Amherst College
PA-7: Racial and Ethnic Diversity

7.1 Ethnic diversity index

An institution earns 1 point when the ethnic diversity index for its A) students, B) academic staff, C) non-academic staff, and D) executive staff is each 0.75 or greater. Incremental points are available and earned as outlined in the Technical Manual.

Measurement

This credit requires the completion of a racial and ethnic diversity worksheet. Report the most recent data available from within the previous three years. This may be a representative snapshot (e.g., at the beginning of an academic term) or the average of a one to three year period. 

The institution’s analysis must be based on the prevailing social characteristic(s) by which one or more dominant groups are distinguished from marginalized racial, ethnic, and/or Indigenous groups in the institution’s national context and for which data are available. This should include, at minimum, existing regional or national census categories. Recognizing the inherent challenges associated with socially constructed categories, however, an institution that has taken a more refined approach to defining marginalized groups (e.g., by recognizing more specific identities) are encouraged to include those figures to the extent the data allow. Groups that comprise less than 1 percent of the population being assessed may be excluded. 

International students and employees may be excluded from the analysis. If international students and/or employees are included, they must be classified as part of a dominant group unless they have self-identified as members of marginalized racial, ethnic, and/or Indigenous groups. 

An institution may report on its entire student body or limit its analysis to the predominant student body. Students who have not identified themselves as members of any groups must be included in the analysis and classified as part of a dominant group. 

Report on all regular/permanent employees. Employees who have not identified themselves as members of any groups must be included in the analysis and classified as part of a dominant group. Individual executive staff members may be classified as academic staff, non-academic staff, or neither and may therefore also be included in the academic and non-academic staff figures. There is no need to avoid double-counting in this regard.

For guidance on accessing demographic data for the region served by the institution, see the STARS Help Center.

7.2 Percentage of marginalized racial, ethnic, and/or Indigenous groups equitably represented among students

An institution earns 1 point when it is able to demonstrate, using demographic information for the region served, that all of the marginalized racial, ethnic, and/or Indigenous groups in the region are equitably represented among students, i.e., that the ratio is 0.9 or greater for each group. Incremental points are available and earned as outlined in the Technical Manual.

Measurement

Report the relevant figures from the completed racial and ethnic diversity worksheet provided for indicator 7.1.

7.3 Percentage of marginalized racial, ethnic, and/or Indigenous groups equitably represented among employees

An institution earns 1 point when it is able to demonstrate, using demographic information for the region served, that all of the marginalized racial, ethnic, and/or Indigenous groups in the region are equitably represented among 1) regular/permanent academic staff, 2) regular/permanent non-academic staff, and 3) executive staff, i.e., that the ratio is 0.9 or greater for each group. Incremental points are available and earned as outlined in the Technical Manual.

Measurement

Report the relevant figures from the completed racial and ethnic diversity worksheet provided for indicator 7.1.

Applicable to all institutions except those whose primary purpose and/or historic mission is to serve a specific marginalized racial, ethnic, or Indigenous population. An Aboriginal college, Historically Black College or University (HBCU), First Nations university, Tribal College or University (TCU), wānanga, or international equivalent may mark this credit as Not Applicable.