| ng to the US Census, almost one-fifth of the | | | | campuses and does represent a form of diversity |
| entire population over age five in America speak a | | | | as well. |
| language other than English when at home. The | | | | With so much diversity on campus these days, |
| same statistic skyrockets to about fifty percent | | | | colleges need to know how to manage this in |
| in the Miami area alone. | | | | order to ensure that diversity becomes a positive |
| Another interesting example of diversity is that | | | | rather than a negative experience for students |
| there’s an estimation of about 170 | | | | and staff. In fact, arming college students with |
| different languages spoken on the streets of New | | | | some skills in the form of diversity education will |
| York City. In fact as a result, New York City | | | | definitely help them function better in their future |
| mayor Bloomberg ordered one hundred city | | | | careers given today’s diverse working |
| agencies to start providing services in six foreign | | | | world. |
| languages in addition to English. These additional | | | | Colleges and universities are also businesses. The |
| languages are Italian, French, Spanish, Chinese, | | | | ones that can effectively target foreign students |
| Korean and Russian. | | | | will become popular institutions of choice from this |
| So the reality of today’s environment in | | | | overseas market. Companies that ignore the need |
| North America is that ethnic and cultural diversity | | | | for both market and workplace diversity |
| is here to stay. Whether it’s inside offices, | | | | education will soon lose out in the modern |
| factories or outside with customers, we will likely | | | | business world of today. Forward thinking |
| encounter more people from different cultures | | | | companies will recruit and retain the best overall |
| than ever before. | | | | talent. These organizations will also be able to |
| Colleges and universities in North America are also | | | | target diverse markets effectively. But companies |
| getting more diverse student populations. Not only | | | | need people who are well versed with diversity |
| have many foreign students have been choosing | | | | skills to make this happen. |
| to attend North American schools for their higher | | | | Unfortunately, diversity skills are not usually part |
| education, US born visible minorities who were | | | | of the standard educational curriculums at colleges |
| children of immigrants from around the world are | | | | and universities. However, this represents a huge |
| also making it onto campuses now. | | | | opportunity for campus activities programmers to |
| With the additional influx of students from the | | | | help supplement these essential diversity skills for |
| Native American and African American | | | | students. Cultural events can be organized where |
| communities as well, the campus scene is | | | | students and staff learn more about different |
| certainly very different from what is looked like a | | | | cultures, especially if they are already represented |
| generation or two ago. But college diversity is not | | | | in the student body or staff on campus. |
| just about differences in race or culture. | | | | Outside speakers who speak on diversity topics |
| Americans from the west coast, east coast, | | | | can also be brought in to help students and staff |
| mid-west and the south, all have some interesting | | | | develop diversity skills. |
| regional differences. These can also be found on | | | | |