Diversity Discourses, U.S.

A major issue affecting higher education in the 21st century is the transformation of the K–16 student population. This transformation involves a shift in student backgrounds, needs, and expectations, resulting in changes in access to and participation in higher education for diverse students. In response to these changes, administrators, educators, and student affairs professionals have reexamined their policies, practices, and programming, with the purpose of aligning their goals more closely with the changing student demographics, and the sociopolitical, cultural, and economic environment of the United States.

Motivated and influenced by student demographics, globalization, internationalization, affirmative action, popular culture, and political climate, higher education leaders have developed a range of discourses to talk about diversity and diverse college students, as well as to justify the need to ...