Summarizes the judicial justification for affirmative action. Summarizes the 1973 and 1983 American Association of University Professors' statements and recommendations on affirmative action in higher education. Addresses the state of affirmative action in academe in the 1990s. Argues that, although some progress has been made, more needs to be…

Six focus groups analyzed findings of a literature review on cultural diversity's effects on productivity and effectiveness. Action steps for Cooperative Extension were outlined: implementing affirmative action, valuing diversity, managing diversity, creating new management structures, and establishing a more supportive environment. (SK)

Examines two decades of affirmative action and finds the number of women in decision-making positions disproportionately low when compared to their numbers in the public work force. Compares the status of women to that of men in career public management positions and argues that women have a way to go to reach parity. (Author)

Responds to nine common arguments against affirmative action, providing facts about each one. The arguments are that affirmative action is not needed; it is not working; it is not fair; it is not merit; it is reverse racism; it is group-think; it is quotas; it lowers self-esteem; and it provokes race consciousness. (SM)

Considers how current university-school partnerships point the way toward the most potentially transformative areas of programming in education today. Describes the key developments in the past few years in California regarding the Humanities Out There (HOT) program. (SC)

As in the United States, affirmative action policies in Fiji were intended to correct past injustices. However, their proponents' use of colonial discourse fails to acknowledge the historical roots of the lower educational attainment of Fijians, which is a legacy of colonial policies. (SK)

Reviews two books: "Beyond Affirmative Action: Reframing the Context of Higher Education" (Robert A. Ibarra) and "Diversity Challenged: Evidence on the Impact of Affirmative Action" (Gary Orfield and Michael Kurlaender). Discusses what is known about affirmative action in higher education, what educators consider affirmative action's appropriate…

An outspoken champion of affirmative action reflects on court rulings, the mysteries of finding the best candidates for college admission, and becoming the new president of Columbia University. (EV)

Updates research from the 1970s and 1980s regarding the achievement of a fully representative federal bureaucracy. Suggests that there is not widespread support among supervisors for the notion of a representative bureaucracy and that such attitudes may have an impact on recruitment efforts. (JOW)

"America in Black and White: One Nation Indivisible: Race in Modern America," by Stephan and Abigail Thernstrom, has become important in the movement to abolish affirmative action in higher education. Suggests the book seriously misinterprets and misuses evidence to make its case, refuting specific results the book cites related to…

Following the U.S. Supreme Court's "Grutter" decision, universities must now make the judgment that student diversity is essential to their educational mission. This article examines the prospects for increasing Latino representation in higher education in this post- "Grutter" era. The article further explores the effect of affirmative action…

Affirmative action is a necessary but not sufficient condition for diversifying graduate school. Increasing diversity requires us to capitalize on unintended consequences. Adopting the philosophy of intellectual entrepreneurship, although valuable to all students and disciplines, may have a special and perhaps more substantial impact on…

On 23 June 2003, the Supreme Court of the United States issued two rulings on the constitutionality of race preferences in university admissions. The cases in question both involved the University of Michigan and were designated Gratz v. Bollinger and Grutter v. Bollinger. The Michigan rulings were a stunning triumph for race preferences, from…

Building on their important findings in "The Source of the River," the authors now probe even more deeply into minority underachievement at the college level. "Taming the River" examines the academic and social dynamics of different ethnic groups during the first two years of college. Focusing on racial differences in academic performance, the…

This volume is the first to comprehensively examine Chinese's affirmative action policies in the critical area of minority education, the most important conduit to employment and economic success in the People's Republic of China after the economic reforms begun in the late 1970s. This book contains four parts. Part I, "Debating China's…