Diversity as a Curricular Competency: Integrative Course Strategies Heather Wyatt-Nichol, PhD, University of Baltimore Samuel Brown, PhD, University of Baltimore

Diversity Across the Curriculum Current Standard Adopted 2007 Common Curriculum Components (4.21) Program activities must prepare students to work in and contribute to diverse workplaces and communities. Consequently, courses, curriculum materials, and other program activities should expose students to differences relating to social identity categories such as race, ethnicity, gender, class, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, disability, age, and veterans status. These area requirements do not prescribe specific courses. Neither do they imply that equal time should be spent on each area or that courses must all be offered by the public affairs, public policy or public administration programs. Nor should they be interpreted in a manner that might impede the development of special strengths in each program.

Standards 2009-Original Proposal Guiding principles, #8 If curricular competencies are to ensure that students will be capable of acting ethically and effectively in pursuit of the public interest, the required competencies must reflect the relevant environmental characteristics of the public service such as diversity, globalization, rapid technological change, and its multi-sectoral scope

Standards 2009- Current Proposal Universal Required Competences (standard 5.1): As the basis for its curriculum, the program will adopt a set of required competencies related to its mission and public service values. The required competencies will include five domains: the ability 1. To lead and manage in public governance; 2. to participate in and contribute to the policy process; 3. to analyze, synthesize, think critically, solve problems and make decisions; 4. to articulate and apply a public service perspective; 5. to communicate and interact productively with a diverse and changing workforce and citizenry.

We examine strategies used to teach diversity, specifically: Instructional strategies used to incorporate the subject of diversity into existing courses (e.g. readings, case studies, assignments). A comparison of stand alone courses on diversity A comparison of content in various textbooks on diversity management.  

Transforming the Curriculum McIntosh’s phases of curriculum transformation (1983) Status quo Important contributions/notable exceptions Isolated consideration/deficit model Modification of theories/ challenges to universality of thought

Instructional Strategies to Integrate Diversity Prior survey of program directors (Wyatt-Nichol & Antwi-Boasiako, 2007)

Integrating Diversity Into Core Courses Table 1

Stand Alone Courses Criteria Table 2 Diversity Management MPA Accredited Table 2

Sample Syllabi 10 member institutions Categories & definitions Table 3 & Appendix 1 Categories & definitions Demographic changes Secondary dimensions of diversity Representative bureaucracy Self-awareness Organizational performance Organizational policies & practices Court decisions Legislation

Textbook Comparisons Borak, M.E.M. (2005). Managing diversity: Toward a globally inclusive workplace. Thousand Oaks: Sage   Chemers, M.M., Oskamp, S., & Costanzo, M.A. (1995). Diversity in organizations. Thousand Oaks: Sage Cox, T.& Beale, R.L. (1997). Developing competency to manage diversity. San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler Riccucci, N.M. (2002. Managing diversity in public Sector workforces. Boulder: Westview Press Rice, M.F. (Ed.). (2005). Diversity and public administration. Armonk: M.E. Sharpe Schuck, Peter H. (2006). Diversity in America: Keeping Government at a Safe Distance. Cambridge: Belknap

Concluding Remarks Limitations Ongoing project Moving forward