and 12 Diversity Administrators at both institutions were interviewed. A subsample of 16 students was randomly selected for two focus groups. The results indicate that Black students’ discursive constructions of diversity drew on human rights discourses whereas the Diversity Administrators drew on neoliberal discourses. This study connects diversity-related discourses to Black student retention in higher education by exploring how diversity discourses may lead to institutional practices.

Author

• Alana C. Butler, Cornell University