Examining the relationship between students’ pre-college experiences and outcomes in diversity courses

UnrestrictedGiven the varied experiences with diversity that students have when they arrive on campus, it is important to study how students from all racial and ethnic backgrounds select and enroll in diversity courses. The purpose of this study is to examine how pre-college experiences with diversity affect students' choice of diversity course and their experiences and outcomes. Students in this quantitative study completed the 31-item Diversity Survey, which was developed by the research team. In order to assess students' pre-college experiences with diversity, participants were asked to indicate the racial/ethnic composition of the high school they attended.; Findings indicated that there were differences by pre-college experiences, ethnicity, and major on a variety of outcomes: primary reason for choosing a diversity course, beliefs and attitudes about other cultures, and beliefs and attitudes about a student's own culture after completing a diversity course. In particular, Caucasian students were more likely than students of other ethnicities to report negative changes in their awareness, understanding, beliefs and attitudes about their own culture. The findings from this study have implications for examining how diversity courses affect students' identity development and how outcomes from diversity courses vary by course topic or rigor