There are many reasons why students may want to know about the level of racial, cultural or ideological diversity on campus while they are touring or researching colleges: for instance, they may be concerned about “fitting in” with others who think, dress or celebrate like them; they may be interested in studying a particular ethnicity or culture; or they may be worried about finding appropriate academic and emotional support.
But finding accurate and relevant information may be difficult for high-schoolers who do not know either what questions to ask or even what answers will satisfy them. Based on a decade of helping thousands of students to determine their post-secondary education plans, we at Explore Colleges have developed a Campus Diversity Checklist. This is designed to help college counselors advise their students on how to identify and assess meaningful aspects of diversity at the campuses they tour. The Checklist will help them to compare apples to apples (or oranges, for diversity!); to gain a full, accurate picture of the schools; and to focus on the areas that are most important as they navigate the college selection process.
Colleges and universities care a great deal about promoting diversity, yet the statistics they share may not be terribly useful. For instance, revealing that a college has students from over 50 countries doesn’t provide insight into either the actual number of minority students on campus nor how the school community celebrates or supports them.
The Campus Diversity Checklist will help counselors and their students get a better picture of the depth of diversity on a particular campus, as well as how active their communities may be. The infographic focuses on four broad topic areas:
- An Overview of the School that focuses on specific “numbers” questions relating to diversity and cultural awareness programs;
- Academic Resources and Support Services offered by the college to assist minority populations;
- Extracurricular Activities to identify opportunities for minorities in cultural and fraternal groups, school government, social activities and campus media organizations; and
- Tuition, Room and Board questions about different housing options that cater to specific cultures and ethnicities.
Diversity is an important aspect of every college student’s growth and development, but finding a school that features the right population, recognition and opportunities is a personal decision. We hope this checklist will make it easier for counselors and their students to evaluate schools thoroughly and thoughtfully.
Get your own campus diversity checklist here.
Kathie Boozer is the founder and president of Explore Colleges, a premier college group tour operator. Explore Colleges’ customized tours help students experience the unique cultures, environments, and opportunities on each campus and inspire them to follow their dreams. Contact Kathie at kboozer@explorecolleges.org
