Diversity in Higher Education Administration: The Need for Student Perspectives

Honorable Mention Winner Diversity within higher education benefits students and institutions alike, creating a more relatable experience for students as well as a more beneficial work environment for faculty. While university student bodies are slowly beginning to represent the diversity in the communities which they serve, university faculty and staff have yet to catch up. This is especially the case with the administration at an institution’s highest levels. Eighty-three percent of college and university presidents are white (American Council on Education, 2017), and seventy-seven percent are male (Tarbutton, 2019). With an administration misaligned with its student body, students are at a disadvantage, as diverse populations benefit from the presence of faculty and mentors from similar backgrounds. In addition, a lack of diversity in administration can hinder attempts to provide an equitable educational setting. More research needs to be conducted to better understand how students perceive the lack of diversity of administration in higher level education and its effects on diversity within their institution. We will discuss necessary areas of research and future plans, as well as its potential benefits, and implications. Understanding student perspectives can help us better understand how a white male majority in leadership limits institutional growth, as well as how limited diversity may hurt the mission and reputation of an institution