DEI matters to college-bound students but doesn't play key role in school choice: survey
Published by The National News Desk
A new survey of college-bound students found diversity, equity and inclusion programs and policies are not driving school choices, but the "conceptual benefits" of DEI-related efforts are strongly supported among the new crop of freshmen.
“We really wanted to dive in and see where students really stood on what is a very public and vigorous debate (over DEI),” said Craig Goebel, a principal at Art & Science Group, a consulting firm that works with nonprofit educational institutions.
He said there’s a lot of confusion over DEI and related issues among new college students.
Nearly half of the surveyed students said they believed colleges could consider race in admissions, despite the 2023 Supreme Court ruling that outlawed the action.
And nearly two-thirds believed race-based financial aid was allowed, though Art & Science Group said that issue exists in a "contested legal and political space."
Less than a quarter of students sought out DEI information at colleges they considered.
And Goebel said they found students didn’t really factor in DEI efforts when picking a college.
But just over 60% expressed at least some level of concern that DEI efforts on campuses are under threat.
And Art & Science Group found that most new college students supported DEI-related initiatives such as training campus security in DEI, establishing and maintaining cultural centers, policy advocacy on DEI issues, equity partnerships, faculty DEI research, and mentorship programs.