Penn State is among the national leaders in higher education in diversity strategic planning and was selected as a recipient of the 2014 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award from Insight into Diversity Magazine.
In the current financial, political, and social climate of our nation and our state, we frame our diversity goals not only in social justice but in terms of institutional viability and vitality, clearly locating diversity as a central value to our core mission. Traditionally, diversity goals have been pursued as a “moral imperative,” but this approach doesn’t provide a clear picture of the essential role diversity plays within higher education and society. Over time, legal and legislative challenges to diversity have brought about a more nuanced understanding of the advantages of diversity, such as being able to live, work, and lead in a global environment where multicultural skills are at a premium.
Higher education can and must make a significant contribution to meeting these societal challenges through initiatives that support the access and success of a diverse student population and give all students experience with intercultural issues. Thus, student success at Penn State must be envisioned, enacted, and evaluated in the context not only of our traditional student population base, but particularly of the segments of our student population that historically have been underrepresented and underserved in higher education, but are now increasing. These populations include low-income, first-generation college students; students of color; women students, including women in the sciences, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields; veteran students; students with disabilities; adult learners, including those with dependent-care responsibilities; LGBT students; students from families that have recently immigrated to the United States; and international students. Such students typically bring great strengths, including intelligence, persistence, cognitive flexibility, and multicultural fluency. Recognizing and affirming the many positive and unique qualities and merits that each student brings to the table helps us to expand our definition of what constitutes excellence at Penn State.
Penn State takes great pride in helping to prepare the leaders of the future. Our graduates reflect and contribute to the success and reputation of our institution. Our emphasis on student centeredness and the corresponding benefits of diversity to the student body operate within the context of our role as one of the top institutions of higher education in the world. Our priority must be to provide the benefits of a diverse cohort to our student body, and also ensure an institution in which our diversity values are realized at all levels of the University including students, faculty, staff, leadership, governing and advisory bodies, curriculum, and outreach endeavors so as to optimize opportunities for excellence in all our endeavors by tapping into a broader range of intellectual diversity and expertise.
Fostering diversity must be recognized as being at the heart of our institutional viability and vitality, a core value of the academic mission, and a priority of the institution.
Source: “A Framework for Fostering Diversity at Penn State 2010-15”