(1991). Community College Access: Barriers and Bridges. New Directions for Community Colleges, n74 p15-22 Sum. Examines challenges to educational access at the community-college level related to college mission, funding, assessment, academic placement, staff development, articulation/transfer, college-school relations, and student support services. Considers public policy influences on access. Describes four Maricopa County Community College District programs that facilitate access to higher education for minority students. (DMM)… [Direct]
(1999). Expert Report. "Gratz et al. v. Bollinger, et al." No. 97-75321 (E.D. Mich.). Equity & Excellence in Education, v32 n2 p62-66 Sep. Data from more than 60,000 college students indicate a statistically significant association between attendance at the most selective institutions and a variety of accomplishments in college and later life. Race-neutral admission would damage the prospects for developing a larger minority presence in the corporate and professional leadership of the United States. (SLD)…
(2000). News and Views. Journal of Blacks in Higher Education, n29 p16-52 Aut. This collection of articles includes such topics as: black student matriculations at the highest-ranked colleges and universities; the effect of the racial gap in home ownership on African American higher education; black trustees at major colleges and universities; medical school admissions; race sensitive admissions; fixed-percentage college admissions plans; and the "Mississippification" of California's public schools. (SM)…
(2000). Breaking Racial Stereotypes by Reconstructing Multicultural Education. Multicultural Education, v7 n3 p44-46 Spr. Racial stereotypes and discrimination have destroyed many bright futures by limiting the possibilities of people of color in America. Describes two initiatives that can be implemented in schools in order to help destroy negative images of race and reconstruct a more healthy foundation to build on: multiculturalism across the curriculum and multicultural awareness inservices for teachers. (SM)…
(2004). The Original "Brown" Town after 50 Years: Desegregated, Not Integrated. Education Digest: Essential Readings Condensed for Quick Review, v69 n9 p7-15 May. The story of Summerton and its schools is a footnote to history. On the surface, daily life in this small South Carolina town today is a far cry from a half century ago. At the same time, little seems to have changed–and many residents seem to prefer it that way. And with good reason, for the townspeople, especially whites, still cast a wary eye at Summerton's place in history. It is home to Briggs v. Elliott, the first of five cases later consolidated into Brown v. Board of Education and arguably the birthplace of the Civil Rights Movement. To most, Brown is a lawsuit over an African-American girl from Kansas not allowed to attend an all-white school. But Briggs, not Brown, was the foundation for abolishing separate but equal schools. Thurgood Marshall, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People lawyer who led the battle to end segregation in U.S. classrooms, argued Briggs, not Brown, before the Supreme Court. "It all started here," says Joe De Laine,… [Direct]
(2005). The Reconstruction of Merit Post-Proposition 209. Educational Policy, v19 n2 p371-395 May. 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 Angeles, UC Davis, and UC Riverside postaffirmative action. This study utilizes logistic regression to assess the likelihood of admission and employs temporal interactions across a consistent set of academic achievement and socioeconomic predictors. The quantitative findings illustrate admission based almost entirely on academic index, despite nominal changes and expansion of admissions criteria. Although the concepts of merit and equity remain loosely defined in public policy arenas, this research further examines the key admission factors that constitute merit in a post-209 environment and the implications of these altered standards for… [Direct]
(1995). A Small Example of Reverse Discrimination. 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 sent a letter of refusal very shortly after the first part of the screening process. Courtroom testimony later indicated that an interview was sought from "Cheng" to determine whether the position's minimal criteria were satisfied. Kimm attended the interview scheduled for "Cheng" and persuaded the interview committee to grant him an interview. BCC later declined to offer Kimm the position. In December, 1990, Kimm filed an amended complaint with the Division on Civil Rights, alleging that BCC and its hiring committee discriminated against him based on race, color, and sex and denied him employment in violation of state… [PDF]
(1996). Mt. San Jacinto College Student Equity Plan Update. 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 reviews state legislation mandating the development of student equity plans, the goals and initiatives of the Plan, and student equity indicators used at MSJC. The second section provides background information to the development of the plan, while the third provides tables of results from surveys of faculty, staff, and students regarding the campus climate. The fourth section discusses student access at MSJC, providing data on the percentages of ethnic groups in the college service area and student body and suggesting that the college's funding be increased in order to adequately serve all the students. Sections five through eight then provide… [PDF]
