The proposal for the expansion of student exchange programs between the University of California and historically black colleges and universities is a positive move, but it is only one step out of many that are needed to address the larger concerns regarding minority admissions.
The UC’s announcement is promising because it represents a renewed desire to address the topic of diversity on UC campuses.
The announcement came after a state assembly resolution on the matter, authored by Assemblyman Anthony Portantino, D-La Cañada, passed unanimously last week.
The resolution strongly urges the UC to implement more programs for joint degree programs and student exchange programs with 103 HBCUs in the U.S.
Such programs offer a variety of positives ““ students would see an increase in diversity and be able to interact with more individuals with diverse backgrounds.
Additionally, students who decide to attend an HBCU through the program can immerse themselves in a completely new environment, engaging different viewpoints in a very different campus climate.
But as much as the development and expansion of these programs will encourage diversity, people should not tout this as a quick fix that fully addresses the lack of diversity on many UC campuses, especially at UCLA. The focus should continue to be on admissions because increasing minority admissions will be the keystone in assuring a long-term increase in campus diversity.
Concerns over low minority admissions to UCLA in recent years have spurred concerned alumni to start up their own campaigns. These include that of the UCLA Black Alumni Association and “We Should Not Be The Only Ones,” a group founded by former UCLA athletes Brendon Ayanbadejo and Baron Davis. Both organizations seek to address the problems of education in underrepresented communities.
These campaigns address diversity in terms of seeking long-term change in the education and preparation of minority students for higher education, a goal officials should keep in the front of their minds when considering plans to increase minority admissions.
In short, temporarily placing more black people on campus, or any people of color for that matter, increases diversity, but does not necessarily sustain it. The university will be merely borrowing these students from other colleges.
The difficulty of increasing the number of minority students goes deeper than simply transplanting them from one place to another, and the UC should continue to explore more ideas to repair K-12 education in low-income areas of the state, which will help prepare students for higher education earlier in their lives.
There is great potential in these proposed programs. But before they are available, a great deal of effort and time will go into their development. There will be much discussion between the UC and HBCUs on exactly how the programs will function.
Hopefully, the UC committees will continue with this process while encouraging new means of bringing diversity to campuses and without losing sight of the bigger picture.