Anderson dean: Increasing diversity a struggle

When Bruce Willison was CEO of the First Interstate Bank, he
worked to create a diverse customer base. When he began serving as
dean of UCLA’s Anderson School of Management in 1999, he
shifted this focus to creating a more diverse student
population.

However, diversity has largely remained stagnant at Anderson
since Willison began his stint as dean. As he steps down from his
post at the end of the academic year, the school must rethink its
diversity policies to compete for students with the less-restricted
private school sector.

In 1999, ethnic minorities, including Asian Americans, blacks,
American Indians and Latinos comprised 23 percent of
Anderson’s enrolling student population. Minorities make up
25 percent of the the class that enrolled in 2003.

Willison accepted his position at the Anderson School of
Management at a time of economic decline and when legislation made
it difficult for him to execute his goal of fostering
diversity.

Willison said the passage in 1996 of Proposition 209 ““
which bans California state agencies from considering race in state
hiring, contracting and school admissions ““ has played a role
in the standstill in minority enrollment.

Willison said minority students might choose a private business
school over Anderson because private schools are not subject to
Proposition 209’s provisions.

“Anderson is precluded from taking into consideration
one’s race,” Willison said. “Our hands are tied
internally, and externally, there is no question that ethnic
minorities are seeing the UC system as unfriendly to
minorities.”

Minorities might also turn to private schools because private
schools are able to award financial aid to applicants based solely
on ethnicity, Willison added.

Rakesh Sarin, a senior associate dean at the Anderson School of
Management, said diversity encompasses more than the school’s
percentage of ethnic minorities.

“Diversity is not only about numbers and statistics, but
tolerance of different views,” Sarin said. “If
something doesn’t work, you’ve got to keep trying until
you reach levels you feel are right.”

The dean’s role is also important for making sure the
atmosphere is comfortable for all the students, Sarin said.

“The dean sets the tone about the issue, and Bruce is very
committed to it,” he said.

A dean plays an important role in fostering a diverse campus
atmosphere because they are the leaders in promoting the
school’s needs, said Randolph Westerfield, dean of the USC
Marshall School of Business.

“Everything starts at the top,” Westerfield said.
“If the dean doesn’t start talking about it with his
advisory board, it won’t happen.”

USC has several programs aimed at enhancing the learning
experience of minority students, Westerfield said. One such program
is the Graduate Association for the Study of Management, an
association of 14 business schools, including New York University
and Dartmouth, that prepares these students for MBA programs.

Willison has made it a priority to ensure programs are in place
to maintain a diverse atmosphere for students.

UCLA’s Anderson School takes pride in the Riordan Program,
which enables minority high school students to visit the school and
learn about the importance of business, Willison said.

Willison has personally telephoned newly accepted minority
students in the past, congratulating them on their acceptances and
trying to persuade them to attend the Anderson School.

“Internally, we’ve devised an openness and tolerance
of people at the school. Faculty and students are open in embracing
diversity,” Willison said.