Good points, Rick.  Thanks for the addition.

Harry


Harry E. Pence
SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor Emeritus
SUNY Oneonta
________________________________
From: Teaching Breakfast List [[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Jagels, Rick
Sent: Tuesday, April 10, 2012 9:58 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Improving student diversity

Harry,

Interesting article.  As a side note, I find it curious that Racial diversity is the go-to defining characteristic of diversity conversations.  Had the research question been more at total diversity/tolerance/interpersonal growth, the results might have been different;  for example, "How important to you personally is helping to promote understanding of people different than yourself?". To me, diversity also includes religion, economic difference, rural/urban contrast, various political views, social norm differences, sexual orientation,  cultural background, gender proclivities etc.  While race consumes us (in many cases justifiably so) we might gloss over other facets of diversity at our peril as we have all acknowledged the value of a diverse student body to our institution’s health.  I was surprised to learn how out of place a rural student from a 32 member HS graduating class can feel even at a small campus such as ours.  Students of faith aren’t always comfortable being open about that, poverty can put a student at a social disadvantage, conservative leaning students have shared their discomfort confronted with professors assuming a shared political view, students of various cultural backgrounds, some even recent arrivals in this country, suffer frequent unintended slights, etc etc.  Perhaps I am sensitive to these sometimes unacknowledged diversities because I am fortunate enough to be able to work with many of them.  The irony, of course, is that we are ALL fortunate to work with them but don’t always realize it because their “diversity contribution” isn’t as obvious as race.

Rick


Rick Jagels
Education Specialist
College Assistance Migrant Program
111 Wilsbach Hall
State University of NY College at Oneonta
(607)436-2297
[log in to unmask]




From: Teaching Breakfast List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Pence, Harry
Sent: Tuesday, April 10, 2012 8:15 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Improving student diversity

Hello TBers,
Yes, it's me again.  This article questions the common belief that college makes students more open to diversity.

http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2012/04/10/study-suggests-students-grow-less-interested-promoting-racial-understanding

Does this suggest any course of action we should take on campus?

Harry


Harry E. Pence
SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor Emeritus
SUNY Oneonta
________________________________
From: Teaching Breakfast List [[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Greenberg, Jim
Sent: Thursday, April 05, 2012 8:45 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Electronic Textbooks Pilot
TBers,

Yesterday, the Educational Technology Committee (ETC) had a brief conversation about electronic textbooks.  Many interesting questions and concerns came up.   Are any of you using, or do you know if students have found and are using,  electronic versions of your textbooks?

Mr. James B. Greenberg
Director Teaching, Learning and Technology Center
Milne Library
SUNY College at Oneonta
Oneonta, New York 13820

email: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
phone: 607-436-2701
fax:   607-436-3677
Twitter: greenbjb

"Ignorance is curable, stupidity lasts forever"