The definition of diversity needs to include two uncontrollable physical features, age and gender. The United States’ education system keeps the large majority of the undergraduate population at Penn State within a limited range. Students who fall outside of this mean, as well graduate students and staff who can vary greatly in age, require recognition under the Penn State’s definition of diversity. The University already addresses gender well, calling for a “reasonable balance of gender.” The statement provides flexible boundaries, allowing Penn State to have a focus without a numerical regulation forcing them to admit of hire students or faculty respectively that would normally meet all of the Institution’s criteria.
Princeton University’s Word Net defines a university as “a large and diverse institution of higher learning created to educate for life and for a profession and to grant degrees.” By definition, students of each incoming class cannot all select the same major. Pennsylvania State University consists of eleven colleges at its University Park campus, allowing for a diverse make-up of majors. The Penn State Board of Trustees touched upon this when they named “diversity in curriculum content” as a characteristic contributing to diversity. The statements needs to be expanded, as well as clarified since “diversity” is the word being defined. “A variety in curriculum content and student majors” would better fit as part of Penn State’s definition of diversity. Diversity in other areas also have an impact upon academics.
According to a study by the National Collaborative on Diversity in the Teaching Force, a professor’s race can have a direct impact upon students’ grades. Mike Blanco, Penn State’s Senior Diversity Planning Analyst, feels more studies should be completed, but says “all students, regardless of race, do better with a diverse faculty.” I thus feel strongly that University Park needs to address the promotion of a staff and student body composed of different cultures and nationalities within its definition. However, the definition should not force the university to accept someone because of culture or nationality. It should allow though for extra effort to be taken to assist in creating a multi-national and multi-cultural institution. The board of trustees addressed the issue very well when they called for “reasonable representation of different minority groups.” Penn State must also maintain cultural and national diversity amongst its students and staff in order to hold true to the definition.
Preservation of diversity with culture and religion require time, facilities, and money. The many unique religions and cultures students and faculty bring with them cannot flourish when they do not have access to these necessities. The definition of “diversity” should therefore include variety in buildings and facilities that support these aspects. The university already touches upon this by defining one of the characteristics of diversity as a “climate supportive of different minority groups and cultures.” It also needs to reflect the university’s goal to meld and introduce students to new cultures and religions. Part of that goal calls for the protection of threats to the diversity described in the definition.
The definition must encompass all of its parts into a safe atmosphere. Such parts include, but are not limited to the aforementioned areas, as well as sexual orientation and disabilities. Should the students and faculty face too many obstacles, diversity would be unable to develop, and that would make the definition void. One way to incorporate that into the definition would be to treat it as an actual object. That would allow it to receive protection and rights setup by Penn State laws and guidelines. Discrimination laws exist already on campus, but they do not focus upon the curriculum. And while the characteristics include a supportive climate, they fail to specify the form or forms of support. The definition would have to include support by the University both financially and through policy.
Pennsylvania State University’s definition of diversity must encompass age, gender, culture, nationality, sexual orientation, disability, and religion, but without limiting itself to these factors. The definition would also require recognition of diversity as an object requiring protection, regulation, and maintenance by the University. Most importantly, flexibility would characterize the definition, allowing it to meet new issues and challenges. Such a definition would also assist Penn State in their goals for a diverse student body, staff, and curriculum.
Developing A Shared and Inclusive Understanding of Diversity. Pennsylvania State University. September 18, 2005 <http://www.equity.psu.edu/paradigm/dev_diversity.pdf∞>
Dictionary.com. WordNet 2.0. Princeton University. September 18, 2005. <http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=university∞>

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Oldest known version of this page was edited on 2005-09-19 03:19:27 by CarpeDiem []
Penn State faces the issue of developing a definition of diversity that encompasses several areas. The university needs a broad range of academic majors amongst its students. Age, gender, culture, religion and similar factors require attention and encouragement in the creation of a definition. The definition also must have the capability to change and evolve with the laws and values of the times.

The definition of diversity needs to include two uncontrollable physical features, age and gender. The United States’ education system keeps the large majority of the undergraduate population at Penn State within a limited range. Students who fall outside of this mean, as well graduate students and staff who can vary greatly in age, require recognition under the Penn State’s definition of diversity. The University already addresses gender well, calling for a “reasonable balance of gender.” The statement provides flexible boundaries, allowing Penn State to have a focus without a numerical regulation forcing them to admit of hire students or faculty respectively that would normally meet all of the Institution’s criteria.

Princeton University’s Word Net defines a university as “a large and diverse institution of higher learning created to educate for life and for a profession and to grant degrees.” By definition, students of each incoming class cannot all select the same major. Pennsylvania State University consists of eleven colleges at its University Park campus, allowing for a diverse make-up of majors. The Penn State Board of Trustees touched upon this when they named “diversity in curriculum content” as a characteristic contributing to diversity. The statements needs to be expanded, as well as clarified since “diversity” is the word being defined. “A variety in curriculum content and student majors” would better fit as part of Penn State’s definition of diversity. Diversity in other areas also have an impact upon academics.

According to a study by the National Collaborative on Diversity in the Teaching Force, a professor’s race can have a direct impact upon students’ grades. Mike Blanco, Penn State’s Senior Diversity Planning Analyst, feels more studies should be completed, but says “all students, regardless of race, do better with a diverse faculty.” I thus feel strongly that University Park needs to address the promotion of a staff and student body composed of different cultures and nationalities within its definition. However, the definition should not force the university to accept someone because of culture or nationality. It should allow though for extra effort to be taken to assist in creating a multi-national and multi-cultural institution. The board of trustees addressed the issue very well when they called for “reasonable representation of different minority groups.” Penn State must also maintain cultural and national diversity amongst its students and staff in order to hold true to the definition.

Preservation of diversity with culture and religion require time, facilities, and money. The many unique religions and cultures students and faculty bring with them cannot flourish when they do not have access to these necessities. The definition of “diversity” should therefore include variety in buildings and facilities that support these aspects. The university already touches upon this by defining one of the characteristics of diversity as a “climate supportive of different minority groups and cultures.” It also needs to reflect the university’s goal to meld and introduce students to new cultures and religions. Part of that goal calls for the protection of threats to the diversity described in the definition.

The definition must encompass all of its parts into a safe atmosphere. Such parts include, but are not limited to the aforementioned areas, as well as sexual orientation and disabilities. Should the students and faculty face too many obstacles, diversity would be unable to develop, and that would make the definition void. One way to incorporate that into the definition would be to treat it as an actual object. That would allow it to receive protection and rights setup by Penn State laws and guidelines. Discrimination laws exist already on campus, but they do not focus upon the curriculum. And while the characteristics include a supportive climate, they fail to specify the form or forms of support. The definition would have to include support by the University both financially and through policy.

Pennsylvania State University’s definition of diversity must encompass age, gender, culture, nationality, sexual orientation, disability, and religion, but without limiting itself to these factors. The definition would also require recognition of diversity as an object requiring protection, regulation, and maintenance by the University. Most importantly, flexibility would characterize the definition, allowing it to meet new issues and challenges. Such a definition would also assist Penn State in their goals for a diverse student body, staff, and curriculum.

Developing A Shared and Inclusive Understanding of Diversity. Pennsylvania State University. September 18, 2005 <http://www.equity.psu.edu/paradigm/dev_diversity.pdf∞>

Dictionary.com. WordNet 2.0. Princeton University. September 18, 2005. <http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=university∞>