Long before the social unrest that swept the nation during 2020, the College of Arts and Sciences’ leadership team was focused on increasing diversity, equity and inclusion. “I want to make sure that CAS is a place that provides equality of opportunity for all,” said Dean Glen Krutz. “Having a more diverse environment in CAS and within our departments improves the college, the educational experience and what we can do as an organization. There is strength in diversity and a depth to a more diverse environment that helps everyone.” As Krutz’s statement underscores, diversity is valuable not just because of the moral implications, but also because it creates more productive organizations. For example, Dr. Scott Page from the University of Michigan developed simulations that showed that “able and more diverse” groups solved problems better than “very able” homogeneous groups. Similarly, a study by Scientific American found that socially diverse groups are better at solving complex problems because their people bring new information and viewpoints, which leads group members to “anticipate alternate viewpoints and to expect that reaching consensus will take effort.” These findings have been supported by studies from Tufts University, Credit Suisse Research Institute and McKinsey Quarterly, along with others. “Along with other areas, diversity of thought matters,” said Kim Loeffert, CAS Faculty Fellow for Diversity and Equity and assistant professor of music theory in the Greenwood School of Music. “There is a reason that top-10 companies are looking to hire diversity. It’s because diversity of thought and experience leads to innovation. And as a land-grand university, we serve the population of Oklahoma, which is diverse.” In addition, studies show diversity benefits students in many ways. The American Council on Education says, “Education within a diverse setting prepares students to become good citizens in an increasingly complex, pluralistic society; it fosters mutual respect and teamwork, and it helps build communities whose members are judged by the quality of their character and their contributions.” According to the Century Foundation, “Students who interacted with racially and ethnically diverse peers showed significant gains in cognitive skills, such as critical thinking and problem-solving.” Krutz added, “It improves our educational environment, our education itself and our experience. People learn more, become more empathetic, and upon leaving a more diverse environment, are able to make more of a difference in the world.” From fall 2010 to fall 2020, CAS increased the racial diversity of its student body from 25.5 percent minorities to 35.3 percent. Similarly, from 2016 to 2019, CAS’s faculty became more racially diverse — from 56.1 percent minorities to 58.2 percent — and more female — from 40.5 percent to 42 percent. Krutz said, “We have been increasing our student diversity in CAS. To make those students feel more included and comfortable, we want them to see people who look like them.” LEADERSHIP: ‘EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL’ “There is strength in diversity and a depth to a more diverse environment that helps everyone.” Glen Krutz Dean, College of Arts and Sciences OSU COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES 7
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