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Wednesday, November 02, 2005

Diversity at BYU

Like most MBA admissions office, BYU’s also favors women and diversity applicants. As a white male myself, it doesn’t bother me at all. In fact, I really wish there were more diversity in the students here. Unfortunately, BYU has only about 14% women and the smallest number of international students it has had in many years (perhaps because of recent visa issues). I know some of us in the majority resent slightly lower admissions criteria for international students, but I’m strongly in favor of having a diversified class – it’s a lot better for the school, and more interesting for the students.

In fact, many large firms that recruit at BYU are also keenly interested in seeing more diversity in the student body and some (I’ve only heard stories) have threatened not to come back to BYU unless there are more women and minority students. So if you dislike having a different admissions standard for women or minorities you should just get used to it. That is the way the game is played everywhere and BYU is under a lot of pressure to catch up. I’ve also noticed that some of the American minority students here have done exceptionally well in landing a job or internship – it appears on the surface that their placement rate is much better than the average white male.

That said, I’m personally not a big fan about talking about diversity much once school has started. We had a seminar last year where the three Deans talked at length about diversity – I hated the whole thing. For me the tone was divisive rather than unifying, and I talked to a few international students who similarly resented being placed in a special category. Some in the majority felt like the meeting also had an accusatory tone against white males. The meeting had good intentions, but it was a bit awkward. My preference would be – after crafting an incoming class – to treat us all the same, the only label we carry being “BYU MBA”. I realize that may appear as a double standard, (discriminate on admissions but not afterwards) but not if you keep in mind that minority students often apply with an inherent disadvantage (language for international students as an example) and that, as a church school, BYU should admit a class more representative of all the church members throughout the world subsidizing the school through tithing donations.

Anyway, there is a lot of push to be more inclusive here and yesterday the recruiting director sent out this e-mail about a diversity open house.

“[In] an effort to increase our diversity student population, we are hosting a diversity open house for women and under-represented minorities on Wednesday Nov. 9th from 5:30 to 7:30 PM in room 710. If you know of any women or diversity candidates, would you please invite them to the open house? A light buffet will be served and current students will be there to answer questions.”

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