16 Abibisika (Black Gold) Points

Rank: Unranked Obibini

Isomorphism is the concept that one organization will change to become more like another organization, especially if they are in the same field. This idea, can be seen in a variety of types of organizations; however, in looking at Higher Education, and more specifically HBCUs and PWIs, it is important to look at the history of the organizations.
Although the current Secretary of Education would disagree, Historically Black Colleges and Universities were not founded as a means of school-choice, but rather as the sole option for Black people in America. Many HBCUs haven’t lost their focus, and still aim to serve Black students, and dismantle the repercussions and effects of centuries of enslavement.
For Predominately White Institutions, there is an increasing pressure to diversify their student body, which is extremely tough because these institutions are built on centuries of slavery and racism. This shift is particularly import because it is an example isomorphism. In order to attract more black and brown students, these universities tokenize the few students of color that they have by taking their picture and posting it on the university’s website, providing external individuals with the notion that their institutions are just as racially diverse as HBCUs or another institution.
This idea is damaging, because when these students of color arrive at these PWI campuses, they are not always provided social support which is also important in college, and for that reason, the retention and persistence rates at these universities, for students of color, are not comparable to their white counterparts. I believe that these students would be able to succeed and compete academically at these institutions, but the effects of having no social support can take a toll on academics.
That being said, I believe when Claud Anderson wrote, “In any competitive environment, an individual or group who is non-competitive is sure to become extinct” (p. 211), he was right, but not completely. In higher education, this quote would suggest that these institutions need to be competitive; however, in practice these organizations create imagery that would insinuate that they are competitive in terms of diversity, when they are very white and homogenous. Furthermore, the lack of diversity won’t be the demise of these colleges or universities, because these institutions have a long history of wealthy white men who have built these deep endowments for the institutions.
In order for the fate of these colleges and universities to truly depend on their competitiveness of racial demographics, there needs to be federal legislations which will no provide funding for institutions that do not have a diverse community.

*Quote is from Claud Anderson’s Book, Powernomics