Panel Paper:
Holes in the Pipeline: Conflicting Perceptions of Progress for College Diversity Initiatives
Thursday, November 7, 2019
I.M Pei Tower: Majestic Level, Savoy (Sheraton Denver Downtown)
*Names in bold indicate Presenter
The University of California (UC)’s Diversity Pipeline Initiative (DPI) launched during a time of nonresident admissions spikes and the California State Auditor’s recommendation that the UC better document its recruitment of resident underrepresented minorities. Upon inception, the DPI failed to report measurable long-term goals. Its emphasis on increasing African American student enrollment has since tapered off. By analyzing the UC's annual accountability reports, DPI publications, and California State Auditor files, this study documents the DPI as responsive to recent changes in nonresident admissions policies. That is, the DPI does not combat persistently unequal access to college eligibility coursework for Black California residents. The initiative’s reliance on a vague combination of “new and old” supports to increase Black resident student access speaks to the often-performative nature of investments in Black communities.
