Presidential Leadership and Building a Pipeline to Increase Diversity

Abstract

One of the hallmarks of American higher education is the opportunity given to all types of students to learn and advance themselves as citizens, whether in employment or engaging in civic activities. The academy has historically struggled to enroll and employ diverse populations, and if this is to change, presidents must play an important and vocal role in building a pipeline for diversity. The chapter explores past efforts at diversity recruitment and considers the complex issue of diversity characteristics, resulting in attempting to understand cultural transformation from the perspective of community expectancy. The chapter concludes with a discussion of specific strategies for college presidents to heighten the diversity of their campuses.