Can diversity and community coexist in higher education? The case of Heritage College

A college president reviews the efforts of one small multiethnic 4-year college to improve intergroup relations in light of research concerning ethnic stereotypes. Research shows that positive intergroup contacts must have certain characteristics in order to reduce stereotypes and negative intergroup relations. Heritage College was founded in 1982 in a rural, poor: multiethnic county of Washington State that includes the Yakama Indian reservation. After describing the negative stereotypes that exist between Native Americans, Mexican Americans, and Euro-Americans in the service area of the college, the author describes the approaches that are used at the college to reduce negative stereotypes and to build community: a strong mission and vision statement; consistent, conscious, official portrayal of positive images of all groups; the use of "stories" as a major communication mechanism; development of problem-solving techniques; and consistent campus work on the skills of intercultural communications.