MICUA

Statutory Requirements

MICUA Diversity at a Glance

MICUA Commitment to Diversity

MICUA Cultural Diversity Survey

• Statutory Requirement

Legislation passed during the 2008 Session of the Maryland General Assembly requires each public institution of higher education to develop and implement programs of cultural diversity and submit annual reports to its governing body. Each governing body of a public institution of higher education must review the plans and submit a report to the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC). Based on the law, each State-aided independent institution that receives State Sellinger funds must report annually to the Maryland Independent College and University Association (MICUA) on its programs that promote and enhance cultural diversity. MICUA must compile the information received from its member institutions and submit a report to MHEC. In addition to the campus data, the MICUA report must include an analysis of best practices used by independent institutions to enhance cultural diversity. Finally, MHEC must submit an annual report to the Maryland General Assembly on the extent to which colleges and universities are in compliance with the diversity goals of the 2009 Maryland State Plan for Postsecondary Education.

In statute, “cultural diversity” is defined to mean the inclusion of those racial and ethnic groups that traditionally have been underrepresented in higher education. In a letter to Governor Martin O’Malley dated May 15, 2008, Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler advised colleges and universities “not to limit the scope of those plans to the elements of the bill’s definition of cultural diversity. Rather, …each institution properly may define its own interest in promoting diversity by analysis of its individual educational mission, the kinds of student backgrounds and experiences that would enhance the achievement of that mission, and the means the institution feels are appropriate to achieve its goal.” As defined in the 2009 Maryland State Plan for Postsecondary Education, “A culturally competent institution…engages in a set of measurable activities designed to assist everyone at the institution in learning about and responding effectively to all the people it serves.”

• MICUA Diversity at a Glance

All colleges and universities are required to report enrollment and retention information for students disaggregated by race and ethnicity through the federal Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). Based on IPEDS, 29 percent of undergraduate students enrolled at MICUA member institutions are students of color. The fastest growing population at MICUA member institutions is Hispanic students. Hispanic student enrollment more than doubled (150 percent increase) between 2000 and 2010, far outstripping the total student enrollment growth of 17 percent. Additionally, African-American student enrollment grew by 35 percent during the same period. Half of the MICUA member institutions have eliminated the graduation gap between underrepresented minority students and the general population. Colleges and universities also report race and ethnicity of full-time faculty. Based on the most recent IPEDS data, 19 percent of MICUA full-time faculty are minorities who are underrepresented in higher education.

• MICUA Commitment to Diversity

Every MICUA college and university is actively engaged in numerous efforts to serve culturally diverse students, hire culturally diverse employees, and create a welcoming and inclusive campus community. As required by law, the MICUA 2011 Cultural Diversity Report is a summary of various programs implemented by Maryland’s independent colleges and universities to promote and enhance cultural diversity. The report does not list every initiative or effort on each campus, but provides a general overview of common practices, unique programs, and best practices. Many of the examples provided in this document are on-going, multi-year, and effective practices and programs. Others are new initiatives and emerging trends.

• MICUA Cultural Diversity Survey

MICUA, in consultation with its member institutions, developed a survey instrument for member institutions to report on programs that promote and enhance cultural diversity. All 15 MICUA member institutions that receive State Sellinger funds completed the following survey questions:

General institutional questions

1. Describe efforts the institution has made in the past year to create an environment of support for underrepresented ethnic groups.

2. Describe how the institution assesses its performance in promoting cultural diversity.

3. What program would you like to implement to enhance cultural diversity if resources were available?

Questions specific to students

1. Describe efforts the institution has made in the past year to recruit a diverse student population.

2. How involved are students of color in campus leadership? What is the institution doing to encourage students to become involved in leadership?

Questions specific to faculty

1. Describe efforts the institution has made in the past year to recruit a diverse faculty.

Questions specific to administrators (Deans, VPs, etc.)

1. How is cultural diversity reflected in the institution’s leadership?

The National Labor College, a non-MICUA member institution, did not submit data to MICUA.