The Pennsylvania State University: An Analysis of Methods of Affirmative Action, Diversifying Human Capital
Open Access
- Author:
- Klein, Sydney
- Area of Honors:
- Labor and Employment Relations
- Degree:
- Bachelor of Arts
- Document Type:
- Thesis
- Thesis Supervisors:
- Ashley Nichol Patterson, Thesis Supervisor
Christopher Cody Stephens, Thesis Honors Advisor - Keywords:
- Diversity
Affirmative Action
Protected Status
Human Capital
Discrmination
Disparate Impact
Disparate Treatment
Inclusion - Abstract:
- The purpose of this thesis is to analyze the methods of affirmative action at Penn State regarding the intention of diversifying human capital. The methods have undergone changes since the first program due to social and legal development, nonetheless, Penn State has persisted in their endeavors to enrich the student body through their ever-changing programs. The analysis will be done based on primary research done with archival materials and interviews conducted with current Penn State staff. This thesis is designed to fully understand the purpose, implementation, and outcome of the affirmative action program. Two questions will be answered. 1. How has Penn State changed its affirmative action plan to make it more modern over time? and 2. Has the intended outcome been achieved? This thesis will address these questions regarding compliance reviews, analysis of official university policies, and current opinions of Penn State staff in related offices. Ultimately, it will present patterns needed to conclude whether Penn State has made substantial progress towards their established goals. There will be specific focus on the 1975 and 1995 plans with comparisons drawn to demonstrate how the program has evolved overtime. In addition, it will be explained why these changes were necessary based on the results of each program and the ever-changing views of society. Lastly, the current climate will be discussed regarding the modern policy that has been adopted based on court decisions, as well as reports by current Penn State faculty.