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Davidson College
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Davidson College - Diversity - College ProwlerCollege Prowler3.46

Diversity

B
Where does this grade come from?View all Diversity rankingsReview this school to add your opinion

Comparable Schools' Diversity Grades:

Quick Stats

African American 6%
Asian American 4%
Hispanic 5%
International 4%
Native American 0%
White 74%
Unknown 6%
Historically Black College/University? No
Tribal College? No
Out-of-State Students 78%
Common States of Residence
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Maryland
  • New York
  • Virginia
Student Age Breakdown Under 18: 1%
18-19: 50%
20-21: 43%
22-24: 6%
25+: 0%
Female Faculty 38%
Male Faculty 62%
Faculty Diversity African American: 2%
Asian American: 5%
Hispanic: 5%
International: 0%
Native American: 0%
White: 85%
Unknown: 2%

Student Author OverviewWhat's This?

If Davidson consistently fields one criticism as an institution, this is it. Diversity is a hot topic on campus, resurfacing in conversations among students and admissions officials alike. Each semester, the Davidsonian, the student-run newspaper, prints multiple articles addressing issues of diversity on campus, all stemming from one basic conclusion—there simply isn’t enough of it. The numbers reflect this, with just above 12 percent of the student body composed of racial minorities each year. At a school of 1,700, that’s about 200 people. For many minorities on campus, the lack of diversity is an everyday challenge. Minority students continually express concerns that their sole purpose at Davidson is to make the school look good, or that they’re only a number or a statistic. Others say that the school is not truly dedicated to shedding its “white Christian male” foundations.

Despite the setbacks in terms of diversity on paper, however, this is very much an accepting and respectful atmosphere. Many students here have friends of all races and religions, and a primary frustration for many is that “diversity” is frequently made into more of an issue than it needs to be. Most Davidson students will tell you that their outlook is entirely colorblind. And diversity, you’ll learn at Davidson, comes in forms other than color. Needless to say, the great variety of individuals and ideas presented on campus makes Davidson seem a great deal more “diverse” than the numbers might indicate.

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Davidson Student ReviewsWhat's This?

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Diversity at Davidson College

davidsongirl

'14

History

2.3
C

Less Diverse Than It Thinks It Is

Davidson is more diverse than the schools that most of its students are coming from, but that's not saying much. What different ethnicities there are hang out in cliques and don't have a lot of interaction with the white students.

Nov 02, 2011

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Diversity at Davidson College

kaeso1288

'11

Liberal Arts and Humanities

1.9
C-

Diverse?

Davidson College does have some diversity, although often time diversity seems to be focused on the usual buzzwords of race, sexual orientation, and gender, and economic background is not taken into account. People here are all unique individuals, but often times some groups end up falling in together and don't really break outside of their comfort zones. For example, the S.T.R.I.D.E. program brings minority students onto campus a week early so that they may bond with each other and feel more secure at Davidson. It has led to a rise in the number of minorities who stay all four years here, but often it leads to the STRIDE groups essentially hanging out with each other and not blending with the rest of campus

Apr 22, 2010

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Diversity at Davidson College

DavSD

'12

Davidson appears from the outside...

Davidson appears from the outside to be a preppy, upper-middle class, white school, and this is pretty accurate. We have our share of international students and minorities, but the vast majority of the student body is homogeneous. There is a mix of political affiliations, as seen during the election this year. However, for the most part, most students are polite, well-dressed young men and women.

Feb 16, 2009

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Page 1 of 5

Student Survey Poll ResultsWhat's This?

How diverse is the student body in the following areas?

How diverse is your personal circle of friends in the following areas?

How accepting is the campus community as a whole toward someone who falls into the minority (ethnic, sexual, or religious)?

How would you best describe your personal political beliefs?

How would you best describe the political beliefs of campus as a whole?

Facts

Gay Pride

Organizations such as the Gay-Straight Alliance and YANASH (You Are Not A Stranger Here) actively work to integrate the gay and straight communities on campus, as well as to promote acceptance of different lifestyles. Though Davidson has a long way to go, students are generally accepting and gay-friendly; the number of open homosexuals on campus is on the rise, and the population as a whole supports them. It is not uncommon for homosexual students to feel somewhat separated from the straight community, however.

Political Activity

It is difficult to classify in which direction Davidson’s political meter points, as the “liberal” in “liberal arts education” pulls strongly to the left, while the Southern roots of many Davidson students push strongly to the right. While political sentiment on campus is not overwhelming, campus political organizations and their ringleaders are certainly a visible force. Political groups from both sides were incredibly active this year because of the 2008 Presidential Election. Davidson also made an active effort to educate its students on the issues; there were numerous forums and discussions to ensure that students were aware of the issues surrounding the election.

Economic Status

Though Davidson’s upper-middle class stereotype still generally holds true, the expansive financial aid options now available have made Davidson accessible to a much broader range of people. In 2007, Davidson changed its financial aid system to meet 100% of demonstrated need and eliminated loans from its financial-aid packages entirely by offering grants and work-study jobs instead. As a result, there are students from various socioeconomic backgrounds, and many paying their own way.

Most Common Religions

Of religious students on campus, a majority are Christian (predominantly Protestant, some Catholic). There is also an active Jewish student organization, as well as a small Buddhist minority. While Davidson has its share of Christian fundamentalists, an equally large number of students are self-proclaimed agnostics or atheists. For those who are religious, Davidson's campus plays host to a Presbyterian worship service, a Catholic mass, a Muslim prayer meeting, an Episcopal Eucharist, and a Quaker meeting each week. Shabbat services and Hillel Fellowship programming are also staples of Davidson's on-campus religious life.

Minority Clubs on Campus

The Black Student Coalition (BSC) is one of the largest minority organizations along with the International Student Association. More recent organizations include the Association of Students Interested in Asia (ASIA) and the African American fraternity Alpha Phi Alpha.

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Most Recent Student Author

College Prowler guides are in the hands of students throughout the entire process. Because you can't make student-written guides without the students, we have students at each campus who write, edit, and survey their peers for every guide that we publish. Thanks to our most recent student author at Davidson

Name: Annie Maietta

Hometown: Weston, MA

Major: Undecided

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