Diversity

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Richmond
1

<p>From various websites and other sources, I have heard that Richmond has very poor diversity; 75% are caucasian, 10% are minorities and the other 15% are unreported (according to collegeboard). </p>

<p>Does this affect the way in which minorities are treated or looked upon at the university BY the students (or even staff)? Would any student/staff member think that Richmond has a general public sentiment against minorities? I don't know... these are just questions that are annoyingly buzzing through my mind. </p>

<p>I know every university is different, and that could very well mean that Richmond has some large/small chunk of racists in the school. I just want to know if this is true...</p>

2

<p>ah, this isn't directed specifically at you, but I hate that people only look skin deep to find "diversity." I'm a white male, but two of the people I was most similar to in my personality/beliefs were a first generation American of Pakistani/Indian descent and an international Italian who lived in Mexico. My point is that you can actually have more in common with people that look nothing like you on the outside than you do with people who are of the same color.</p>

<p>To get more to your point though, on the surface, no, UR doesn't have "ideal" diversity, but efforts have been made in the past and the upcoming strategic plan outlines even more dramatic efforts to increase the minority/international representation on campus. I don't feel 95% of students have racial issues, but, as with any campus in the country, you're going to have people that do. Your second question, "Would any student/staff member think that Richmond has a general public sentiment against minorities?" is probably a yes for any school in the country. I'm sure you could find at least one person on campus that would say that there was a sentiment against minorities. </p>

<p>That said, when you get the chance to visit UR or other schools, ask people on campus, both minorities and non-minorities, and see what their thoughts on the subject are.</p>

3

<p>If we're talking about race, here's my perspective and this is coming from an Asian-American:</p>

<p>I'm a senior and every fall, I'm quite surprised at the incoming freshman class because it's getting more diverse. I mean, when I was a freshman there were probably enough Asians to fit like one dining table (aka room for 10). I was just shocked -- especially because I came from a relatively diverse suburb of D.C. Have you ever seen Mean Girls and how they describe every clique in the lunch room - the band geeks, the drama kids, the Mean Girls, the nerdy Asians, the bad ass Asians, etc? Well, that was the kind of high school I went to - a public school with 2,000 students.</p>

<p>So when I first came here, yeah I was in a bit of culture shock. All of my friends in high school were Asian. I didn't know anything about the south, New England prep wear, and boarding/private school culture. If you make the effort to get to know your classmates, you'll start to find people you mesh well with and people that you're comfortable with. The racial mix might not be that diverse, but I've still found interesting people here. UR is also improving its socioeconomic diversity mix too. Over the years, my closest friends come from a diverse range of backgrounds (and international backgrounds). </p>

<p>Another thing that can help (regardless of where you go): Don't spend all of freshman year complaining and being homesick. Negativity breeds negativity. Find people/places/things to do that you like and you'll start feeling your place around here.</p>

<p>PS: No, I've never had public negative sentiment said towards me by a faculty member. Or a student. I have by a 6-year-old from my Bonner experience of working at a Boys & Girls Club though... But anyway, I think faculty do appreciate having more diversity in student discussions because unique contributions (not just your race, but any international background and perspectives) become moments of insight for some of your classmates.</p>

4

<p>Leona - my high school background is a lot like yours... my class has about 1000 kids and we have about 25% asians - although it definitely feels like more since I'm taking mostly ap type courses. But from the kind of extracurriculars I have, my friends are a pretty good ethnic mix haha I'm asian by the way.</p>

<p>I recognize that race is not necessarily a direct indicator of diversity, but one of my main concerns about ur is this student body breakdown - exactly how homogeneous is it? not necessarily in race, but as you stated - that prep-school sort of culture? How do you feel about the size of the school? I have a few doubts about attending a college not much bigger than my high school.</p>

5

<p>Hello all--</p>

<p>I didn't want to answer this one until I had time to do so carefully, as it is a delicate topic here at Richmond and at many other universities out there. </p>

