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Gender Imbalance in Higher Education: Insights for College Administrators and Researchers

Author

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  • Dylan Conger

    (George Washington University)

  • Lisa Dickson

    (University of Maryland Baltimore County)

Abstract

University administrators often strive for racial, socioeconomic, and geographic diversity in their student populations. Today, administrators face a new demographic challenge as women increasingly outnumber men in applications, enrollments, and graduation rates. This article discusses the causes and potential consequences of the growing gender imbalance and the legality of admissions policies that attempt to restore balance by giving preference to males. Using multiple analytic approaches, we test whether a public institution with increasing female enrollments responded by giving preferences in admissions to males. We conclude with insights for administrators and researchers.

Suggested Citation

  • Dylan Conger & Lisa Dickson, 2017. "Gender Imbalance in Higher Education: Insights for College Administrators and Researchers," Research in Higher Education, Springer;Association for Institutional Research, vol. 58(2), pages 214-230, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:reihed:v:58:y:2017:i:2:d:10.1007_s11162-016-9421-3
    DOI: 10.1007/s11162-016-9421-3
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    Cited by:

    1. Adele H. Marshall & Mariangela Zenga & Aglaia Kalamatianou, 2020. "Academic Students’ Progress Indicators and Gender Gaps Based on Survival Analysis and Data Mining Frameworks," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 151(3), pages 1097-1128, October.
    2. Alnaa, Samuel Erasmus & Matey, Juabin, 2023. "Women's Access to Post-Secondary Education and Structural Inequalities," MPRA Paper 118327, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 15 Jul 2023.
    3. Natalie Lecy & Philip Osteen, 2022. "The Effects of Childhood Trauma on College Completion," Research in Higher Education, Springer;Association for Institutional Research, vol. 63(6), pages 1058-1072, September.
    4. Anne-Roos Verbree & Lisette Hornstra & Lientje Maas & Leoniek Wijngaards-de Meij, 2023. "Conscientiousness as a Predictor of the Gender Gap in Academic Achievement," Research in Higher Education, Springer;Association for Institutional Research, vol. 64(3), pages 451-472, May.

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