College Access and the Necessity for a Critical Multicultural Approach

• In Event: 35.080 - Sheraton Roundtable Session Five - Osgoode Ballroom
  In Roundtable Session: 35.080-3 - Communicating What We Value: Institutional Responses to Increasing Diversity

Abstract

Colleges and universities all celebrate ideals of diversity and multiculturalism. Critical multiculturalists such as Sleeter and McLaren argue for the fundamental critique of systemic institutions that perpetuate and produce differences. Our colleges and universities appear to be, at best, merely celebrating, and at worst, perpetuating differences. Schools utilize many policy mechanisms in promoting diversity and multiculturalism, central are admissions practices that serve as gatekeepers to thousands of poor students of color. Presenting a case study with poor immigrant and refugee college aspiring students, I suggest a significant sea change is needed in the gate-keeping process of college admissions for our institutions to remotely live up to the ideals of diversity and multiculturalism.

Author

• Hoang Vu Tran, Florida Atlantic University