By: Joe Camarata Photo Credit: Stampede Archive
Faculty diversity could be dependent on the alumni of Milligan, according to Vice President and Academic Dean Garland Young.
“We want students with different ethnic backgrounds to graduate from Milligan and go on to receive their master’s degree or Ph. D and return to teach,” said Young. “Many of our faculty are alumni from Milligan and that could play a big role in the future of our faculty’s diversity.”
The long-term goal of the administration is to encourage students to go into Christian higher education to teach, according to Young. And with the growing diversity among students on campus, this idea could come to fruition.
Before the Betty Goah scholarship was created in 2004, about four percent of the student body was of an ethnic background. The diversity of the student body has grown to a rising 14 percent since then.
Not only is Milligan growing, but also it is being recognized for its commitment to diversity.
Milligan has recently received the Access Retention and Completion (A.R.C.) grant, sponsored by the Appalachian College Association (A.C.A.). This grant will provide encouragement to academically strong Hispanic students. The A.R.C. grant will encourage students to get involved in the office of undergraduate research and help sponsor faculty mentored student research projects.
According to Young, this is a huge financial commitment to diversify the student body.
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