Colleges and universities are responsible for creating inclusive environments that provide equal opportunities for all students, no matter where they come from or who they are. However, this kind of responsibility isn’t a walk in the park. Learning the strategies for fostering diversity and equity in higher education is important. Academic transcription companies can provide a useful solution to help students with disabilities access and consume the same content as everyone else.
However, transcripts aren’t a one-size-fits-all solution. True diversity and equity require constant and—at least in the beginning—significant effort. Schools need to flip their whole approach upside down. The first step? Understanding the roadblocks that have held back certain groups, like students from challenging backgrounds.
In this article, you’ll learn:
- Equity in higher education is largely about leveling the playing field so that students from all backgrounds can reach for the stars and reach their full potential.
- Strategies for fostering diversity and equity in higher education, like transcription and captioning, can be used to promote and maintain inclusivity goals.
- Automated transcription, with its 86% accuracy (at best), will only mess up the student’s learning process and run counter to the goal of diversity and equity.
Understanding Diversity in Collegiate Environments
In the U.S. alone, colleges are waking up to the power of diversity on campus. Students, teachers, and faculty members from different cultures can create a buzz of learning where everyone sees the world through different eyes.
Schools are rolling out the welcome mat for students who haven’t always had a seat at the table. Think racial minorities, first-timers in college, or students from tight-budget homes. The goal? To even out the odds and give everyone a shot at chasing their dreams in school and beyond.
However, it’s not just about fairness on campus. Diversity in higher education helps build a society where people from all backgrounds can understand each other, walk in each other’s shoes, or team up to tackle bigger challenges.
Fortunately, some schools are stepping up to ensure education opens doors for everyone, not just a select few. They are implementing strategies for fostering diversity and equity in higher education at significant expense and effort.
Exploring Equity within Post-Secondary Institutions
Higher education institutions have recently been promoting equity among their student populations. Although they’re not just opening the doors wider—they’re making sure everyone has what they need to thrive once they’re inside.
Colleges and universities are finding ways to tackle the roadblocks that might trip up certain groups, like students from communities that haven’t always had a fair shake. These organizations may dish out targeted financial help, set up mentoring programs, build campuses where everyone feels they belong, and so on.
Equity and inclusion in higher education is largely about leveling the playing field so that students from all backgrounds can reach for the stars and reach their full potential.
States With the Highest Number of Higher Education Students
According to recent data, these states have the highest number of college students.
| State | Student Population |
| California | 2,544,194 |
| Texas | 1,567,878 |
| New York | 1,130,989 |
| Florida | 1,029,907 |
| Illinois | 679,482 |
| Ohio | 652,792 |
| Arizona | 635,517 |
| Pennsylvania | 550,082 |
| North Carolina | 577,998 |
| Georgia | 543,766 |
Strategies To Promote Equity, Diversity and Fairness in Higher Education
Fortunately, there are endless ways for educational institutions to promote equity and diverse student bodies in their respective learning environments. Let’s discuss the most actionable ones.
Promote Equal Learning Opportunities Across Academic Fields
Ensuring fair access to everyone is essential for this journey. Although granting disadvantaged students a place at an institution is a significant first step, maintaining an equitable education system throughout is equally important.
Institutions should actively encourage traditionally marginalized groups in certain disciplines, such as women in STEM fields. Implementing strategies at both the student and executive levels can help achieve this goal.
At the student level, setting up support groups can provide a sense of community and resources for underrepresented students. At the executive level, modifying quota-based recruitment mechanisms can help ensure a more balanced representation across disciplines.
Develop an Inclusive Online Presence
A college’s website is its digital front door, and ensuring everyone can walk through it is important. When prospective students come knocking, they’re looking for the lowdown on everything from campus life to support services. So, a website that’s easy for all to use, no matter their abilities, is crucial.
Schools aiming to roll out the welcome mat for everyone should turn to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). WCAG is a roadmap for making websites, apps, PDFs, videos, etc., user-friendly for people with disabilities.
Also, the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) put these guidelines together to help schools (and everyone else) build digital spaces where everyone is included. When colleges follow these rules, they’re not just ticking a box. They’re opening doors and leveling the opportunities for all learners.
Implement Inclusion and Equity Workshops in Higher Education Environments
Colleges and universities are in the driver’s seat when promoting diversity and equity on campus. Fortunately, they can implement training that is relevant to this objective. For example, programs similar to crash courses can help create a welcoming space for everyone, no matter where they come from.
Participants can pore over the courses and learn about hidden biases, cultural differences, and how to talk to people from different societal statuses. Faculty and students will walk away with new skills to navigate the melting pot of experiences on campus. If this succeeds, there will be a learning environment where everyone is respected.
