Diversity Committees, U.S.

The concept of diversity in U.S. higher education has existed for centuries; however, its current usage only began to emerge in the 1990s. The focus of this entry is on the contemporary origins of diversity as an all-inclusive category representing (subsuming) numerous identity groups, and more specifically on diversity committees as a unique group assembled in colleges and universities to act upon matters related to diversity. The collective term, diversity committee, is used to refer to a wide variety of groups (e.g., commissions, task forces, and councils) that respond to institutional challenges, develop strategy, author diversity planning documents, and work toward action and change. Further, diversity committees are comprised of a group of stakeholders who convene in order to devise, and in some instances implement, ...