(1996). Policy Alternatives for Post-Industrial America Suggested in the "Bell Curve": The Untold Story. 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 Herrnstein's and Murray's assumptions about human intelligence, which are derived from the classical tradition. The paper argues that the enormous controversy generated by their theories about ethnic differences in cognitive ability; ethnic inequalities in relation to IQ; the demography of intelligence; and social behavior and the prevalence of low cognitive ability, has obscured the implications for social issues and policies. The lesson of "The Bell Curve," this paper argues, is that there are substantial numbers of people with limited cognitive ability who exhibit the behaviors and problems that dominate the nation's social… [PDF]
(1996). Differences in Black and White Opinion on Important Issues of Public Policy. 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 necessary, the report has drawn on other data sources, including newspaper polling results. Opinions are given in five sections: (1) economics; (2) social; (3) politics; (4) racial attitudes; and (5) views on the role of the government. The educational researcher finds some opinions of education particularly interesting. For example, a majority of Americans favor the Supreme Court's banning of school prayer, but there are differences between blacks and whites about the ban. Support for the ban among African Americans has consistently been weaker than among whites. By 1984, support had fallen to as low as 18%. Another social issue discussed… [PDF]
(1994). Racialization and Black Student Identity at York University. 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 themselves visible minorities, many nonetheless regarded the term as derogatory. In previous focus groups, only half of the students of Chinese origin considered themselves members of a visible minority group. More importantly, the characteristic that might make black students visible–color–was seen as only one component of an identity that includes culture and origin. Overall, although black students supported equity measures for visible minorities and women, when confronted with a situation in which class obviously confers disadvantage, support for hiring based on visible minority and gender status alone was weakened substantially. (MDM)… [PDF]
(1996). Rocking the Boat: Union Women's Voices, 1915-1975. 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 collective lessons. Titles and subjects of chapters 2-12 are as follows: \Equal Is Equal, Brothers\–Lillian Herstein, American Federation of Teachers; \First a Troublemaker, Then a Troubleshooter\–Carmen Lucia, United Hatters, Cap, and Millinery Workers International Union; \You Can't Giddyup by Saying Whoa\–Esther Peterson, Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America; \We Did Change Some Attitudes\–Maida Springer-Kemp, International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union; \Forty Years I'm Secretary-Treasurer of the Local\–Mary Callahan, International Union of Electrical Workers; \The Challenge Is Still There\–Ah Quon McElrath, International…
(1994). Creating and Maintaining a Diverse Faculty. New Directions for Community Colleges, Number 87. New Directions for Community Colleges, n87 Fall. 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 Community Colleges: What Do We Know?\ by Deborah J. Carter; (2) \African American Faculty in Community Colleges: Why They Aren't There,\ by William B. Harvey; (3) \California Community College Faculty from Historically Underrepresented Racial and Ethnic Groups,\ by Dorothy M. Knoell; (4) \Achieving Diversity among Community College Faculty,\ by Freddie W. Nicholas, Sr., and Arnold R. Oliver; (5) \Effective Strategies for Enhancing Minority Faculty Recruitment and Retention,\ by Ronald D. Opp and Albert B. Smith; (6) \Bridging the Gap: Recruitment and Retention of Minority Faculty Members,\ by Jerry Sue Owens, Frank W. Reis, and Kathryn M. Hall;… [PDF]
(1994). Gender Bias in Early Childhood Education. 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 effects on learning and self esteem for both boys and girls. Girls start out ahead of boys in speaking, reading, and counting skill evaluations, but these scores decline while boys' scores rise. Strategies are suggested to minimize gender bias, especially in early childhood and primary education. It is recommended that schools give attention to alleviating gender bias for both boys and girls by offering equal career opportunities. Societal values play a significant role in the interpretation of the results of gender bias throughout society, and all people deserve a bias free education. An annotated bibliography of materials on gender bias in… [PDF]
(1993). Notable Hispanic American Women. First Edition. 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 professions including medicine, labor, entertainment, business, law, sports, journalism, science, education, politics, religion literature, and others. The entries range from 500 to 2,500 words in length and cover the noteworthy personal, family, and career details that helped shape and define each woman's life. Many of the longer entries are accompanied by photographs of the subjects. Entries are arranged alphabetically by surname, and occupation and ethnicity indexes are included. An extensive subject index at the back of the book contains names, book titles, and general subjects. (JB)…