Colleges and universities attract students from different backgrounds, and therefore the ethnicity, cultural background, economic status, and religion of students may vary widely on college campuses. These differences provide opportunities for students to experience diversity.

Diversity is the difference in social and cultural identities among people living together. A diverse community has many advantages that include exposure to various cultures, historical perspectives, and ways of thinking. Diversity, however, can also be a source of misunderstanding and suspicion of the beliefs and behaviors of others. Because almost all colleges and universities value rationality and fairness, they offer an ideal environment for exploring, understanding, and appreciating human differences.

In 2013, thirty-seven U.S. higher education associations representing hundreds of colleges and universities came together to issue this statement, which was printed in a full-page ad in the New York Times:

A diverse student body enables all students to have the transformational experience of interacting with their peers who have varied perspectives and come from different backgrounds. These experiences, which are highly valued by employers because of their importance in the workplace, also prepare students with the skills they need to live in an interconnected world and to be more engaged citizens. Our economic future, democracy, and global standing will suffer if the next generation is not ready to engage and work with people whose backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives are different from their own. Our nation’s higher education institutions, whether they are community colleges or four-year institutions, public or private, nonprofit or for-profit, religiously affiliated or secular, professional, vocational, or liberal-arts focused, stand committed to furthering the goals of equal opportunity and diversity in education. (New York Times, June 30, 2013, Advertisement)

Because of this stated commitment, you will likely find that your college or university provides many opportunities for you to familiarize yourself with diverse ideas and people. By taking advantage of ways that you can experience diversity, you will find that your college experience opens the door to new and engaging ideas—ideas that challenge your worldview and enhance your learning.