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Opinion
An Agenda for Asian Pacific Americans in a Multiracial Society
By Frank Chong and William Kidder Oakland Tribune | May 03, 2007
Political leaders, college presidents, trustees, faculty, administrators and students will be gathering in Oakland on May 3-5 to grapple with pressing challenges now facing the Asian Pacific American higher education community. Those who are looking for Asian Pacific Heritage Month to be an experience of active engagement, rather than one of passive appreciation, will find that the Asian Pacific Americans in Higher Education conference offers myriad opportunities to dialogue with California policymakers. Here is a sampling of cutting-edge issues up for discussion:
In light of the tragic slayings at Virginia Tech, are universities doing enough in the way of prevention and preparation to address dangerous or distressed students, including student mental health services, staff training, emergency response plans and communications strategies? Do campus mental health professionals believe that federal laws governing students’ privacy should be modified to make it easier to contact the parents of an adult student, or to ease restrictions on when a hospital can notify a university when a student, who had displayed disturbing behavior, is being released from psychiatric care?
Higher education is more critical than ever to the future of California’s information-based economy. Thus, what does it mean for the next generation of Asian Pacific Americans (and all Californians) if the Golden State has dropped to 46th in the percentage of the college-age adults earning a bachelor’s degree?
One of several legislative solutions to the problems of access and achievement that will be debated at our conference is Senate Bill 890, the “Early College Commitment” bill. The goal of SB 890 is to foster a college-going culture among low-income students starting in junior high. Students sign a “Save Me a Spot in College Pledge” and commit to meeting their graduation requirements and taking challenging courses, and in return the State would guarantee as spot at community college, CSU or UC with financial aid based on need.
Asian Pacific Americans in Higher Education was founded in 1987, because of allegations that leading public and private universities were discriminating against Asian Pacific Americans in undergraduate admissions. What is the empirical evidence regarding similar allegations of discrimination that surfaced this year at elite private colleges and universities?
Affirmative action has long been a passionate topic of discussion, but because the voices of Asian Pacific Americans are often marginalized in this debate, media accounts of the issue contribute to a questionable consensus that Asian Pacific Americans are overwhelmingly victims of affirmative action. Have the benefits for Asian Pacific Americans of ending affirmative action in college admissions been exaggerated? What does contemporary social science say about the educational and civic benefits of racially diverse learning environments for all students, including Asian Pacific Americans?
Do Asian Pacific Americans still face “glass ceilings” in pursuing upper-level administration and governance positions in higher education, in part due to subtle stereotypes about Asian Pacific Americans lacking leadership attributes?
The enduring “model minority” myth of Asian Pacific American success is based on a germ of truth if one looks at overall educational attainment rates, but the “model minority” stereotype renders invisible the barriers faced by many disadvantaged Asian Pacific Americans. What are the unique challenges for Pacific Islander students, who have bachelor degree attainment rates that are lower than African Americans and half the rate of Whites? And what of educational obstacles for Hmong students in the Central Valley? What lessons can be learned from various Asian Pacific American-focused retention and academic support programs at California’s community colleges and public universities?
Census data indicate that nearly 1 in 10 same-sex couples in California includes an Asian Pacific American. How can campuses create a more inclusive atmosphere for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender students and staff?
We welcome community members, and especially students, to join us at Laney College and the Oakland Marriott City Center to address these and other policy questions at this year’s Asian Pacific Americans in Higher Education Conference.
Frank Chong is President of Laney College in Oakland and President of Asian Pacific Americans in Higher Education (http://www.apahe.net). William Kidder is Special Assistant to the Vice President of Student Affairs at the University of California. |
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