Breaking Down Barriers: How Colleges are Increasing Inclusion for Marginalized Groups

While colleges are getting more diverse by the year, segregation is still a real problem on many campuses. It may look different than the segregation of the past, but it's still causing harm.

Changes are happening to allow more access and opportunities to marginalized groups. While these changes are slow, they're important.

But what are marginalized groups? What changes are universities making to promote their success? Let's answer those questions (and more).

Read on to learn all about how colleges are breaking down barriers for more students. 

What Are Marginalized Groups?

So what fits under the umbrella of "marginalized groups" anyway? Well, it depends on who you ask. "Marginalized groups" are groups that live within the margins of society, so to speak. They tend to deal with more inequality due to situations outside of their control.

Not all groups are equally marginalized everywhere. This will vary depending on the country, state, and even city, that people live in. 

People may technically fit into the category of "marginalized groups" but choose not to identify that way. That's okay too. It's helpful to let people self-identify as marginalized and push for equity and equality, but also not force that label on anyone that doesn't want it. 

In a college setting, there are some groups that deal with more marginalization than others. Here's a quick rundown of just some of the groups that are considered to be marginalized when it comes to universities. 

Racial Minorities

Racial minorities are often the first people that one thinks of when they think of the term "marginalized groups." Racial inequality is on a spectrum in a university setting. It's definitely different depending on where the students are going to school.

Over 50% of college students are Caucasian. Some other ethnic groups are enrolling at ever-increasing rates (Latino individuals and Black women, for example). Other groups are either stagnant or declining in enrollment.

Many universities have been striving for higher ethnic minority enrollment and seeing some success, but there is still a lot of work left to do. There's also the problem of students suffering mistreatment or inequality once they're already enrolled. Students may not feel included despite being students at the university in question. 

It's important to encourage educational success amongst students in diverse racial groups. As it stands, only about 17% of students with Native American ancestry continue their education post-high school, and that needs to change. 

LGBTQIA Individuals

People who belong to the LGBTQIA community fit under the "marginalized" umbrella, though this is also on a spectrum. Younger cisgender gay, lesbian, and bisexual students seem to find more acceptance among their peers. Students who are non-binary or otherwise transgender may struggle more with acceptance and finding community. 

About 20% of college students fear for their safety as a result of their perceived sexual orientation or gender presentation. In a world that seems quite accepting of the LGBTQIA community, students aren't comfortable on their university campuses.

LGBTQIA students may not have a substantially more difficult time getting into universities. They may struggle to fit in and find their own communities on campus. Students who feel unsafe or as though they don't belong are less likely to stick around long-term, and are thus less likely to succeed.

Of course, the environment matters here. LGBTQIA students in more left-leaning cities tend to have an easier time thriving. They can find their communities once they start college.

Students who are transgender are at a greater risk of exclusion and violence from their peers.

Women

Women are thriving in the university sphere, however, they are still considered marginalized. Women are outpacing men when it comes to college graduation, and there are many potential causes of this. 

However, women do still face challenges in college. They still sometimes struggle to pursue STEM degrees (potentially as the result of sexism in many STEM classrooms) and still face discrimination and danger on campus in many cases. Women in STEM are increasing, but that's been the result of a lot of hard work from students and staff alike. 

Women may feel unsafe on college campuses. Many universities have panic buttons around campus largely for the protection of young women. Of course, anyone can use them.

Women may feel excluded from some college events and activities due to the lack of perceived safety. 

Religious Minorities 

Religious minorities may also struggle in college. 

The vast majority of religious Americans are Christian (in some capacity, though of course, there are many sects of Christianity). This means that many college students identify as Christian.

Many students also identify as agnostic, atheist, or otherwise non-religious. These students may face some pushback in religious communities, but tend not to be considered "marginalized."

Students with less common religious backgrounds, such as Jewish or Muslim students, do face discrimination on college campuses, often from other students. 

For example, research suggests that about one-third of Jewish college students experienced discrimination during the 2021 school year. With the ever-increasing tension in the news targeting Jewish people, it's likely that this discrimination will continue without direct efforts from universities to put a stop to it. 

Low-Income Students

Low-income students aren't always considered marginalized. They do face clear and obvious challenges in a university environment. Students that fit into other categories also often qualify as "low-income."

Many low-income students are also first-generation college students. It's undoubtedly impressive to be the first in a family to go to college, but it's also challenging. These students don't often have the same level of support as students who come from families full of college graduates.

