Campus Diversity/Pathways to Leadership
OICF’s member colleges and universities seek a diverse student body, which embraces individuals from all social, economic, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds.
Campuses with highly diverse student and faculty populations are critical to a rich environment within which students may experience inclusiveness and develop an appreciation of individual differences.
Outreach to aspiring students, a focus on preparation and readiness, financial support for incoming and existing students, and support for the retention of existing students from underrepresented populations are the focus of the OICF’s Pathways to Leadership – Campus Diversity Initiative.
Pathways to Leadership is conceived as a stabilizing tripod of support for equitable levels of representation on our campuses. Each leg of this tripod bears equal weight in addressing the challenges faced by many underrepresented and first generation students:
- Adequate preparation and readiness to enter the application and enrollment process,
- Requisite mentoring to overcome cultural and practical barriers to completion of academic programs, and
- Sufficient access to financial resources to sustain enrollment.
To help address this need, the OICF established the POWER of 10/The Oregon Private Access & Success Network. Network participants from the community and our campuses work collaboratively to advance student access and success by developing outreach, retention, and scholarship/student aid programs for students of color and first generation students.