The Influence of Diversity Experiences on Undergraduate Students' Universal Diverse Orientation (UDO)

An estimated one million acts of racially or ethnically motivated violence take place on university and college campuses each year. In response, higher education institutions have implemented various types of diversity programs. However, there exists little research on the success of such programs or whether these programs actually reduce prejudice. This study used the less-researched concept of non-prejudice to determine which student characteristics, institutional characteristics, previous diversity experiences, and perception of campus climate variables influence students’ Universal Diverse Orientation (UDO) as measured by the Miville-Guzman Universality Diversity Scale-Short form (M-GUDS-S). Participants were 522 undergraduate students from 21 U.S. colleges and universities who participated in a National Coalition Building Institute (NCBI) workshop and answered a 47-item survey. The research incorporated three theoretical models, including Astin’s Input-Environment-Output model, which was used as a framework to address the research questions. A blocked stepwise regression analysis found 10 significant positive predictors of UDO and that student involvement in diversity experiences has a positive association with their appreciation and value of the similarities and differences in others. By identifying characteristics that contribute to a higher total UDO, especially within-institution predictor variables, this research hopes to improve students’ educational experience and to assist colleges and universities in implementing programs and supportive services to enhance students’ multicultural educational experience so as to prepare them to be more productive members of the global community. The researcher, a former University of Wyoming (UW) administrator, was motivated by campus events following the hate crime against UW student, Matthew Shepard, in December, 1998.

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy

Level thesis:degree_level

doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Judith Herb College of Education

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Toledo

Year dc:date

2012

Author dc:creator

• Toscano, Linda A.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Opp, Ronald

• Education
• Educational Leadership
• Education Policy
• Higher Education
• Higher Education Administration

Statement dc:rights

• unrestricted
• This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: all rights reserved. It may not be copied or redistributed beyond the terms of applicable copyright laws.

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1353011574

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:etd.ohiolink.edu:toledo1353011574