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CONTACT: Elizabeth Conlisk (614) 292-3040

 

Report to show diversity investment is smart for economy

Ohio State president to address Minorities in Education forum

William E. Kirwan, president of The Ohio State University, will discuss Saturday (10/20) some of the findings of a report stressing the social responsibility and economic imperative of investing in diversity.

His comments will be delivered at the American Council on Education’s Minorities in Education meeting at the Cincinnati Convention Center.

“Our nation is becoming much more racially and ethnically diverse, although that diversity is unevenly distributed,” he said. “Unless we correct inequities in elementary and secondary education resources and increase student financial aid, tomorrow’s workforce will be unprepared for the challenges of a knowledge-intensive workplace and unable to take advantage of the vast opportunities our economy will offer.  We have long known that increasing diversity is the right thing to do,” Kirwan said. “This report confirms that insuring a vibrant civic, social and economic future is also the smart thing to do.”

In his address, Kirwan will discuss results of the 2000 Census, a primary source for findings in the report, commissioned by the Business Higher Education Forum (BHEF). The full report by the BHEF will be released in mid-November. 

Kirwan, who co-chaired the forum, said that while the nation is growing by 13 percent, the minority population is increasing by a staggering 35 percent, led by Hispanics and Asian Americans, then African Americans. Meanwhile, the non-Hispanic white population increased by just 3.4 percent.

Kirwan will be available to reporters briefly after he delivers his remarks.   

WHAT:            A report from the ACE Minorities in Education committee, to be delivered by Ohio State President William E. Kirwan                         

WHEN:           12:30  - 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20

WHERE:         Cincinnati Convention Center, 525 Elm St., Ballrooms A and B, third floor           

WHY:              To communicate the importance of correcting inequities in education resources so that all will be prepared for the challenges of a knowledge-intensive work place.

 

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