Faculty diversity plays a key role in college student completion. It also can have a major impact on students’ sense of belonging, retention rates, and persistence. All students benefit from faculty diversity, say education advocates. Engaging with diverse faculty members and different perspectives builds empathy, a respect for others, creativity, and improves problem-solving skills. Moreover, Black and Latino students, who are pursuing college degrees in greater numbers, are more likely to graduate when they have diverse faculty members who look like them and can serve as positive mentors and role models.
This report from The Education Trust examines faculty diversity relative to student diversity, as well as hiring equity, tenure equity, and changes in faculty representation over time for Black and Latino faculty at public, four-year colleges and universities. Schools in the study received a score ranging from 0-100. Letter grades were then applied using a 10-point grading scale: Scores of 90 or higher received As. Scores in the 80s, 70s, and 60s received Bs, Cs, and Ds, while scores below 60 got failing grades or Fs.
The report concludes with several ways that higher education leaders can boost faculty diversity and use it to improve college completion.