Diversity

‘The first Black woman on the tenure track in theoretical cosmology’ tells Matthew Reisz about her struggles to reconcile a pristine childhood image of science with the reality she confronts by using selective citation to marginalise racist or sexist scientists

Concerns over international recruitment as need for better communication emphasised

Students fare better when campuses frame equity as quest for justice, Princeton analysis finds

UK academia’s champion for black postgraduate students, Anne-Marie Imafidon, and others explain how scholars can help diversify graduate education

The Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities added to the scepticism but, done properly, training makes a difference, say Jules Holroyd and Jennifer Saul

Efforts to improve access and promote diversity are often undermined by assumptions that they are at odds with ‘excellence’ and academic freedom. Drawing on her experiences all the way from Iran to California, Pardis Mahdavi explains how we can and must do better

Equity expert also highlights the risks of competitive grading and the benefits of diverse groupings

Significant share of students say they would be more likely to get vaccine if they could do so on campus, but research reveals wide differences by ethnicity

Anonymising applications and reserving studentships and starter grants for Black researchers would go a long way, says Daniel Akinbosede

Analysis highlights ‘unacceptable’ disparities in racial representation in UK science

Rising public support for barring discrimination against LGBTQ people

We must do more to support learners from both individualistic and collectivistic cultures, says Flower Darby

Conservative professor’s book argues that dialogue across political divide is far more productive than activism and pious placemats

Leader only started in January but provoked fury by using N-word in call with students

Profound change is in the offing for higher education, but history suggests non-Western students’ voices will not be heard, says Farish A. Noor

Former ombudsman to examine allegations of ‘anti-black conduct’ going unaddressed after furore over Adam Habib’s comments

All faculty endure mounting stress over online instruction, but BAME academics face an even more precarious situation, say Henrika McCoy and Madeline Y. Lee

Review of scheme finds concerns about workload, assessment and commitment of university leaders

Leading black intellectual and activist returns to Columbia-affiliated seminary

Wayne State president calls major research institution inappropriate destination for Hispanic-focused funding

Universities often reproduce colonial logics by exploiting, commodifying and diluting the very ‘thing’ that was to set us free, says Manvir Grewal

University pledges to embed critical race theory and ‘decolonial discourse’ in all disciplines

Health research funder promises broad attack on racial inequality

Many of us with learning disabilities struggle to process hour-long lecture recordings but pedagogical flexibility and online support offer new ways ahead, says Gemma Ahearne

Non-white women just 2.5 per cent of top earners on most research-intensive campuses

Universities need to review the unhelpful websites and unwittingly ageist admissions procedures that prevent older people becoming doctoral students, says Alison Etches

US professor says urban universities have to be better neighbours

At a time when marketised models are dominant, we must build on initiatives that put the stress on social justice and community engagement, says Peter Mayo

Institutions that emphasise racial equity are less vociferous about addressing economic diversity in student body, some argue

The discipline’s existence reflects an enduring Western belief in the inferiority of knowledge production specific to different cultures, says David Simon

Study warns lack of ethnic minority representation among counselling staff could lead to problems being dismissed

This swift transformation highlights who among our students we think are worthy of learning and who we choose to leave behind, says Clare Mullaney

Pioneering black studies professor calls on universities to reflect on their history and the forms of knowledge they exclude

Under Biden, Justice Department abandons case pushed by Trump

The way US graduation figures are calculated misses out those with a non-traditional path through higher education, says Corey S. Bradford

African American studies chair says tackling inequality is ‘on a knife-edge’ and urges institutions to stop ‘tinkering around the edges’

It is often forgotten that this group suffers from even worse educational outcomes than white, working-class boys, says Nick Braisby 

LGBTQ science professionals complain of not being supported in their roles

Author of London Met study attacks universities’ ‘empty platitudes and virtue signalling’

HBCUs want a chance after decades of federal aid for poorer white-majority institutions

New entry route aimed at ‘entirely new stream of applicants’ from disadvantaged backgrounds

A model among states, Texas advantages fail on equity without recruiting and aid

University of British Columbia head advocates ‘servant leadership’ style to build diversity, in contrast to ‘very top-down’ approach at many institutions

Research finds that having just one scholar from an underrepresented group has a positive impact on academic goals of doctoral students in the same department

Open University report suggests using rap lyrics as texts and explaining content like an MC

Indian universities have seen numerous cases of discrimination against students from oppressed castes, sometimes even leading to suicide. With international student mobility only set to increase, this crucial diversity issue is unlikely to remain confined to the subcontinent, says Saikat Majumdar

Some countries and institutions are already grabbing the chance to widen access, says Graeme Atherton

Top US institution faces painful reversal after long claiming abolitionist origins

The impact of the Black Lives Matter movement has raised urgent issues for universities about who should be taught what – and how. After 40 years of pushing to widen the range of voices taught on literature courses, Lyn Innes still sees much to be done that is crucial for students of all races

Institution aims to end national reluctance to ask about racial and ethnic identity, with other universities across the country showing interest in following suit

First black president pushes Virginia university to overcome its name and reputation

Academics say online methodologies can produce more collaborative, diverse and ethical research

European survey finds there are large gaps between perceptions of importance of internationalisation and levels of experience and confidence

An Australian university’s attitude towards Rwanda illustrates the West’s failure to treat African academics as equal partners, says Timothy Carey

Lucas Lixinski shares his experiences as a gay man in academia and reflects on how they have helped his career

Panel discussion hears that pandemic should be used as a springboard for real change by looking at leadership

The movement to ‘decolonise’ university curricula has leaped into the political and educational mainstream in the wake of George Floyd’s death, dividing opinion on campus and beyond. Anna McKie examines how scholars are handling difficult discussions and where the agenda goes next

Indigenous peoples balance patience and autonomy with the lure of education and jobs

Universities UK guidance says institutions must introduce training on concepts such as microaggressions and white privilege

Pledged support for equality must be put into practice on multiple fronts, from syllabi and curricula to advising and recommending, say Chisomo Selemani and Anna Young