Faculty Diversity and Minority Student Outcomes: An Analysis of Institutional Factors

• In Event: The Interpersonal Interactions Behind Institutional College Support

Abstract

The college student population has diversified in recent decades, prompting calls to diversify the faculty correspondingly. Yet studies of the factors leading to minority student success have not produced a clear explanation for how an increased representation of minority faculty members will lead to more minority degree awards. The literature has been limited to small qualitative studies, while quantitative analyses have not included a measure of faculty diversity. This study provides a comprehensive quantitative analysis of faculty diversity and minority student outcomes. Our findings suggest more minority faculty members in tenured or tenure-track positions might yield a higher proportion of degrees for minority students—but that increase has not materialized.

Author

• John W. Curtis, JWC Research