Research on Racial Issues in American Higher Education.

Overview & Synopsis

This review of racial issues in American higher education identifies the quest for community amid diversity as the major challenges facing colleges and universities today. The literature reviewed is organized into three parts: (1) the demographics of equity and access in higher education; (2) the legacy of racism in higher education; and (3) the movement toward democratic or integrated pluralism in higher education. Each segment provides evidence from research and scholarly writing that illustrates complexities and crises that must be considered in efforts to create communities amid diversity on college campuses. Trends in undergraduate, graduate, and professional education are summarized for African Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanic Americans, and Native Americans. Racism on college campuses can be individual, institutional, or cultural. Several studies are reviewed that attempt to combat racism at these levels and that attempt to establish a goal of integrated pluralism. An agenda is mapped for further research. Linguistically and culturally diverse approaches to understanding cognition, measuring knowledge and skills, predicting college potential, and being in tune with student needs are required. (Contains 118 references.) (SLD)