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The Importance of DiversityÌý

Amid vigorous national debate about diversity on college campuses, CU has reaffirmed its commitment to provide a welcoming environment for all students.

Why a renewed push on diversity?

It’s one of our institutional values andÌýguiding principles, and also a criticalÌýconversation happening nationally. WeÌýhave made progress in recent years,Ìýbut not enough. So we’re developingÌýa plan that will build on the work we’veÌýdone, and will also assess our currentÌýapproach to ensure accountability goingÌýforward. As I often cite in speeches, theÌýminority will become the majority in thisÌýcountry in 2046, and if we don’t do aÌýgood job educating all people, we will beÌýin trouble as a nation. There’s a greaterÌýsense of urgency.

How do you define diversity?

It’s recognizing and valuing the varietyÌýinherent in people’s backgrounds, experiencesÌýand perspectives. There is strengthÌýin that variety. It has made us strong as aÌýnation and as a university. Many think ofÌýdiversity in terms of race and ethnicity, butÌýit’s much broader than that.

Do you agree with the perception thatÌýdiversity leads to special treatmentÌýfor certain groups over others?

No. There is a mistaken impression thatÌýdiversity is about political correctness.ÌýWrong. It’s important that people feelÌýwelcome and valued, so part of succeedingÌýat diversity means fostering anÌýenvironment where that happens. It alsoÌýmeans reflecting our wider society. We’reÌýpreparing graduates to go out into anÌýincreasingly complex, international and inÌýsome cases polarized country and world.ÌýWe recognize that and have to prepareÌýstudents accordingly.

Will it lead to any change in academicÌýstandards?

We’re not changing our high academicÌýstandards.Ìý

What is the timeline for yourÌýnew approach?

This is a marathon, not a sprint. We’re alreadyÌýaddressing the issue and have beenÌýfor some time. It can be difficult, challengingÌýwork, but we are committed to success.ÌýWe are consulting many groups insideÌýand outside the university as we develop aÌýcomprehensive plan. The work of implementingÌýthat plan and being accountableÌýfor progress will span years, not months. ToÌýbe successful, we have to be in this for theÌýlong haul, and we are. It’s the right thing toÌýdo, and it makes our university stronger.

Illustration by Melinda JosieÌý

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