DIVERSITY IN HIGHER EDUCATION

The mission of Concordia University is to prepare Christian leaders for the transformation of society. The mission impacts the university in three core areas that are the foundation of Concordia University, religious faith, rigorous curriculum and creating servant leaders. The mission of preparing Christian leaders that will transformed society is the force that guides the curriculum of Concordia University. “The program is designed in such a way to identify precisely, intentionally developed, and meaningfully assess academic rigor through the clearly defined programmatic student outcomes” (University of Concordia-Portland). CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY PORTLAND MISSION STATEMENT

HOW DIVERSITY AFFECTS THE INSTITUTIONS ABILITY TO FULFILL ITS MISSION? “Diversity helps create positive outcomes in higher education because it reinforces cultural awareness, a better understanding of self, encourages intellectual growth, reduces racial stereotyping and prejudice, and furthers the state of equality and leadership” (Gurin, Dey, Hurtado, and Gurin, 2002). In order to prepare Christian leaders that will transformed society the promotion and enhancing of culturally diverse programs parallel to the nation’s academic and labor expectation must be created.

MEASURES TO ADDRESS DIVERSITY IN HIGHER EDUCATION Help with Diversity Type of Services or Projects Hire More Diverse Faculty Offer Diversity Informational Sessions Building Culturally Responsive Communities Multicultural Awareness Night Offer inclusion Programs Instructional Strategies/Resources for Culturally Diverse Students Brainstorming Ideas for Accommodations Offer Classes in Diversity Professional Development Sessions Offer Mentoring Programs with a Diverse Population

FRAMEWORK FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A PLAN A Diversity Collision will be constituted by representatives of community members, faculty, parents, students and other stakeholders. The committee will establish surveys and other ways to gathered information, create and implement solutions. The solutions will be presented to the institution's board of directors and order to reach an agreement. Once the chairperson has been selected, all the expectations and job descriptions will be shared with all the members. Collaborative working will be expected between the Diversity Collision and the institution. “Consider the benefits of an ongoing future councils, not as a decision-making body, but as an ear to the ground, a way of getting a constant stream of thinking and advice from a diverse group of constituents” (Marx, 2006).

TRAITS OF A SERVANT, TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADER MUST EXHIBIT 1.Ability to identify the needed change. 2.Creates a vision to guide the change through inspiration and execute the change in tandem with committed members of the group. 3.Seek to establish relationships with people, lead from personal conviction and focus on building people’s strengths.

ASSESSING THE PROGRESS The success of the programs and other implementations done to help support diversity in Higher Education will be evaluated by a survey of all the services each semester. Another way to measure the value of the programs, incentive, and strategies will be by examining students' success in pursuing further education.

REFERENCE Crippen, C. (2010). Serve, Teach, and Lead: It ‟ s All about Relationships. InSight: A Journal of Scholarly Teaching, 5. Greenleaf, R. (1970). What is servant leadership? Retrieved from Fullan, M., & Scott, G. (2009). Turnaround leadership for higher education. San Francisco, CA: John Wiley & Sons. Marx, G. (2006). Future Focused Leadership: Preparing Schools, students, and communities for tomorrow’s realities. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Development. University of Concordia-Portland. (n.d.). Substantial curriculum modification for the Ed.D program. Extract. Unpublished manuscript, Department of Education, University of Concordia- Portland