Authors of this study surveyed research related to a variety of areas of campus diversity. They summarize research results on efforts to improve access, retention, and success of traditionally underrepresented students and the impact of demographic, cultural and social changes on college and university campuses. These include changes in campus services, intergroup relations, curricular and pedagogical practices, and institutional and organizational policies and procedures. They improve students' relationships on campus and affect positively their satisfaction and involvement with their institutions and their academic growth. Beyond their proven capacity to improve access and retention of underrepresented groups of students, comprehensive diversity initiatives also promote satisfaction, academic success, and cognitive development for all students.
Students often feel marginalized in existing institutional cultures.
These activities appear to contribute to increased satisfaction and retention of those students involved in such programs. Many students seem to anticipate and desire greater levels of intergroup contact than they actually experience on campus. In fact, opportunities for interaction between and among student groups are desired by virtually all students. When they do occur, such interactions produce clear increases in understanding, decreases in prejudicial attitudes, and positively affect academic success. These interactions are likely to be more beneficial when they are institutionally supported, when the participants are equally valued, and when they involve projects with common goals and outcomes.