---
title: 2 Tips for Improving Diversity and Inclusion at Your Institution
description: Achieving your diversity and inclusion goals can be a challenge. Learn the most effective way to engage these candidates to achieve your diversity goals.
image: https://blog.mutarainc.com/hubfs/Colored%20Pencils-1.png
---

[![www.mutarainc.com](https://blog.mutarainc.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Mutara_H_Web.png?width=864&height=325&name=Mutara_H_Web.png "www.mutarainc.com")](http://mutarainc.com)

Open main menu Close main menu

[Best practices](https://blog.mutarainc.com/tag/best-practices) [Mobility](https://blog.mutarainc.com/tag/mobility) [Community College](https://blog.mutarainc.com/tag/community-college)

# 2 Tips for Improving Diversity and Inclusion at Your Institution

[Larry Grey](https://blog.mutarainc.com/author/larry-grey)

[Share this blog post on Twitter](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=I+found+this+interesting+blog+post&url=https://blog.mutarainc.com/want-to-improve-diversity-and-inclusion-at-your-institution-do-this-right-now) [Share this blog post on LinkedIn](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://blog.mutarainc.com/want-to-improve-diversity-and-inclusion-at-your-institution-do-this-right-now)

Diversity and Inclusion.  Whether your institution's goal is to attract new students to offer new experiences and world views or expand enrollment numbers, moving the needle can be a challenge.  Fortunately, there is one thing you can do to engage these candidates and achieve your diversity goals. 

## Access to Technology

National Center for Education Statistics [published a report](https://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/indicator/cch) illustrating the disparity in access to technology between different ethnic backgrounds and income levels.  The number of students who don't have access to the internet at home via a computer is a significant barrier to reaching them as potential students.

| ![Graphic showing 1/5 of Black Students](https://blog.mutarainc.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Black%20Students%20Lack%20of%20Computer%20Access-1.png?width=249&name=Black%20Students%20Lack%20of%20Computer%20Access-1.png) | ![Graphic showing 1/5 of Hispanic Students](https://blog.mutarainc.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Hispanic%20Students%20Lack%20of%20Computer%20Access-1.png?width=249&name=Hispanic%20Students%20Lack%20of%20Computer%20Access-1.png) |
| --- | --- |
| ![Graphic showing 1/3 of American Indian Students](https://blog.mutarainc.com/hs-fs/hubfs/American%20Indian%20Students%20Lack%20of%20Computer%20Access-1.png?width=249&name=American%20Indian%20Students%20Lack%20of%20Computer%20Access-1.png) | ![Graphic showing 1/3 of Pacific Islander Students](https://blog.mutarainc.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Pacific%20Islander%20Students%20Lack%20of%20Computer%20Access-1.png?width=249&name=Pacific%20Islander%20Students%20Lack%20of%20Computer%20Access-1.png) |

 However, there is a significant number of students who can access the internet via a smartphone even when they don't otherwise have access to the internet at home.

 

| ![1/9 of Black Students](https://blog.mutarainc.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Black%20Students%20Smartphone%20Only%20Access.png?width=325&name=Black%20Students%20Smartphone%20Only%20Access.png) | ![1/9 of Hispanic Students](https://blog.mutarainc.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Hispanic%20Students%20Smartphone%20Only%20Access.png?width=325&name=Hispanic%20Students%20Smartphone%20Only%20Access.png) |
| --- | --- |
| ![1/8 of American Indian](https://blog.mutarainc.com/hs-fs/hubfs/American%20Indian%20Smartphone%20Only%20Access.png?width=325&name=American%20Indian%20Smartphone%20Only%20Access.png) | ![1/10 Pacific Islander Students](https://blog.mutarainc.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Pacific%20Islander%20Smartphone%20Only%20Access.png?width=325&name=Pacific%20Islander%20Smartphone%20Only%20Access.png) |

 Additionally, students from families in the lowest 50% of all family incomes are 83% more likely to have internet access limited to smartphones (1/10 of all at that income level).

