MUNCIE, Ind. - A new institute at Ball State University is examining how increasingly diverse enrollments are changing college life.

The Diversity Policy Institute plans to use the results of its research to develop programs and policies to attract, retain, and nurture a more diverse university and foster a campus environment that will enable graduates to excel in a more diverse culture.

"Ball State has historically attracted students within 50 miles of the campus, but that is changing," said Michael Stevenson, institute director. "We are recruiting students from more diverse populations in larger communities.

"The demographics of the typical student body are changing, bringing more diverse cultures and ideas to the campus," he said. "Part of the institute's goals is to expand the discussion on diversity."

He said the goals are to:

• Improve the Ball State campus climate for members of diverse groups including those that vary according to race, ethnicity, economic status, national origin, disability, gender, sexual identity, age, and religious viewpoints.
• Enhance efforts to recruit and retain a more diverse student body, faculty, and staff.
• Facilitate the development of diversity-inclusive curricula and other diversity programming.
• Contribute to the national scholarly debate on diversity policy in higher education.

Stevenson said that few college campuses have created offices to research diversity issues.

"Most campuses have some type of student affairs office and an equal employment office," he said. "It is very uncommon to have an office based on diversity research that intends to engage the entire campus entire campus."

A student body that is more understanding of diversity issues also will be more marketable, Stevenson said.

With companies thinking on a global basis, hiring may be based on the ability to work well with diverse groups, he said.

"Not everybody thinks the way you do," Stevenson said. "There is a tremendous advantage to being able to understand people that are different."

Ultimately, the Diversity Policy Institute may become the model for other universities and colleges.

"One university official asked if he could just copy our format," Stevenson said.

By Marc Ransford, Communications Manager

(NOTE TO EDITORS: For more information, contact Stevenson by e-mail at mstevens@bsu.edu or by phone at (765) 285-1695. The organization's Web page is www.bsu.edu/provost/dpi on the Internet.)