The center's link to Temple's academic pursuits through research and staff bode well for its longevity, says Dr. Mitchell J. Chang, professor of higher education and organizational change at the University of California, Los Angeles. "What this program appears to be doing is taking the very best practices around issues of diversity and complementing that effort with producing cutting-edge research," he says.
At a time when similar centers are folding because of a lack of funding, ACCORD is poised to sustain itself, Chang says. "They can attract external funding, especially because of their research component."
But Chang cautions that such programs shouldn't replace the development of coursework and the hiring of faculty focused on diversity. Furthermore, instead of trying to be "all things to all people," he says, diversity programs are more effective when they're more specific.
