Recruitment and Retention of Non-Caucasian Faculty at Small Midwestern Private Institutions: A Phenomenological Study

Abstract

Increasing the diversity of faculty in small institutions is critical for accreditation and the cultural environment of the institutions. A phenomenological approach using interviews identified factors that lead to successful recruitment and retention. An important finding regarding recruiting is that the majority of the participants were recruited in a non-traditional manner by a personal contact from the institution. An important finding regarding retention is that the participants described the Midwest to be welcoming and accepting of minorities. To increase diversity, institutions should consider non-traditional recruiting techniques and promoting the Midwest as a comfortable place for non-Caucasians to live and work.