Diversity in Higher Education

Compiling a Case Study

In higher education, diversity has many meanings and even more implications. The Encarta World English Dictionary defines diversity as, “social inclusiveness - ethnic variety, as well as socioeconomic and gender variety, in a group, society, or institution” (Soukhanov, 1999). As important as diversity is tolerance. Encarta World English Dictionary defines tolerance as, “acceptance of different views - the acceptance of the differing views of other people, e.g. in religious or political matters, and fairness toward the people who hold these different views” (Soukhanov, 1999). The following is a definition of diversity in higher education, description of the diversity of the students and staff of WGU, and how WGU addresses tolerance university-wide.

Diversity in Higher Education

In the past, many universities and other large organizations focused on the majority of the population for both its workforce and student clientele. Recently, whether because of the self-seeking need to increase the client-base or from the moral perspective that equal opportunity applies to both employees and students, educational facilities have moved away from appealing to the typical college student and faculty. Attention has shifted to broaden the scope to all who desires a higher education and faculty that demonstrate the competency to teach the students. Diversity in higher education means providing equal opportunities regardless of race, gender, religious preferences, and sexual orientation for both students and staff. Following is an example of the diverse population of WGU students and staff.

Student Diversity

Students with the desire for higher education are not only white males ages 18-24. The typical WGU student is 37 ...

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...y awards: Incentives for enhancing campus climate at the postsecondary level. Delta Kappa Gamma Bulletin, 77(4), 15-20.

Soukhanov, A. H. (1999). Encarta world English dictionary. New York: St. Martin's Press.

Western Governors University (2013). 2013 annual report. Retrieved from http://www.wgu.edu/about_WGU/2013_annual_report

Western Governors University (2013). WGU employee handbook 2013. Retrieved on February 2, 2014 from https://portal.adp.com/wps/myportal/!ut/p/c5/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os3h3S1cTQ08TA093H19DA0cLN4NA8-BAg8AwY6B8JE55AwNTinQbUKLbwpyAbj-P_NxU_YLc0NCIckdFAFVH0qY!/dl3/d3/L2dJQSEvUUt3QS9ZQnZ3LzZfRzlFNDFJNDBJR0xNMTBBOEYwUTdTUTBLUjU!/?portletId=462f66b5c56b1942a689f3dd53c5312546055dcc618fdf7a7d82f8dbd07df606&portletURL=7c03780214435054b0c174e076ef75e4cf270bcc68e2d1416d288e2da359c980daa1827fcf997441341b3cff09701b5c488449dc0431782e54ea4ea9120e5100#