Zones of exclusion: is research eminence antithetical to inclusive access in the United States?

Overview

In the United States both equity and excellence are typically understood as a function of undergraduate selection. Equitable excellence implies admitting a small share of applicants but enrolling at least some students from all backgrounds.

This mix of absolute exclusion with inclusive social representation ultimately rests on ideologies of meritocracy and equity of opportunity. Such an approach implies that equitable excellence may be achieved by technical solutions such as improving the selection processes and/or providing equal academic preparation to all students.

This seminar explores the possibility that the problem of achieving equitable excellence is more intractable and complex than this narrative suggests, in part because exclusion might be associated with factors other than student selection. We consider the relationship between research eminence and equity.

Using latent profile analysis we categorise US universities based on their research activities. Subsequent regression analysis demonstrates that increases in the proportion of low-income and racial minority students strongly predict belonging to less elite categories, even when accounting for selectivity. Drawing on sociological and political economy theory we hypothesise that exclusion both promotes organisational consensus on the prioritisation of research and makes available resources that can further support the research mission.