Other students who are low-income may struggle to pay for their educations. They may be scholarshipped. This isn't always the case. They may also be working full-time to get through school, and this will present extra challenges. It's harder to focus on school when students also have to work long hours. 

These students may not have adequate school supplies, money for work, or time to dedicate to campus activities. They're also less likely to be able to accept unpaid internships. Those are crucial in many fields for networking and future job opportunities. 

Low-income students often don't have the ability to have the true "college experience" that so many people desire. It's crucial to support these students. This lets them have upward mobility and improve their situations (as well as break cycles of generational poverty). 

People With Disabilities

People with disabilities are in another category of often forgotten marginalized groups. This is another wide umbrella of different types of people. They all face different levels of marginalization and discrimination. They definitely all need support.

People with physical disabilities may struggle to navigate poorly-planned campuses. While many campuses strive to be inclusive and disability-friendly, it doesn't always go as planned. 

A university may have ramps and handrails, but what if they have heavy doors that are difficult to push for people with mobility challenges? What if they don't have screen readers in school libraries for students with vision challenges? What if they don't consider the need for interpreters during school assemblies for students who are deaf or otherwise hard of hearing? 

There are also students with mental conditions and disabilities. Students with autism may struggle on college campuses, even if they're successful academically. Social integration is just as important in college when it comes to networking.

Students with ADHD, dyslexia, and other common challenges and conditions may struggle in conventional classrooms. They need adequate support and accommodations. They may also feel as though they're not "allowed" to request those accommodations for fear of standing out or being different. 

Campuses also don't often have adequate mental health resources for students who deal with mental health conditions like that, putting them at a severe disadvantage, especially if they're used to having mental health support back home. 

Why Do Marginalized Groups Need Extra Support?

So why is it so important for colleges to provide extra support for students who are in marginalized groups? 

Many of these students will struggle to thrive in a university environment without adequate support. They may not have the pre-existing resources from their family members. This is especially true if they're first-generation college students or if they're going to school far from home.

Many people forget that not everyone has the innate skills and resources to succeed in an academic environment right away. 

Schools should also be striving for diversity. We'll talk about the benefits of having a diverse and inclusive environment later on, but they really can't be overstated. If you want an equitable and fair world, it starts with the younger generations, and it can start on college campuses. 

Many educators and administrators aren't even aware of the roadblocks facing students from marginalized communities. They may not be trying to exclude anyone. Without adequate lived experiences, they can't truly understand what those students are dealing with.

Colleges should strive to have the best possible students, regardless of their background. By increasing equity and inclusivity, they're giving opportunities to students who may otherwise not have had them. They're improving their future college communities by straying from the status quo. 

Is This Necessary for All College Environments? 

So how necessary is this in all college environments?

When we discuss college diversity and inclusivity, we're generally talking about four-year universities. While this may be the most important place to start, diversity and inclusion matter on all levels of the college experience.

Community colleges often have more students that fit into marginalized groups. This is a result of their low costs and easier access to education. These schools should be working on improving the experiences of their students.

Graduate programs of all types also need to consider diversity and inclusivity. Medical schools, for example, still lack diversity (although this has been improving over the past few years).

We want to have an educated population. Opening up doors to all levels of university education is crucial in order to reach that goal. We can't stop at four-year universities and expect substantial long-term changes. 

What's the Importance of College Diversity and Inclusivity? 

So why does this all matter in the long run? Many people are under the (incorrect) impression that improving college diversity and inclusion is for "brownie points" or appearances. Is this true?

Unfortunately, there are universities that care more about appearances and first impressions than the well-being and education of their students. There is a certain degree to which improving equity on college campuses does "look good." It may help schools gain notoriety and potentially even funding. In other words, it makes them money.

However, there are legitimate reasons that administrators should care about college diversity and inclusion. They have nothing to do with funding. While it may start on the college campus, the effects ripple out into the real world and have long-term benefits. 

Here are a few reasons why it's so important to help out marginalized communities on college campuses so they can thrive. 

Challenges Stereotypical Misconceptions

When you encourage diversity on campus by supporting marginalized groups, you challenge stereotypical misconceptions that other people may hold about the students that fit into those groups. 

Often, a lack of direct experience with different types of people is what causes racism and other types of prejudice. Many people simply have no experience interacting with people who are different from them. 

The college campus is the perfect place to start changing that. 

Most college students are teenagers and young adults, and they're the perfect age to learn new things and meet new people. They have pre-existing ideas (often from their parents and upbringing), but their minds are open and they're still malleable. 

