Beautiful Solutions

How to increase attendance at your multicultural programs

By Michael Nejman

  In the film “A Beautiful Mind,” Russell Crowe portrays brilliant real-life mathematician and Nobel Prize winner John Forbes Nash Jr.  Early in the film, Nash, while trying to develop an original theory, takes normal everyday occurrences and turns them into various formulas.  With this in mind, I’ve created a two formulas and two theories designed to help increase student attendance at multicultural programs and diversity workshops:

     C + F = GTO  (Cash + Food = Great Turn Outs)

  Cr + F = EvBTO (Credit + Food = Even Better Turn Outs)

Theory #1: Students will come if they receive CASH, CREDIT or FOOD (The carrot-and-stick approach).

Students have a variety of responsibilities, priorities, and desires.  On any given day, classes, homework, jobs, family commitments, relationships, sleep, exercise and a wide variety of diversions all have a place and time.  A college might stage the best multicultural experience imaginable, but if a student’s schedule is already tight, it might not get squeezed in.  Here are a few ways to help lure people to multicultural programs:

CASH:  If it is desired to have club and organization leaders participate in a diversity workshop, insist that three to five club members participate from each group in order to receive club funding that year.  OR, offer "educational grants" to clubs that participate (i.e. $50 additional funding if three to five members participate in the workshop). Each college funds clubs and organizations differently.  What might work for your situation?  (Note: having club/organization leaders involved is a GREAT way to promote alliance building and community on your campus!!).  For a multicultural event, prizes can be offered during or at the end of an event to entice people to attend.

CREDIT: Can faculty members offer extra credit if a student participates in a diversity workshop or attends a special multicultural event?  Or, can the event or workshop be scheduled at the same time as an appropriate, related class so that the instructor can bring his/her class?  This idea can work well with Sociology, Speech, Communication, Orientation, and Psychology classes.  Build bridges with a few faculty members to test this theory.  Even if only one or two instructors bring their classes, the additional numbers could mean the difference between “failure” and “success” for the activity or workshop.

FOOD: During the workshop break, offer refreshments, and for those who complete the program, offer a free pizza party to celebrate (i.e. if it's a morning workshop, then it's pizza for lunch; it it's an afternoon workshop, then pizza for dinner).  If you are promoting an event, ethnic food tie-ins are often a natural, fun way to add another dimension to the activity.



Theory #2:  Students will attend if they know it will benefit them in the future.

What’s in it for them?  Why should they dedicate 60-minutes, two hours, or even more time to the multicultural program?  Of course there are many altruistic, “human” reasons that diversity education is worthwhile and beneficial to the development of a person; but sometimes, that might not be reason enough.

In your promotional pieces, clearly state that: Everyone needs to be exposed to diversity education.  James Boyer, formerly of Kansas State University, said: "It's not where you are now, but it's where you are going.  If you are not exposed to diversity education, you will be UNDER-EDUCATED for now and the future." 

  Even if you are in a homogenous environment now, if you plan to work in an urban center, you will be exposed to people different than you.  Your boss, the people you work with, or your clients -- could be another race than you, be foreign-born, speak English as a second language, be gay and/or disabled.  If you are not comfortable with people who are different than you, you will NOT be effective in today's workforce.  Therefore, diversity workshops and multicultural programs will not only help you gain additional information about people of different ethnicities, races, religions, abilities, and sexual orientation, but more importantly, you will have opportunities to be with people different than you in a potentially safe, non-threatening, academic environment. 

  Finally, clearly state on all of your promotional materials that: “Everyone is invited!”

For more ideas specific to your particular campus, please consult with Michael Nejman at least six weeks prior to your workshop or event.