Many institutions in Higher Education attempt to create at least a semblance of diversity through affirmative action because minorities tend to be in worse social and economic situations in the United States and admitting more from their ranks theoretically would help change this situation. Yet, who are these minority students who get into the top notch institutions? Are they actually the poor and downtrodden from the lowest economic bracket?

The Federal Statistics note that at least percentage-wise, there has been an enormous increase in foreign students in the US. The data in that article put foreigners in separate categories from African, Asian, Hispanic, or White Americans. Do other statistics that measure diversity separate these categories? Can excepting rich members of the elites of other countries, who maybe ethnically a minority in the US, skew the statistics in creating a semblance of progressive diversity?

Some articles argued for the economic class to replace race in affirmative action. At current tuition rates, would that really make a difference? If the poor cannot afford college, they may simply not go even when accepted.

All throughout the reading there is great skepticism about the willingness and/or ability of the state and federal governments of the US to help even state institutions financially or regulate them effectively. What needs to change for this to happen?

The military was not mentioned in most (unless I missed it, all) of the articles. Yet, it provides a way for many people from not particularly privileged backgrounds to attain higher education at affordable levels (admittedly with the very real risk of suffering PTSD in the process). What role does this in a way backdoor help from the federal government in shaping higher education? Could increasing this role be a possible way of compromising liberal economic and social economic views of the situation in HE?