Have you ever wondered why academia is nicknamed the “Ivory Tower?” It may be because of idyllic and perhaps elitist perceptions about pursuing knowledge and wisdom. Or it could be due to the fact that the overwhelming majority of professors are White. With that in mind, Diverse Magazine examines the factors that affect how well minority doctoral students succeed in penetrating the Ivory Tower:

The good news is that African-American, Hispanic/Latino, and American Indian students are entering doctoral programs at higher percentages than any previous time in history. The bad news is that, in 2003, these three under-represented groups combined receive less than 10 percent of all doctoral degrees conferred . . . More than half of those who enroll in a doctoral program leave before graduation. . . .

Data revealed that these minority doctoral students encounter a variety of potential barriers, including family and first generational issues, inadequate educational preparation, unclear institutional policies and procedures and “chilly” departmental climates. Overwhelmingly, issues associated with race/ethnicity permeated every cultural and institutional barrier identified in this study. . . .

This study suggests that college leaders have failed to build bridges between under-represented students’ sociological and cultural factors and their doctoral programs. Just accepting more minority candidates is not the solution; working to understand cultural conflicts, remove institutional barriers and increase the quality of diversity initiatives are essential.

That last quoted sentence bears repeating -- just accepting more minority doctoral students is not enough. They need to be respected, listened to, and deliberately integrated into the department and program. This prescription goes to all doctoral students of all races, but the point here is that because minority students are still relatively rare in doctoral programs, departments should pay extra attention to them and their needs if their goal is to help them succeed.

Universities are doctoral programs are very good at talking the talk -- proclaiming that they value multicultural diversity and taking “affirmative action” to help underrepresented students succeed, and even admitting more minority grad students. But it may be a whole different matter when it comes to walking the walk -- taking concrete steps to ensure that minority students are not ignored, feel alienated and isolated, or even antagonized because of institutional and interpersonal barriers that exacerbate their underrepresented status.