Do Diversity Courses Make a Difference in Student Outcomes? A Meta-Analysis of 25 Years of Research

• In Event: 56.081 - Roundtable Session 24
  In Roundtable Session: 56.081-4 - Diversity and Campus Climate

Abstract

Institutions play a critical role in shaping intergroup dynamics in an era of increased racial heterogeneity in the United States. One avenue through which institutions can prepare college students for participation in an equitable and just society is through diversity courses. Diversity coursework holds a unique position on many campuses to expose college students to issues of difference. While an increasing number of studies explore how diversity courses might affect college students, there has yet to be a meta-analysis to examine the extent to which diversity courses predict a broad range of student outcomes in higher education. This study meta-analysis examines the relationship between diversity courses and student outcomes over the span of 25 years (i.e., 1990 to 2014).

Authors

• Nida Denson, University of Western Sydney

• Georgia Ovenden, University of Western Sydney

• KC Culver, The University of Iowa

• Joshua M. Holmes, University of Iowa

• Nicholas A. Bowman, University of Iowa