Considering the extensive social and private benefits that higher education generates, ensuring inclusive access and success is essential to achieve social justice and economic efficiency. With this premise in mind, this article reviews current knowledge about equity promotion policies in higher education and what is known about the effectiveness…

Despite the popular belief that affirmative action gives Black and Latino students an unfair advantage, these students are still underrepresented at the nation's selective colleges and at two- and four-year public colleges and universities in the vast majority of states. The truth is, it isn't enough to just believe that racial inequality is a…

This document is a report on the research which was designed to evaluate the affirmative action policy for ethnic minorities in Georgia. The mixed research methods were utilized in the study. Specifically, the following research methods were used: (1) Survey of 12th graders in non-Georgian schools; (2) Survey of the students in the One-Year…

The use of race-sensitive criteria in admissions continues to be controversial, and critics have leveled three basic charges against it. For one, opponents say the practice constitutes reverse discrimination, lowering the chance of admission for better-qualified white students. They also contend that it creates a mismatch between the skills of…

Affirmative action policies in higher education are used in many countries to try to socially advance historically disadvantaged minorities. Although the underlying social objectives of these policies are rarely criticized, there is intense debate over the actual impact of such preferences in higher education on educational performance and labor…

From 1995 to 2005 education doctoral degrees conferred to African American females increased by 92%, however the increase in availability among this population for higher education administrator positions has not kept pace with the growth of African American female higher education doctoral graduates (Ryu, 2008). Such data have spurred inquiry…

Questions the effectiveness of affirmative action programs in education. (JOW)

Background/Context: Although frequently associated with the United States, affirmative action is not a uniquely American social policy. Indeed, 2003 witnessed review and revision of affirmative action policies affecting higher education institutions in both France and the United States. Using critical race theory (CRT) as a theoretical lens, this…

Programs that serve underrepresented minority students have long faced many challenges. Prior to the late 1970s, higher education institutions reserved academic program slots for underrepresented minority students because these students had limited access to opportunities that afforded them credentials that their white counterparts could more…

Graduate students from minority cultures were surveyed to assess their academic views of themselves and their perceptions of others' views of their academic ability. Overall, the students strongly support Student Affirmative Action (SAA), however, they believed SAA has been only marginally effective in helping minorities. (Author/BL)

Holds that (1) principles of equal education are jeopardized by the increase of "protected classes," (2) existing affirmative action programs are complex and ineffective, (3) institutional accomplishments in affirmative action are not rewarded, and (4) Blacks that would eventually become teachers and scholars are being diverted into positions as…

Examined (1) whether educational opportunity programs (EOP) designed for disadvantaged students were proactive or reactive in their responses to students' needs, (2) whether institutions "institutionalized" this support by providing funds from the base budget, and (3) the degree of institutional funding before and after Federal monies were made…

The author questions whether advertising and search committees--the new faculty hiring methods brought about by affirmative action--are really more than just window dressing to avoid trouble with the federal government while hiring still occurs very much as in the past. (Author/SJL)

Data from 191 institutions which placed notices in the "Chronicle of Higher Education" revealed that there are qualified minority and female candidates available and members of minority groups are making progress toward employment (females even greater progress) while white males are not being "closed out" of the hiring process. (Editor/JT)

Affirmative action programs should provide opportunities for all individuals to realize their potential. However, many have become thwarted by the existence of myths about the nature of programs required. Unfortunately, although there are no legal grounds for these myths, they are widely held and impair effectiveness of affirmative action efforts.…