When students get to interact with new types of people, they're less likely to believe in harmful stereotypes. They get to broaden their horizons and recognize other individuals as complete people with unique traits, personalities, and perspectives. They may find that they have more in common with "different" people than they originally thought.

People come to college to learn. Challenging stereotypes is an important learning experience that may rival the importance of academic education in some ways. 

Encourages Personal Growth for All Students and Staff

A diverse environment that promotes equity can encourage personal growth. This is true for all students and staff members, both inside and outside of those marginalized groups. 

People tend to prefer other people who are similar to themselves. They may not have any obvious or conscious prejudices against people from other groups. They still have an unconscious desire to spend time with people who are familiar. 

There isn't anything wrong with this per se, but it can encourage insular communities and stagnancy. 

When you push inclusivity and equity, you're giving all students and staff members the opportunity to push their own boundaries. They can experience personal growth and change. 

Professors and other staff get to improve their teaching and communication methods to suit a wider range of students. This is crucial for their personal and professional development. There is a bit of a learning curve.

As we mentioned before, students get the opportunity to learn about groups of people they've never interacted with before. This opens up new doors for them and encourages acceptance.

For the marginalized students and staff, this gives them the opportunity to advance in ways that wouldn't otherwise be accessible to them. By encouraging equity on university campuses, universities are actively helping people in marginalized communities enrich their lives and boost their earning potential.

The potential for personal growth is limitless. 

Encourages Equality and Equity Outside of the Classroom

Many people mistakenly believe that inclusion and equity will only affect people while they're on their college campuses. Of course, this isn't true. Inclusion and diversity on college campuses will help push inclusion and equity out in the "real world" as well, though it will take time.

When people from marginalized communities are encouraged to apply to college, get accepted into university programs, and get their degrees, they're able to enter the workforce from a less disadvantaged position. They're able to start working on upward mobility. 

Of course, one doesn't have to go to college to improve their situation, but for many people, it's a game-changer. Even realizing that they have the potential to complete college can be huge for some people. 

More types of people with college degrees means more types of people in the workforce. It means people are getting opportunities that would have never been available to them.

Even outside of the workforce, the fact that diversity and inclusion challenge stereotypes also has real-world implications. It will, over time, create a more fair and accepting world (even if the process is slow-moving). 

It may not seem like creating a more diverse campus would also create a better world, but it's true. 

Welcomes New Perspectives

There's never anything wrong with having more perspectives and opinions. It's time for the world of academia to become less insular.

Many perspectives and methods that are pervasive on college campuses are outdated. They don't work for the majority of students. They work for the select few students who don't have extra challenges working against them while they try to get an education. 

By including new perspectives (both from a diverse team and a diverse student base), the entirety of academia can start to change for the better. New voices will be heard.

The whole world of education may look different in the future. We'll learn new things and use new methods. The entire process of applying for and completing college may change.

College courses are definitely changing. They're including more voices. It's common for writing classes, for example, to include more female, LGBTQIA, and non-white authors. This wasn't the case in the past. 

The world is changing for the better. Diverse perspectives from new thought leaders are crucial. 

How Are Universities Stepping Up for Underserved Students? 

So what are universities doing to help push diversity and inclusion on their campuses? 

Unfortunately, some universities aren't doing anything. They may push the idea of inclusion, but are falling short when it comes to actual structural change. In cases like those, it's all for the improved image. 

Other universities are working hard to improve. Professors and administrators are working together with students to push change, and that's a good thing! 

But how are they going about it? Here are a few methods that they're using. 

Setting Diversity and Inclusivity Goals

Regardless of what someone is trying to accomplish, setting actionable goals is a great place to start. Universities that want to improve the college experience for marginalized groups on campus should set SMART goals.  Those goals can help them define their intentions and track their progress.

SMART goals are:

• Specific
• Measurable
• Achievable
• Relevant
• Time-bound

In other words, a goal like "improve diversity on campus" isn't a SMART goal. It's a noble goal for sure, but there's no way to track it or start any kind of progress toward it.

Instead, perhaps a SMART goal would look something like this:

"We will increase the number of female applicants to STEM programs by doing outreach programs in high schools during the upcoming school year and listening to the voices of female students and staff. This will result in a 5% increase in female STEM students."

This is a goal that has a clear path to success, a time limit, and a somewhat achievable and reasonable outcome. It's also specific. To increase diversity and inclusion, universities need to set up several different SMART goals for different groups and intentions. 

Supportive Staff and Programs

It's not enough to get more students from marginalized groups on campus. While this is a solid start, there needs to be enough support for those students to allow them to thrive. 

