The Importance Of Structural Diversity

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Diversity is engaged across racial and ethnic lines to consist of a broad and varied set of activities and initiative (Milem, Chang, and Antonio 2005). Diversity is about recognizing that each individual is unique and have differences. These differences include the dimensions of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, age, physical abilities, religious beliefs, political beliefs or other ideologies (Rock 1999). Diversity is meant to bring respect, understanding, and tolerance, accepting, and embracing the different dimension of diversity. Student’s that report frequently hanging out with persons of a different racial/ethnic background are more likely to report that their understanding of people different from them …show more content…

1) Structural diversity (student body racial composition). Studies show that structural diversity of an institution help shapes curricular diversity and the opportunity to interact with peers (Denson and Chang 2009). The study shows that structural diversity is positively related to informal interaction diversity (Pike and Kuh 2006). 2) curricular/co-curricular diversity (programmatic efforts that expose students to content about race/ethnicity). Curricular/co-curricular is an institutionally structured to help students to respect both ideas and people which is developed through coursework, curriculum, or participation in activities (racial awareness workshops, students organization). More importantly, it been associated to have positive outcomes such as intergroup attitudes, racial prejudice, and intergroup understanding, attitudes toward campus diversity, critical thinking skills, cognitive and effective development, learning and “democracy “ outcomes, civic, job-related, and learning outcomes, academic self-confidence and social agency, social action engagement outcomes, and action-oriented democratic outcomes (Denson and Chang 2009). …show more content…

2004). As the United States become a more racially and ethnically diverse nation. Schools are becoming more diverse, and students need to learn how to interact in a diverse environment. Discussion between the different perspectives of minority and the majority opinions can enhance integrative complexity among the majority opinion (Antonio et al. 2004). Students having experiences with people of different racial/ethnic background are very important it enhances their experience on campus. Students who attend schools with a diverse population can develop an understanding of different perspectives in a multi-ethnic and multiracial environment. Racial and ethnic diversity can create a rich social environment which can be used as educational tools for students’ learning and development (Antonio et al. 2004; Milem et al. 2005). Students who attend college with other races and ethnicity increase the likelihood of socializing with people of another race and more likely have a conversation about racial matters (Chang

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