Institutional racism exists. Sometimes it's subtle; other times, it's in plain view.

Consider the areas where you might find institutional racism and bigotry on your campus, and then consider what you can do to reduce or eliminate it.

· Academic coursework
What requirements exist for multicultural coursework? Can a student at your school obtain a degree having studied little other than white-Western thought and culture?

Are minority-written texts and materials used in mainstream classes or relegated strictly to minority-studies courses?

Is there a study-abroad program? If so, how diverse is the selection of countries involved? Is it a "touristy" approach, or is it grounded in more substantial academic offerings?

· Minority representation in faculty, staff and students
Of all full-time faculty members in the nation, 13.9% are minorities. For full professors, 88.6% are white and 79.1 percent are male. Likewise, 80.7 percent of college presidents are male and 88.7% are white.

How diverse are the faculty and executive staff at your university? What steps are taken to recruit and hire minority faculty and staff? Who's fighting that fight, and who's resisting it?

You can ask the same question of student enrollment. Are minority admissions declining? What can be done to stem that tide?

· Accessibility issues
Can students with disabilities get to meeting locations?

Does the campus police department have a TTY machine to handle telephone calls from people who are deaf?

Are safety issues specific to people who are blind being ignored?

Are mental health services available to students who need them on an ongoing basis, or are those services primarily available only for crisis situations?

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