The AAUP's support for affirmative action stems from the well-documented educational benefits of racial diversity in higher education. Following are links and cites to some of the numerous studies and reports examining and supporting the benefits of racial diversity.
ACE - AAUP Report "Does Diversity Make a Difference? Three Research Studies on Diversity in College Classrooms." (pdf)
University of Michigan research links: The University of Michigan has collected numerous resources and research data on the benefits of diversity in higher education. For links to this research, visit <http://www.umich.edu/~urel/admissions/research/>
Other References:
Chang, M., Witt, D., Jones, J., and Hakuta, K. (Eds.). (1999). Compelling interest: Examining the evidence of racial dynamics in higher education. Washington, DC: American Educational Research Association.
Holzer, H., & Neumark, D. (2000). Assessing affirmative action. Journal of Economics Literature, 38, 483-568.
Milem, J. F., & Hakuta, K. (2000). The Benefits of Racial and Ethnic Diversity in Higher Education. In D. Wilds (Ed.), Minorities in higher education 1999-2000: Seventeenth annual status report. Washington, D.C.: American Council on Education, 39-64.
Milem, J.F. (in press). The educational benefits of diversity: Evidence from multiple sectors. In M. Chang, D. Witt, J. Jones, & K. Hakuta (Eds.). Compelling interest: Examining the evidence on racial dynamics in higher education. Palo Alto, CA: Stanford University Press.
Terenzini, P.T., Cabrera, A.F., Colbeck, C.L., Bjorkland, S.A., and Parente, J.M. (2001). Racial and ethnic diversity in the classroom: Does it promote student learning? Journal of Higher Education, 72(5), 509-531.
Whitt, E. J., Edison, M. I., Pascarella, E. T., Terenzini, P. T., & Nora, A. (2001). Influences on students' openness to diversity and challenge in the second and third years of college. Journal of Higher Education, 72, 172-204.