Are there programs at the university that would encourage students from marginalized groups to take part? Are there staff members dedicated to this cause?

The school should have counselors. They should also have directors of equity and inclusion, and other similar support roles for students. There should be tutoring programs and clubs for students who may not fit into the standard student status quo. 

Universities want students from diverse backgrounds to be able to integrate properly. This requires there to be extra programs in place. 

Educating Current Staff

If a university wants to create an uplifting environment, they need to educate their staff. Many educators and administrators aren't up to date with more inclusive methods. This doesn't mean they're bad at what they do, it means they haven't received updated training. 

Without that training, they may struggle. They won't be able to give as much support as they would otherwise. 

Staff members should participate in training sessions about various of discrimination. It may also be beneficial to review their educational materials to make sure they suit a more diverse audience.

Focusing on Diversity in Hiring

When it's time to start hiring new staff, university higher-ups should do their best to welcome a diverse team. It's helpful for students to see people who they can relate to in positions of authority in university settings. These people may create better outcomes. 

This doesn't mean that all roles have to be "diverse" hires. Consider expanding your horizons a bit to include people who may not have otherwise made the list. Look for hires from different backgrounds. Give opportunities to people with fantastic qualifications.

They may not have traditional academic workplaces on their resumes as a result of discrimination. 

Improving diversity in hiring will make a huge difference long term. Those staff members will have a direct impact on students. They'll also be able to lend their voices to the "inclusion" conversation in new ways. 

Shifting from "The Norms" of Academia 

This one is tricky. Some norms have good causes, but less-than-ideal outcomes. 

A lot of academia is based around wealthy white students. The way that the real "college life" is advertised and even the academic work itself feels exclusive. 

Consider the ideal "college experience." Students join fraternities or sororities. They have time to make friends and party.

They take unpaid internships and graduate with jobs (often following in the footsteps of their parents).

This is not realistic for many people, but there aren't as many resources for people who don't have this experience. Where are the networking opportunities for alternative students without ample campus time? Where are the paid internship opportunities (and the counselors helping students find them)? 

What about the way universities teach? 

At the moment, there's a slow shift away from "academic language" in some schools. It's centered around "standard American English" and that makes it less accessible.

Instead, some schools are welcoming some cultural influence in writing. They also offer remedial English classes for students who need help.

Academic language is important in some fields. It shouldn't be the only thing that matters when someone submits an essay. 

There are so many examples of ways universities can dismantle academic standards. While some of them may seem unnecessary or silly, they can make a large difference in student success. 

Listening to Students

This one is important and easy. Universities are spending more time listening to students. This allows them to make relevant changes.

Sometimes they listen to students directly via polls and surveys. They ask students how they're feeling about the status quo and make proper changes.

They may also look to see what other students are saying at other universities. They may follow news stories and try to identify similar problems or scenarios on their own campus. 

Either way, they're listening to the people who should have the biggest voice. The students who are affected by the situation at hand. This one simple act can make a substantial difference. 

Scholarships Geared Toward Underserved Groups

People applying to universities should always look for scholarships. Scholarships allow students who may otherwise not have been able to afford a college education to get one anyway. 

Universities should be offering scholarships for underserved groups. They should also encourage their on-campus counselors to find other available scholarships for those same students. 

There are scholarships for almost anything. Need-based scholarships are great for low-income students. There are race-based scholarships available for people of racial minorities. There are scholarships for LGBTQIA individuals.

There are many available scholarships. 

These should be readily available. This will help with overall diversity and inclusion for marginalized groups and allow them to pursue opportunities. 

Internship Opportunities 

Speaking of opportunities, let's discuss internships. Many students need internships. They give students real-world job experience so they can find work after college.

Unfortunately, many professional internships are unpaid. This leaves out many students. If a student can't afford to take unpaid work, the scholarship won't help them.

Schools should consider providing on-campus internships and networking with local businesses. Find ways to expand internship opportunities. 

Many schools are already doing this to some effect. If internships are available and paid, students have more opportunities. 

Let's Keep Improving the College Experience for Marginalized Groups

College should be for anyone who wants to learn and improve. At this time, it's still challenging for people belonging to some marginalized groups to get ahead. Universities are working on changing that, but the process is slow. 

In the future, hopefully inclusivity will be the default. People belonging to marginalized groups will be able to thrive on campus. We're getting to that point, but it takes time.

Are you a current or prospective college student hoping to get ahead? Join Honor Society to get information about scholarships, find career opportunities, and more. We want to help you thrive.