Viewpoint Diversity Could Soon Be One-Sided

"Higher ed critics say colleges lack viewpoint diversity. And to some extent that's true. For decades faculty have skewed left politically. But there's a problem with how we are-or are not-defining viewpoint diversity that could lead to less, not more, plurality on campuses. Much like God, money or Taylor Swift, viewpoint diversity has become a mirror concept onto which the observer projects her own values, fears and aspiration."

"For Heterodox Academy, an academic life-enriching viewpoint diversity is based on differences in things like socioeconomic status, political and philosophical views, religion or cultural background. For the state of Florida it means "the exposure of students, faculty, and staff to, and the encouragement of their exploration of, a variety of ideological and political perspectives." For some conservative critics of higher ed, achieving viewpoint diversity means an education in Western civilization and American ideals."

"At the same time, though, the administration is making policy changes that push colleges to incorporate its own political agenda. Yesterday, the administration promised a competitive advantage in federal grant funding to nine universities if they agreed to ban race and sex-based hiring and admissions, to freeze tuition for the next five years, to cap undergraduate international enrollment at 15 percent and to require standardized tests in admissions. The compact also requires universities have a "vibrant marketplace of ideas on campus"."

College faculty have skewed politically left for decades, but disagreement over what counts as viewpoint diversity complicates remedies. Different groups define viewpoint diversity differently: Heterodox Academy emphasizes socioeconomic, political, philosophical, religious and cultural differences; Florida frames it as exposure to and encouragement of exploring ideological and political perspectives; some conservatives equate it with education in Western civilization and American ideals. The Trump administration rhetorically demands more viewpoint diversity while advancing policy incentives that condition federal grant advantages on adopting hiring, admissions, tuition, international enrollment, and standardized-testing measures aligned with its priorities.

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