DEI on College Campuses: Impact and Benefits for Diverse Students

Colleges can foster a supportive and inclusive atmosphere for a diverse student population in many ways. These efforts should be multifaceted and include strategies and initiatives aimed at recruitment and retention of diverse, marginalized, and underrepresented groups of students. For example, colleges may institute pipeline programs that aim to attract promising students from diverse backgrounds.

Once these students are enrolled, the college should further support them through retention measures, including tutoring, mentorship, student organizations, financial counseling, and addressing deficits that can interfere with student achievement, such as lack of access to food, affordable housing, transportation, and childcare. Furthermore, diversity-focused scholarship opportunities can also help ensure the retention and success of students in need. Another vital component of robust support efforts is the existence of a DEI task force or committee that consists of both faculty and students and is responsible for assessing and improving DEI best practices.

Diversity in the classroom starts with the college’s recruitment practices that aim to attract students and faculty from a wide swath of cultures, backgrounds, and identities. After that, it’s up to the individual professor to create a classroom environment that is welcoming, inclusive, and equitable for all. University of Michigan’s Center for Research on Learning and Teaching offers research-backed approaches, recommending that professors get to know students and consider how their social and cultural backgrounds affect their classroom experiences.

Beyond this, they should incorporate a wide array of social and cultural perspectives into their curricula and use teaching methods that address the learning styles of the students in their classroom. Additional guidelines from the University of Maryland suggest that professors should help students get to know one another, take care to avoid marginalizing underrepresented groups, and include a syllabus statement that addresses civil dialogue and respect of diverse viewpoints.

Diversity trainings increase educators’ awareness of topics relevant to diversity and inclusion and provide them with practical ways to improve the atmosphere of their classrooms. One study that evaluated the effectiveness of a mandatory faculty diversity training reached out to instructors with a follow-up survey a year later to see what changes participants had made to their teaching.

Respondents reported that their teaching had become more inclusive, and they made changes to their curricula that included more cultural celebration and visible diversity in assigned authors. They also reported greater awareness of less visible forms of prejudice and became more sensitive to language and potentially marginalizing situations. Other research surveyed students of instructors who had participated in diversity trainings. These students reported feeling more included, visible, and valued in class.

Robust DEI policies in institutions of higher education help ensure that everyone feels valued, heard, and included — students and faculty alike. And this is the ideal scenario for colleges and universities which, by their very definition, are dedicated to open-mindedness and exploration. But beyond this, DEI policies are crucial to student success because they foster a sense of belonging.

One Inside Higher Ed study found that students who felt a sense of belonging exhibited greater persistence and fewer mental health issues. Some colleges, such as the 2022 Diversity Champions selected by Insight into Diversity Magazine, are going above and beyond in their efforts to succeed in creating diverse and inclusive campus environments. The huge variety of initiatives, scholarships, and trainings offered by schools on this list, such as Clemson University and Indiana University Bloomington, demonstrates how they’re making DEI a top priority.

Although formal instruction in college is delivered by professors, students can also learn a great deal informally through interactions with one other. And the learning opportunities are even more numerous when the student body is richly diverse. Students who learn in culturally and socially diverse settings get the opportunity to build authentic connections and friendships with people different from themselves, and in so doing, gain fresh perspectives. This type of learning is undoubtedly more memorable and meaningful than any lesson that comes from a textbook.

When students must interact and collaborate with people who are culturally and socially different from themselves, they tend to build greater understanding of and empathy for others. Furthermore, when students connect emotionally with others’ experiences and perspectives, they are more likely to zoom out, examine their own place in the “big picture,” and contemplate how everything fits together. For example, a professor in one study noted that when students from different cultures worked together to interpret literary pieces, they arrived at much deeper, more sophisticated analyses than they would have on their own. Bringing their multiple cultural contexts together on the task helped them to consider aspects of the text that they might not have considered before.

Students who learn in diverse classrooms are better poised to productively transfer their understandings and broadened perspectives to their larger communities. The empathy that they cultivate helps them to live harmoniously with people of different backgrounds and engage in positive activities that make their neighborhoods and cities better places for everyone. In fact, research summarized by The Century Foundation shows that students from diverse learning environments demonstrate improved civic attitudes toward democratic participation and community activities.

Exposure to diversity can push people out of their comfort zones and help them grow in many ways — socially, emotionally, philosophically, and intellectually. Moreover, getting to know people dissimilar to yourself can also lead to greater curiosity and introspection. For instance, students interviewed in research from the American Council on Education said that being exposed to different experiences and viewpoints caused them to be more aware of their own biases and opinions. Faculty members in the same study also reported that they did more research and writing as a result of interacting with students in a multicultural classroom.

