This research addresses how Proposition 209 has altered access to University of California (UC), as represented by the changing profiles of admitted undergraduate students at three UC campuses. This research provides an analysis of changes that have occurred in undergraduate applicant and admit characteristics based on individual data from UC Los…

The Supreme Court has established that diversity is a compelling state interest with regard to student body diversity in the higher education context, namely medical school and law school. Many educators and higher education organizations view racial and ethnic diversity among faculty as an important educational objective. Faculty diversity is…

In 1989, Walter E. Kimm, III applied for a position as an admissions representative at Brookdale Community College (BCC), in New Jersey. As a result of BCC's nonresponsiveness, he reapplied, using a slightly modified resume, as "Suzy Ming Cheng." Whereas "Suzy Ming Cheng" was invited to an interview for the position, Kimm was…

The Student Equity Plan developed by California's Mount San Jacinto College (MSJC) is intended to assure equal access of historically underrepresented and ethnic minority students while maintaining excellence in academic standards. This update provides current information on the goals and activities involved in the Plan. An executive summary…

The primary problem that Richard J. Herrnstein and Charles Murray address in their book, "The Bell Curve," is that an unrecognized societal migration has been emerging in American society since 1950. People with high IQs are rewarded socially and economically, while the rest of the population has remained stagnant. This paper describes…

Focusing on the challenge of expanding administrative opportunities for minorities, the 10 essays in this volume explore the problem of underrepresentation of minority administrators at community colleges and suggest strategies for improving diversity. The following articles are provided: (1) "Paradox and Promise: Leadership and the Neglected…

This theme issue includes four articles on racism in colleges and public schools and on strategies to build ethnic and racial tolerance. "Affirmative Action: Not a Thing of the Past" (Linda Cantu) reviews the history of affirmative action and its positive effects on Hispanic and Black enrollment in higher education, discusses current efforts to…

Drawing mainly on cross tabulations of some variables from the General Social Survey of the Roper Center for Public Opinion Research at the University of Connecticut, this paper reports black and white Americans' opinions on key issues of policy debate in the United States. In some cases, opinions are reported over a span as long as 22 years. When…

The focus group approach with black students and students of Chinese origin at York University in Ontario (Canada) was used to examine attitudes of these groups toward the concept of "visible minority." The results of eight focus group sessions conducted with 48 black students indicated that while 90 percent of the students did consider…

Proposition 209 is a statewide constitutional amendment initiative in California, which, if passed in November 1996, will eliminate all statewide affirmative action programs. It is argued that, contrary to its title, this amendment is an extreme and unnecessary measure that will actually undermine further advances in civil rights. There are…

This book recognizes 11 women who helped to build the U.S. labor movement. In chapters based on oral history interviews, they tell stories illustrating the turmoil, hardships, and accomplishments of thousands of other union women activists. Chapter 1, "An Overview: And Not Falling Out," describes individual differences, connecting themes, and…

Many departments in higher education institutions actively recruit women and minority candidates for faculty positions. When a department decides that an available position should be filled by a woman, are the supporting rationales legally sound? This paper describes some basic principles of federal law that address issues of affirmative action…

Dealing with issues relating to creating and maintaining a diverse faculty at the community college level, this collection of articles focuses on African-American and Hispanic faculty and presents both theoretical and practical considerations for administrators and scholars. The following articles are included: (1) "The Status of Faculty in…

Noting that both boys and girls suffer because of gender bias in society and in the classroom, this paper examines the roots and consequences of such bias. The paper first provides a historical overview of gender bias and its relation to the prevalent world view. Next, it examines the manifestations of gender bias in the classroom and their…

This reference work is a listing and description of 300 notable Hispanic American women who have achieved national or international prominence in a variety of fields. The entries are based on a mixture of personal interviews, book studies, and articles from periodicals. The entries feature historical and contemporary women from a broad range of…