Confronting Lack of Student Diversity in Interior Design Education

Abstract

Events of summer 2020 have resulted in deep consideration of issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout all segments of society in North America. Indeed, 5 of the 11 articles in the fall 2020 issue of the Chronicle of Higher Education focused on this topic (The Chronicle of Higher Education, 2020). When the fall semester enrollment data was released for the University of Arkansas, one of the first tasks completed was an analysis of the demographics of our student body. Findings from that study, while not surprising, stung a bit more in fall 2020 than in previous years. We are not as diverse as we should be. Comparing our departmental student race/ethnicity/gender to that of the state revealed that the two groups with the greatest discrepancy of representation are African Americans and men.