The Relationship Between Faculty Diversity and Graduation Rates in Higher Education

• In Event: 32.083 - Roundtable Session 12
  In Roundtable Session: 32.083-14 - Critical Examinations of Academic Persistence and Outcomes Among Students of Color

Abstract

Diversifying the undergraduate student body and retaining that diverse cohort to graduation is a goal for many institutions of higher education, yet attaining that goal has proven elusive. This study examines the relationship between faculty racial/ethnic diversity and graduation rates of undergraduate students, particularly those from underrepresented minority populations. Using 2009 archival IPEDS data the researchers calculated a Diversity Score for each institution. Overall graduation rates for underrepresented minority students of all races/ethnicities were positively affected by faculty diversity. All ethnic/racial graduation rates showed the strongest correlation with the faculty who were of the same ethnic/racial group. The researchers suggest ranking colleges and universities by their level of overall faculty diversity may provide an important metric to predict student success.

Authors

• Rebecca Stout, University of Houston - Clear Lake

• Cephas Archie, University of Houston - Clear Lake

• James David Cross, University of Houston-Clear Lake

• Carol A. Carman, University of Houston - Clear Lake