Representation, Climate, and the Tensions of Diversity Work in Graduate Education

• In Event: Student Experiences in Graduate and Postdoctoral Education

Abstract

Amid a contentious environment for race-conscious admissions, there is a need to identify organizational practices that lead to equitable outcomes for students of color who remain underrepresented in STEM graduate education. We present findings from a case study of a psychology department that has graduated a significantly higher share of Black and Latino doctoral students than the national average for its discipline. Moving beyond statistics, however, our in-depth analysis provides a multi-level understanding of graduate student experiences and offers a rare glimpse into organizational efforts to improve diversity. Using the campus racial climate framework, findings reveal stark inconsistencies between faculty and students’ perceptions of climate, and contradictions among climate, structures, and department statistics as indicators of equity and diversity.

Authors

• Kelly Slay, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

• Kimberly Ann Reyes, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

• Julie Renee Posselt, University of Michigan