Enhance Student Assistance Programs
Schools need to step up and offer targeted help that fits the bill for disadvantaged students. It’s all about creating a space where everyone can flourish. What does this look like on the ground? Think smaller classes and free one-on-one sessions for students from tougher backgrounds.
Or, consider an accessibility option to help visually impaired students or those still learning English. Schools simply need to get creative and really commit to making everyone feel at home. When educational institutions have these kinds of support, they’re not just talking the talk—they’re walking the walk to diversity and inclusion.
Consider Demographic-Aware Admission Policies
A two-pronged approach—mixing quota-based admissions with the usual merit-based metric—can cultivate diversity and equity for educational institutions. Quota-based admissions carve out spots for students from different backgrounds or groups who don’t usually get fair treatment. The idea is to create a fair environment for students who might not have had all the resources.
Without this method, they’d be starting behind the pack when competing against more privileged classmates in entrance exams. Rolling out a system like this isn’t easy, though. There could be questions from overly critical folks on the fairness between those who got in through pure merit and those through quota-based admissions.
Therefore, this initiative needs to be executed with the big shots of the institution hierarchy and create recruitment policies that put diversity and inclusion front and center. When done right, it’s a way to open doors that might have stayed shut otherwise.
Provide Transcript Options for Recorded Classes Or Online Classes
Transcripts can be an important backbone for several strategies that foster diversity and equity in higher education. Skilled human transcriptionists can create word-for-word accounts for recorded or online classes, which helps ensure every student—whether hard of hearing or still learning the language—can access the course material.
Unlike computer-generated transcripts that often miss the mark, these professionals are top-notchers when it comes to clarity and accuracy. With ensured accuracy, students who lean on these transcripts can get into the content or flip back to ideas whenever they need to.
You see, it’s not just about words on a page. It’s about giving everyone a fair shot at learning, no matter their situation. And when colleges and universities implement transcripts, they’re sending a clear message: they’re all in when it comes to meeting diverse learning needs.
Is It Better To Use Automated Transcription For Academic Recordings?
The short answer is “No”.
Let me explain.
Although automated transcription has become quite common due to the popularity of AI, it’s not the perfect fit for every academic need. Automated transcription can be an option for tasks where speed is more important than capturing every detail—though I can’t think of many transcription tasks that require speed at the expense of accuracy.
Besides, automated transcription, with its 86% accuracy (at best), will only mess up the student’s learning process.
Automated systems are hugely impacted by heavy accents, technical jargon, background noise, multiple speakers, and other factors. Not only does it create inaccurate transcripts, the “profiling” might give the wrong impression for colleges and universities promoting diversity.
In these scenarios, human transcriptionists are your best bet. Their ability to understand context, grasp unclear audio or video, and ensure terminology makes them the preferred choice for complicated academic recordings, especially those used for research or legal purposes.
That’s why manual academic transcription services are the most efficient way to support learning.
Why Choose Ditto Transcripts As Your Academic Transcription Company?
Take advantage of all the benefits of academic transcription while enjoying Ditto’s perks.
- Experience: There’s no substitute for experience; since 2010, we’ve perfected our processes and tools to give our customers the highest level of service every single time.
- Accuracy: Accuracy is non-negotiable for lectures and research discussions. That’s why we focus on delivering transcripts with 99% accuracy.
- Human Transcribers: At Ditto, we don’t use automated transcription tools. All projects are done by humans, for humans, to ensure the highest level of accuracy.
- Speed: We know deadlines are essential, so we offer flexible turnaround times. This way, you can get the needed transcripts whenever you need them.
- Foreign Language: We offer transcription services in multiple languages. We can make your academic content accessible to foreign students.
- Customer Service: We also believe in providing quality customer service. Our team is here to answer your questions or address any concerns.
- ADA-Compliant: Our transcripts can help you comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act by providing access to educational materials for students with disabilities.
- Security Compliance: We understand the importance of securing your data. So, we implement security to keep it confidential. When we say security, we mean CJIS, HIPAA, and FINRA compliance.
Foster Diversity and Equity in Higher Education With Ditto’s Transcription Strategies
Academic transcription services can support learning by helping you focus on lectures, review concepts easily, and study efficiently. So, stop wasting time with inaccurate notes. Get a transcript with 99% accuracy at affordable rates and without any of the headaches.
Ditto Transcripts is a HIPAA, FINRA, and CJIS-compliant Denver, Colorado-based transcription services company that provides fast, accurate, and affordable transcripts for individuals and companies of all sizes. Call (720) 287-3710 today for a free quote, and ask about our free five-day trial.