The interactions and experiences students have in the classroom can serve as valuable practice for the workplace. That is, if students are accustomed to diversity in the classroom, they will be socially equipped for the business world, which is constantly becoming more globalized. To be successful, employees must be comfortable working and communicating with people from any culture or background; therefore, students’ prior experiences in diverse settings will serve them well.

The brain thrives on novelty. In fact, research shows that people tend to be more creative when their thinking is stimulated by exposure to other people’s ideas; obviously, a diverse classroom is the perfect setting for this type of novel idea exchange. Furthermore, marketing strategist Bas Korsten notes that diversity also makes the brain work harder to challenge stereotypes. And the harder the brain works, the more creative it becomes. Yet another study shows that when white college students are placed into groups with members of minorities, they produce essays of higher integrative complexity (a cognitive style that incorporates multiple perspectives and viewpoints) and demonstrate improved reading comprehension on race-relevant passages.

Perhaps the best — and most obvious — sign of a university that values, promotes, and protects diversity is its enrollment data. Start with analyzing national enrollment trends through websites such as National Student Clearinghouse or the National Center for Education Statistics. This will give you a baseline for comparison to determine how welcoming the school you’re considering is to diverse populations. To find enrollment data and demographics for specific schools, use a tool such as the College Navigator from the National Center for Education Statistics or the reports tool from Data USA.

To get an even better idea of the campus climate and attitude toward diversity, equity, and inclusion, consider speaking with instructors or department advisors. Ask them for their honest opinions about whether or not the institution does enough to uphold its commitment to these values. It is also a good idea to ask about the prevalence of inclusive teaching strategies and general attitudes toward these practices.

Who better to answer your questions about diversity and atmosphere than students who have attended (or are currently attending) your school of interest? If you don’t personally know any current students or recent grads, try asking your friends, family, and acquaintances on social media if they know of anyone who would be willing to chat. Online forums, such as Reddit, are also a great place to anonymously connect with people who can answer your questions. Or you can reach out to an admissions advisor to see if he or she can connect you with anyone.

Clubs, student organizations, and other student groups are an important component of a campus that values diversity and inclusion. Such groups go a long way toward fostering a sense of belonging among students, which is an important factor in student retention and success. Peruse the school’s website to find them; they will most likely be listed under student resources or community. Typically, a greater variety of groups means more diversity on campus. For some good examples, check out the huge assortment of groups at the University of Kentucky and the University of Cincinnati.

The presence of a clear DEI statement on a school’s website demonstrates a commitment to furthering these values. In addition to a statement of philosophy or principles, look for a list of specific actions or goals. Miami University, for example, outlines the actions the school has committed to taking to further its DEI goals. Another important aspect to consider is whether the school uses a metric for evaluating its progress on DEI measures. A good illustration of this is Virginia Commonwealth University’s metric, the VCU Climate Report, which the university uses to determine the success of its DEI measures.

• Black Girl Does Grad School: This online blog/web magazine offers content by and for Black women in pursuit of advanced degrees. Content is searchable and organized by topic.
• Blk + In Grad School Podcast: Here you’ll find tips, encouragement, and inspiration for women and POC who are undertaking their grad school journey — available on Podbay, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.
• National Black Graduate and Professional Students Organization: This site addresses the needs of Black graduate students by providing leadership, training, mentoring opportunities, and career placement services.
• National Black Law Students Association: Check out this student-run organization that offers guidance on applying to and navigating law school as well as mentoring by law students and law professionals.
• United Negro College Fund: This website provides private scholarships to minority group members in order to increase the number of African American students who enter college and graduate.

• Association of Latino Professionals for America: This resource provides opportunities for scholarships, networking with professionals, paid internships, and jobs to Latino men and women to help them succeed in every sector of the global economy.
• Excelencia in Education: Browse information from this non-profit organization dedicated to accelerating the success of Latino students in higher education. Its focus: research and analysis to influence policy and advance institutional practices.
• Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities: This national association represents existing and emerging Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI), offering a variety of student programs, scholarship opportunities, internships, and conferences.
• Hispanic Scholarship Fund: You’ll find scholarships for exceptional students at this website, which also offers college planning resources, a college finder tool, and the Hispanic Careers Pathway Initiative.
• Latinas with Masters Podcast: Listen to interviews, guidance, tips, and inspiration for Latinx students pursuing higher education.

