Date of Award
1-1-2012
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Organizational Unit
Morgridge College of Education
First Advisor
Lyndsay Agans, Ph.D.
Second Advisor
Frank Tuitt
Third Advisor
P. Bruce Uhrmacher
Fourth Advisor
Diane Hegeman
Keywords
Diversity, Diversity statements, Inclusivity, Mission statements
Abstract
The purpose of my study was to identify whether university Diversity Statements aid in maintaining or disrupting inequality in the university. Using critical discourse analysis, I analyzed an initial sample of eleven Diversity Statements to develop a list of common themes found within the diversity statements. Using a maximum variation method, I then reduced my sample to four universities to provide breadth of information for the final study (Miles & Huberman, 1994). In my case analysis, I first conducted an individual analysis of each of the four Diversity Statements using the common themes from my critical case analysis, common functions of the Diversity Statement, and potential limitations from my review of the literature (Doolittle, Horner, Bradley, Sugai, & Vincent, 2007; King & Cleland, 1978; Meacham & Gaff, 2006; Sevier, 2003). Next, for each of the universities I then compared the Mission Statement to the Diversity Statement, analyzed common university statistics, and evaluated website pictures. Last, I conducted a cross-case analysis to identify patterns and considered the implications of those patterns in my findings.
My analysis evidenced similarities across cases and provided insight to be applied in developing a framework for writing a Diversity Statement. Conclusions from my study suggest the Diversity Statement has the potential to be a powerful tool in disrupting inequality in the university. However, limiting factors decrease this ability. The recommendations suggest careful attention in preparing to write a Diversity Statement, appropriate content, and full dissemination of the Diversity Statement can increase the ability of the Diversity Statement to disrupt inequality in the university.
Publication Statement
Copyright is held by the author. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.
Rights Holder
Linda A. Merkl
Provenance
Received from ProQuest
File Format
application/pdf
Language
en
File Size
258 p.
Recommended Citation
Merkl, Linda A., "Maintaining or Disrupting Inequality: Diversity Statements in the University" (2012). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 425.
https://digitalcommons.du.edu/etd/425
Copyright date
2012
Discipline
Higher education
Included in
Critical and Cultural Studies Commons, Gender, Race, Sexuality, and Ethnicity in Communication Commons, Higher Education Commons, Higher Education Administration Commons