The school year is coming to a close and diversity still ranks as one of the most widely discussed and debated issues at the Kennedy School. Administrators and students agree on its value and that more should be done to increase it. Administrators and students say that diversity in the academic experience is critical in helping the school prepare leaders for public service. In the United States, it is important for us to be training people who will be making a contribution to public life and underrepresented minorities. For everybody, they are going to be leaders in a much more diverse set of circumstances.
Diversity helps as the preparation for managing a more diverse world.
Academic Dean Fred Schauer agreed that more should be done to increase racial and other forms of diversity. We need to work harder on ideological diversity and diversity within a cohort or program on the kinds of experiences people had. Administrators say they are working on increasing diversity in the student body through the admissions process. She said they hold at least 30 information sessions throughout the country every year, with a large percentage being in cities and universities where the numbers of minority groups are high. In addition, they hold three information sessions in Europe every year to recruit international students.