A major strength of the institution lies in the diversity it is able to develop and maintain. An important indicator of quality in any institution of higher education is a campus community that reflects the diversity of the larger society. Students, faculty and staff alike benefit from the enriched breadth and depth of interactions that occur in a diverse context. Research evidence also indicates that the quality of the educational experience is strongly enhanced by a richly diverse environment. Typically, a productive level of diversity does not just happen, it is the result of intentionally planned and executed programs at all levels within the institution.
All support programs have benefits and costs.
Every program or activity represents a resource allocation decision. There are four key questions in assessing existing and envisioned programs. The successful university is more than a collection of discrete programs. Interactions, functional ties, and personnel links among programs are key components to collaboration and cooperation. Cultivating such an environment requires attitudes and actions that reflect a commitment to institutional values and goals as opposed to just the welfare of the employee's unit.