This reference list of recommended readings is compiled from Dr.William Kratt's recently completed dissertation on diversity in Christian Higher Education from Claremont Graduate University. The purpose of this study was to identify the factors that support or inhibit diversity at predominantly White, Evangelical, Christian colleges and universities. Empirical research indicates that these institutions are behind their secular counterparts in advancing diversity initiatives related to the multicultural awareness of their students (Sheridan & Anderson, 2001), the ethnic and cultural diversity of their faculty, staff, and student body (Nieves, 1991), and their institutional level of commitment towards diversity (Mayer, 1999; McMinn, 1998).
A case study methodology and quantitative survey were used to identify how two Evangelical Christian institutions defined diversity, what role the Evangelical Christian mission played in their diversity efforts, what internal and external factors motivated their work on diversity, what existing characteristics of these institutions supported or inhibited diversity, and what perception administrators, faculty, staff, and students had of their institution's commitment to diversity. Qualitative research methods included student focus groups, faculty, staff, and administrator interviews, on-campus observations, and document analysis. Quantitative research was conducted using a national data set from a student satisfaction survey of Evangelical Christian colleges and universities.
The results of both the quantitative and qualitative analysis supported the research premise that, despite efforts in support of diversity, institutional change at Evangelical Christian colleges and universities is slow. Disaggregation of the quantitative data by race and ethnicity revealed lower levels of satisfaction for students of color on a select number of variables linked to campus climate, retention, and overall satisfaction.Qualitative data analysis suggested that the Evangelical Mission could be more effectively utilized to impact diversity efforts. In addition, perceptions of institutional commitment to change varied considerably among various constituents at each institution, with administrators typically perceiving greater institutional commitment to diversity than students and faculty of color.Finally, issues related to whiteness, and more specifically, the White Evangelical Culture at these institutions continues to be a major impediment to progress and change.
For a copy of the full dissertation,e-mail trinitytc@earthlink.net.
DeYoung, C.P., Emerson, M.O., Yancey, G. & Kim, K.C. (2004). United by faith: The multiracial congregation as an answer to the problem of race. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Emerson, M. O., & Smith, C. (2000). Divided by faith: Evangelical religion and the problem of race in America. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Fredrickson, G. E. (2002). Racism: A short history. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.
Garcia, M., Hudgins, C. A., McTighe Musil, C., Nettles, M. T, Sedlacek, W. E., and Smith, D. G. (2001). Assessing campus diversity initiatives: A guide for campus practitioners. Washington, D.C.: Association of American Colleges and Universities.
Kezar, A., and Eckel, P. D. (2002). The effect of institutional culture on change strategies in higher education. The Journal of Higher Education, 73(4), 435-460.
Kivel, P. (2002). Uprooting racism: How White People can work for racial justice. Philadelphia: New Society Publishers.
Martinez Alemn, A. M., and Salkever, K. (2003). Mission, multiculturalism, and the liberal arts college: Aqualitative investigation. The Journal of Higher Education, 74 (5),563-596.
McMinn, L. (1998). Enclave adaptation, multiculturalism and Evangelical Christian colleges. Research on Christian Higher Education, 5, 23-52.
Peart, N. (2000). Separate no more: Understanding and developing racial reconciliation in your church. Michigan: Baker Press.
Rothenberg, P. S. (Ed.). (2002). White privilege: Essential readings on the other side of racism. New York: Worth Publishers.
Sedikides, C., & Brewer, M.B. (Eds.). (2001). Individual self, relational self, collective self. Philadelphia: Psychology Press.
Sheridan, D. A., and Anderson, H. (2001). The multicultural competence of resident assistants in Christian colleges and universities. Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development, 1 (1), 65-83.
Suarez-Balcazar, Y., Orellana-Demacela, L., Portillo, N., Rowan, J. M., & Andrews-Guillen, C. (2003). Experiences of differential treatment among college students of color. The Journal of Higher Education, 74 (4), 428-444.
Whitt, E. J., Edison, M. I., Pascarella, E. T., Terenzini, P.T., & Nora, A. (2001). Influences on students' openness to diversity in the second and third years of college. The Journal of Higher Education,72 (2), 172-204.
Yancey, G. A. (2002). Reconciliation theology: How a Christian ethic tackles the problem of racism. Christian Scholars Review, 32, 93-109.