“The Thing That Makes It So Important is Also the Thing That Makes It Challenging”: One University’s Experience with Diversity Planning
- ASU Author/Contributor (non-ASU co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
- Marian Tan Johnson (Creator)
- Institution
- Appalachian State University (ASU )
- Web Site: https://library.appstate.edu/
- Advisor
- Vachel Miller
Abstract: While the importance of diversity is increasingly recognized by colleges and universities, these institutions face challenges to create environments where students, faculty, and staff are fully engaged in the work of diversity. Research focused on the process of developing and implementing a successful, integrated diversity plan is very limited. This dissertation aims to study the challenges of integrated diversity planning and implementation by exploring how one specific institution struggled to move from rhetoric to action. The primary purpose of this study was to examine and explore the perceptions and experiences of members of the Task Force for Diversity at a comprehensive university in order to better understand their viewpoints and their efforts to draft a diversity plan. Another goal was to contribute to better understanding of the complex issues that surround the issue of diversity planning in higher education. Applying the lens of critical theory to the data resulted in a detailed exploration of emergent themes such as apathy, futility, buy-in and leadership, and communication and follow-up. As a result of this study, stakeholders in higher education will be more informed of the complex issues surrounding diversity planning and the implementation of integrated diversity initiatives in higher education.
“The Thing That Makes It So Important is Also the Thing That Makes It Challenging”: One University’s Experience with Diversity Planning
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Created on 10/30/2014
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Additional Information
- Publication
- Dissertation
- Johnson, M.T. (2014). “The Thing That Makes It So Important is Also the Thing That Makes It Challenging”: One University’s Experience with Diversity Planning. Unpublished doctoral dissertation. Appalachian State University, Boone, NC.
- Language: English
- Date: 2014
- Keywords
- Diversity in Higher Education ,
Diversity Planning,
Diversity Plan ,
Task Force