This article discusses the impact of the Employment Equity Act, 1998 on the higher education sector of South Africa. An introduction to the background and development of affirmative action and employment equity is provided. The author then discusses the specialised constraints and challenges faced by higher education employers, separating them…

The 21st century has brought new challenges and opportunities for higher education. In the wake of the transition from elitist to mass education, universities worldwide are under pressure to enhance access and equity, on the one hand, and to maintain high standards of quality and excellence, on the other. Today the notion of equity not only…

Examining race relations in the United States from a historical perspective, this book explains how the constitution is racist and how color blindness is actually a racist ideology. It is argued that Justice Harlan, in his dissenting opinion in Plessy v. Ferguson, meant that the constitution and the law must remain blind to the existence of race…

To pass the Supreme Court's "strict scrutiny" test and be held constitutional, an affirmative action minority-set-aside program must satisfy a two-part test. Remedies must address past records of local discrimination and be aimed only at specific groups victimized by such discrimination. Impacts on schools are assessed. (MLH)

Two decades of affirmative action have not substantially altered the percentage of women and minorities in higher education faculty and professional ranks. Although continued attention to affirmative action is important, institutions should not let their guidelines channel and truncate the screening process so as to overlook stronger candidates.…

Over the past 20 years, the status of women in higher education has marginally improved. This status report focuses on affirmative action's role in hiring and retaining women in higher education, the hostile work environment facing women and minorities, adverse policies affecting African-American women faculty, rank and salary inequities,…

Division over the aims of affirmative action and the loyalties and aspirations of various interest groups have betrayed the policy's original purpose. The public's attention has been shifted away from discriminatory practices and appropriate remedies. Higher education must rethink and reform the whole process before it becomes compromised by…

This quarterly report of the Faculty and Staff Diversity (FSD) Unit of the Chancellors Office of the California Community Colleges presents the 1988-89 objectives of the unit and the actions taken to meet them during the first quarter of the year. The objectives include: (1) the analysis of FSD expenditures by districts during 1988-89; (2) the…

Affirmative action as a form of regulatory policy may produce a productive cultural mosaic but cannot in itself achieve healthy diversity. A college wishing to diminish discrimination, create a safe and secure work and educational environment, and provide support for family life must institutionalize diversity programs to succeed. (MSE)

Conducted a series of analyses of existing data, not collected for the University of Michigan's litigation, on diversity in higher education. These data consistently confirm that racial diversity and student involvement in activities related to diversity have strong and direct effects on learning. Students may be most affected by what they learn…

Although affirmative-action policies have provided employment opportunities for both male and female ethnic minorities in higher education, minority women's appointment to high-ranking faculty and administrative positions lags far behind that of men. Affirmative-action and diversity programs must continue to counter society's racist and sexist…

Two legal cases depict affirmative action as the primary source of racial tensions within school operations: "Wygant v. Jackson Board of Education" (1986) and "United States v. Board of Education of the Township of Piscataway" (1993). Pre-established policies of preferential treatment have no place in today's teacher-employment…

Might it be possible to achieve some or all of the goals of affirmative action through an approach based on an entirely different definition of the problem? This article says "yes." Its logic rests not upon an approach that creates informal quotas for identified groups, but instead on one aimed at discovering merit in people who are…

From its inception, affirmative action policies were created to improve the employment and/or educational opportunities for members of minority groups and women. Even today, however, the debate continues over the future of affirmative action. Proponents offer empirical evidence illustrating that affirmative action has been favorable in aiding…

Unlike typical Federal catergorical grants which are highly specific, General Revenue Sharing grants (GRS) are free of restrictions or conditions. The Missouri Advisory Committee, in viewing the impact of GRS on St. Louis City and County, received evidence regarding: (1) the nature of GRS-funded expenditures; (2) the limits of citizen…