Minority Engineering Programs at a Crossroads: A Multiple-Case Study of Two Predominantly White Public Research Universities

• In Event: 72.054 - Multicultural/Multiethnic Education: Contemporary Topics in Postsecondary Education

Abstract

Underrepresented groups have fought for equal access to higher education, which spurred the development of “minority” initiatives. However, the assault on affirmative action and race-based initiatives have led many universities to retreat towards more all encompassing "diversity" initiatives. In this paper, the authors examine a multiple case study of two predominantly White public research universities. The data includes a total 70 participants with voices of faculty, key administrators, students, and recent alumni. Analyzed through a pattern matching technique, the findings from this study suggest important financial benefits for the “multicultural” engineering program and a sense of communal support for both the “multicultural” and “minority” engineering program. This paper concludes with important implications for research, policy, and practice.

Authors

• Christopher B. Newman, University of San Diego

• Shaun R. Harper, University of Pennsylvania