<p>I think it is really important that you all understand the way we arrive at these figures. Non-U.S. citizens are NOT counted in the ethnic categories, because to do so would "double count" many students. So while there are about 13% American Students of Color in the current first year class, there are another 7% international students. Some of those international students are caucasian, but not most of them--many are Asian, African, Indian, Latin American. But again, we can not double count them by putting them both in the "international" category and in the race categories. So it is better to think of Richmond as being closer to 20% "non-white". Of the 15% who do not report, surely some are non-white, but the truth is we have no idea. </p>

<p>I would also say that diversity means more than race, as my counterparts have so eloquently said before me. Richmond has made more progress in enrolling students on Pell Grants (meaning folks from the lowest income quartile in the U.S.) than any other liberal arts institution in the U.S. between 2004 - 2007. Now, the truth is that our numbers were low, but nonetheless, we are proud of this progress. And of course, students from different socio-economic backgrounds can't be identified by sight. So they don't change the way the campus looks, but they do change the conversations and the culture, although it may be slow to change. </p>

<p>Another thing that many students don't realize is that most of our students come from public high schools--about 2/3rds of them. </p>

<p>I don't think that Richmond has any sort of "public sentiment against minorities" at all. Nor do I think you are likely to encounter overt racism here. There are some people who may not be very well exposed to those who are different than themselves, and they may say some insensitive things now and then. But they are here to learn too. And the presence of a diverse student body is a part of how all of us learn. So the Admission Office is always striving to reach out to students from a wide variety of backgrounds to encourage them to consider Richmond. </p>

<p>Richmond is much like other schools in the country and does from time to time have racial incidents, but these days, when something happens, the University tries to make it into a "learning moment". Not to try to make a politically correct situation where people are feel their free speech is limited, but to try to raise awareness of how under-represented groups might understand certain things based on their experiences. So I think that is great progress, because it has people talking and hearing each other and that seems to be the most important reason to strive for a diverse campus community. We have plenty to learn, but I think we're open to facing hard questions when the arise. </p>

<p>I hope this helps give some context and I'm certainly happy to comment more specifically as there are questions and concerns.</p>

6

<p>I didn't find Richmond to be diverse at all. That is why I left. The student body is and feels homogeneous. I think the faculty at Richmond is generally pretty good and the university certainly wouldn't put up with overt discrimination. That being said--I think it's very easy to feel singled out at UR. If you are concerned about fitting in and you are not white with a trust fund a summer house in the Hamptons--look elsewhere.</p>

7

<p>URdefect isn't it about time you move on and get a life. My daughter graduated two years ago and I have nothing but positive experiences when it comes to UR. She was offered a wonderful job, which she still has, thanks to the guidance of one her professors. We were so pleased with her Richmond experience that my son is now a freshman. I don't have any idea what negative experience you had, but I know first hand that your experience is the exception not the norm. Just about every parent I met during the years my daugher was there was also very pleased with not only the academics but the entire campus life. So URdefect you can keep saying whatever you want, but everytime you write something negative it makes me wonder what kind of a person has no life and that all they think about is bad mouthing a school that they left a long time ago.</p>

8

<p>I am happy that rrrsmom said the previous entry. It makes me more confident with UR for my daughter despite URdefect negative comments. I don't really know why why he has been so skeptic and pessimistic about UR when everybody else is saying otherwise. With you 2 kids at UR, no one could ever beat the impression of a caring mom.Apparently, it is an isolated case of one student not fitting in to the system and not the other way around.</p>

9

<p>It's funny -- defect talks about how unhappy people are at UR and how much better his/her new school was. Over 60% of the seniors at UR have given back to the school as part of the senior class gift for the last 3 graduating classes, which leads me to believe that there are a good number of very satisfied students/alumni. Defect's new school currently has a senior giving rate of ~12%. </p>

<p>There are always going to be people at every school who, for whatever reason, just don't fit and they'll go elsewhere. No school is going to be a good fit for everyone, and that's why it's so important to visit the schools (and if possible, do an overnight visit to get a taste of both the classroom experience and the social experience).</p>