Teaching diversity at the College Of Technology and Aviation

This paper describes and analyzes efforts made at the College of Technology and Aviation at KSU-Salina to promote diversity appreciation on campus. The discussion includes an explanation of steps taken by the campus diversity committee and methods used in the classroom, toward this goal. A critical look is taken at the ability of the multicultural connection committee (MCC) initiatives - talks, international food fairs, cultural exhibitions and a multicultural movie - to influence technically oriented students who have had very little exposure to diverse groups (as is generally the case in this part of the country). In addition, the author describes his own efforts at increasing diversity awareness and social consciousness in his own classes. The key argument here is that it is indeed possible to teach diversity friendliness in the science and technology classroom.