The Case for Affirmative Action on Campus: Concepts of Equity, Considerations for Practice - Hardcover

"It looks at the roots of policies of exclusion and inclusion, as well as why attempts to level the playing field have been met with so much opposition for so long. It also spells out the conseqences for the nation if it fails to provide meaningful education for most of its citizens."-- (02/01/2010) "This book will help anyone who wishes to understand the etiology of the nation's struggles with diversity in higher education, and it will further the current discussions surrounding affirmative action in important and substantive ways. Written with the interests of excluded minorities at its center, this work proposes strategies worth pursuing, if inclusion in higher education is the aim to be achieved."-- (01/01/2008) "This text provides a comprehensive overview of the state of affirmative action law and the climate for related policies on college campuses. It suggests a persistent need for affirmative action even decades after the civil rights movement, and lays out the arguments in favor of these controversial policies. By delving into deep divides and grappling with tough questions, the volume articulates a compelling case for affirmative action--and will help its readers make this case to the higher education world."-- (01/01/2010)

* Marshalls the arguments for affirmative action * Offers strategies for action Why is affirmative action under attack? What were the policy's original purposes, and have they been achieved? What are the arguments being arrayed against it? And-for all stakeholders concerned about equity and diversity on campus-what's the way forward, politically, legally, and practically? The authors explore the historical context, the philosophical and legal foundations of affirmative action, present contemporary attitudes to the issue on and off campus, and uncover the tactics and arguments of its opponents. They conclude by offering strategies to counter the erosion of affirmative action, change the basis of the discourse, and coordinate institutional support to foster inclusive college environments and multi-ethnic campus communities. This book analyzes the ideological and legal construction of colorblind legislation that has led to the de facto exclusion of people of color from institutions of higher education. It addresses the role of the courts in affecting affirmative action in higher education as a workplace and place of study. It documents the under-representation of collegians of color and presents research on student opinion on race-based policies at two- and four-year institutions. It details the pervasiveness of the affirmative action debate across educational sectors and the status of race among myriad factors considered in college admissions. Finally, it considers affirmative action as a pipeline issue and in the light of educational policy.