Why are Diversity and Inclusion Important in College?

UA students have received national scholarships from the Gilman International Scholarship Program to study and conduct research in other countries around the world. The purpose of the Scholarship Program is to increase the diversity of students who study abroad. Previous scholars have researched ways to increase equity in health care access and develop culturally sensitive therapies, and studied topics such as business, engineering, language in countries such as Ecuador, Japan, and Morocco. The UA is ranked 18th among the top 40 Doctorate Institutions in terms of the number of students studying abroad (Open Doors 2009 Report on International Educational Exchange by the Institute of International Education)College represents a time of formative personal and social identity development for many students, a time during which students experiment with new roles, ideas, and relationships (Gurin, Dey, Hurtado, and Gurin, 2002).  Based on these college experiences, students often develop enduring ways of relating to others and of viewing the world. Thus, it is essential that institutions of higher education create interventions that maximize the benefits of inclusion by challenging students to think critically about their assumptions, seek out knowledge, and develop informed perspectives (Gurin, Dey, Hurtado, & Gurin, 2002).