• Asian-American Scholar Forum: This non-profit organization advocates for the rights of American scholars of Asian descent and features informative webinars and news relevant to Asian-American scholars.
• Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholars: Here you’ll find scholarships, mentoring, and leadership training to help students successfully transition to the workforce.
• Asian Law Students’ Association: Visit the website of this non-profit, non-political organization with 17 chapters that connects law students across Asia. Among its offerings, you’ll find a magazine and various forums, conferences, and competitions.
• Asian Pacific Islander Speech-Language-Hearing Caucus: If you’re seeking support and resources for Asian Pacific Islander professionals in audiology and speech-language pathology and professionals who serve API populations, this is your destination. The organization advocates for access to high-quality speech, language, cognitive, and hearing services for API populations.
• South Pacific Islander Organization: This non-profit volunteer organization provides digital resources and programs designed to promote the success of Pacific Islanders in higher education.

• American Indian College Fund: Research scholarships, leadership programs, and academic resources designed to help American Indian students pursue higher education at this site, which also contains guides on choosing a college, completing applications, and money management.
• American Indian Education Fund: AIEF is a program that provides scholarships and other resources for Native American students who are pursuing a degree.
• National Indian Education Association: The NIEA hosts and promotes a variety of programs and projects that aim to advance comprehensive, culture-based educational opportunities for American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians.
• Native Forward Scholars Fund: Here, you’ll find scholarships and resources for Native American college students, as well as guides on preparing for and affording college.
• The Aleut Foundation: This site provides scholarships, career development, leadership training, and access to resources such as tutoring and student loan referrals for the Aleutian people.

• Campus Pride: Find support for LGBTQ and ally students in the form of resources, programs, and services at this website, which includes guidance on finding LGBTQ-friendly campuses through the Campus Pride Index.
• Out in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics: oSTEM works to promote the success of LGBTQ+ students in STEM fields, featuring a scholarship program, graduate school application assistance, and many other helpful resources.
• Point Foundation: Access this LGBTQ scholarship fund that financially assists LGBTQ students of merit; you’ll also find resources for mentorship, leadership development, and community service training at this website.
• Reaching Out MBA: This organization promotes the success of MBA students and alumni by hosting a fellowship program as well as various retreats, summits, and conferences.
• The National LGBTQ+ Bar Association: An association comprised of lawyers, judges, legal professionals, law students, and activists, its goal is justice in the legal profession for the LGBTQ+ community. You’ll find resources such as a job board, educational series, and law school campus climate survey at this site.

• ADA National Network: This resource offers information, guidance, and training on how to implement the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Check out event listings as well as informative materials and fact sheets that explain the rights of individuals with disabilities.
• Autistic Self Advocacy Network: Research a variety of educational resources aimed to help people with autism take control of their education, lives, and futures by being strong self-advocates.
• College Autism Network: This network aims to link people involved in efforts to improve access, experiences, and outcomes for college students with autism. Here you’ll find a searchable database of autism-specific college support programs.
• Diagnosis Grad School Podcast: Listen in on this documentary podcast series that explores the challenges and realities of pursuing a graduate degree with a disability. The host shares her real-life experiences in hopes of improving the educational experiences of current and future students.
• DREAM: Disability Rights, Education, Activism, and Mentoring (DREAM) is a network focused on advancing the interests of students with disabilities in post-secondary institutions. They offer networking, peer support, mentoring, and educational materials.

• Fulbright Foreign Student Program: Looking for grants that enable graduate students to study and conduct research in the United States? This is your resource, which also features an informative blog, a list of partner agencies, and a foreign language teaching assistant program.
• Guide to Campus Resources for International Students: Gain insights from this article from U.S. News & World Report that provides tips for international students on accessing relevant resources on campus.
• International Student: Utilize this website’s abundant resources for international students, including financial aid guidance, information on visas and immigration, test prep, college search, international student job center, and more.
• Study in the States: This website from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security contains resources and educational materials for becoming an international student in the United States.
• VOA Learning English Podcast: Voice of American provides English-language instruction at all levels — beginning, intermediate, and advanced. The site uses high-interest topics to engage learners and is also available through YouTube.

• American Association for Access, Equity, and Diversity: This civil rights organization engages in work to lead, direct, and manage affirmative action, equal opportunity, diversity, and human resource programs.
• Five Ways I Navigated Grad School as a Minority by Nancy Padilla-Coreano: Read this first-hand account written by a Puerto Rican graduate student, which contains advice for thriving in grad school.
• National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education: Here you’ll find networking and professional development opportunities for diversity professionals to enable them to be successful in their roles on college campuses.
• Race and Ethnicity in Higher Education: The American Council on Education created this website that contains data and reports focused on closing equity gaps in higher education.
• The National GEM Consortium: This site offers programs, events, and initiatives aimed at increasing the participation of underrepresented groups in engineering and science at the graduate level.