San Francisco
Both Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley and
Secretary of Health and Human Services Donna Shalala praised the
American Council on Education (ACE) for its recent statement on the
need for diversity in higher education.
“I am very grateful and proud of the statement on diversity by ACE
and other higher education organizations. It was the right thing to say
and do,” Riley said to ACE members during their national conference in
San Francisco last month.
The ACE statement says a diverse student and faculty body are
integral to providing a quality education and that colleges and
universities need to be “able to reach out and make a conscious effort
to build healthy and diverse learning environments appropriate for
their missions.” It does not, however, specifically use the words
“affirmative action.” (For the complete ACE text and signatories, see
Black Issues, February 19).
When queried about this omission, Shalala said, “The words are
unimportant. What is important is taking a stand for the need for
diversity.”
Riley told the assembled college and university presidents and
other officials, “Your schools must clearly define your educational
missions and the importance of a diverse student body to that mission.
And then you must work to develop thoughtful and legally supportable
ways to achieve diversity.”
That idea was discussed again in more detail by two Department of
Education officials during small workshop sessions at the ACE
conference.
