Campus in Color: Examining Faculty Perceptions of Institutional Commitment to Diversity

• In Event: 16.058 - Roundtable Session 6
  In Roundtable Session: 16.058-4 - Diversity and Organizational Culture

Abstract

Diversity is one of the most widely discussed topics in society and on college and university campuses nationwide. As diversity extends beyond numerical representation to additionally encompass behaviors, thoughts and interactions, the notion of campus racial climate has increasingly been addressed. While this concept has been studied and theorized extensively for undergraduate students, there is little work addressing campus climate for faculty. This study begins to address this gap by examining faculty perceptions of their institution's commitment to diversity. Drawing from a national sample of over 500,000 full-time faculty, this study explores both individual and institutional factors that shape faculty perceptions. Findings may prove informative for administrators and faculty alike, and implications for policy and practice will be suggested.

Authors

• Jennifer Berdan Lozano, University of California - Los Angeles

• Laura Bernhard, Stanford University

• Kevin Eagan, University of California - Los Angeles