 

![Chart showing that 1 out of every 7 students at lowest income level only have access to smartphone, whereas the highest quartile has 1 out of 100](https://blog.mutarainc.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Percent%20of%20students%20with%20smartphone%20only%20access%20by%20income%20level%20(400%20%C3%97%20150%20px).png?width=500&name=Percent%20of%20students%20with%20smartphone%20only%20access%20by%20income%20level%20(400%20%C3%97%20150%20px).png)

```
 
```

***Percent of students with internet access limited to smartphones by income level***

```
 
```

## Mobile Access Drives Diversity

This means that institutions that optimize their admissions engagement strategy for computer access are putting these potential students at a disadvantage.  Adopt a mobile-first strategy and your institution can immediately reach an additional 10%-12% of diverse candidates.

Therefore, you can improve diversity and inclusion by doing the following:

1. Mobile-enable your application for admission and other student systems.  This means that these systems need to be easy to use on a smartphone and be fully-functioned.
2. Engage with candidates via text messaging and voice.  These are channels optimized for mobile devices.  Although email is available on smartphones, it isn't the optimal method of engagement on that platform.

If you want to see this in action, check out the video below, where a candidate starts the admission process on their smart phone from a flyer received at a recruiting event.

[Get in touch](https://blog.mutarainc.com/want-to-improve-diversity-and-inclusion-at-your-institution-do-this-right-now#schudele-demo)

## Related Articles

[![](https://blog.mutarainc.com/hubfs/Supreme%20Court%202.png)](https://blog.mutarainc.com/4-ways-the-supreme-court-ruling-on-affirmative-action-will-shape-higher-ed-admissions-and-how-a-configurable-online-application-can-help)

[Higher Education](https://blog.mutarainc.com/tag/higher-education) [Admissions](https://blog.mutarainc.com/tag/admissions) [In the news](https://blog.mutarainc.com/tag/in-the-news)

### [4 Ways the Supreme Court Ruling on Affirmative Action will Shape Higher Ed Admissions - and How a Configurable Online Application Can Help](https://blog.mutarainc.com/4-ways-the-supreme-court-ruling-on-affirmative-action-will-shape-higher-ed-admissions-and-how-a-configurable-online-application-can-help)

The recent Supreme Court ruling banning the consideration of race in college admissions has sent shockwaves through the world of higher education. Institutions are now...

[Joseph Miller](https://blog.mutarainc.com/author/joseph-miller) 

[Read More](https://blog.mutarainc.com/4-ways-the-supreme-court-ruling-on-affirmative-action-will-shape-higher-ed-admissions-and-how-a-configurable-online-application-can-help)

[![](https://blog.mutarainc.com/hubfs/Canva%20-%20Tired%20student%20girl%20lying%20on%20the%20floor%20with%20books%20and%20gadgets%20300x175.jpg)](https://blog.mutarainc.com/what-type-of-student-are-you-prevent-selection-fatigue-and-poor-admissions-engagement)

[Best practices](https://blog.mutarainc.com/tag/best-practices) [Examples](https://blog.mutarainc.com/tag/examples) [User experience](https://blog.mutarainc.com/tag/user-experience)

### [Are you frustrating your admissions candidates with this question?](https://blog.mutarainc.com/what-type-of-student-are-you-prevent-selection-fatigue-and-poor-admissions-engagement)

> "Please select the type of student you are"

This was the very first question asked in the online application of an institution we met with this week. It was followed...

[Larry Grey](https://blog.mutarainc.com/author/larry-grey) 

[Read More](https://blog.mutarainc.com/what-type-of-student-are-you-prevent-selection-fatigue-and-poor-admissions-engagement)

### Schedule a Demo

#### Company

- [About Mutara](https://info.mutarainc.com/about-mutara)
- [Blog](https://blog.mutarainc.com)
- [Privacy Policy](https://info.mutarainc.com/privacy-terms)

#### Products

- [Admissions Candidate Application](https://info.mutarainc.com/product-application-for-admissions)
- [Non-Degree Registration and Enrollment](https://info.mutarainc.com/product-continuing-education)

[Follow us on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/mutarainc/) [Follow us on Twitter](https://twitter.com/mutarainc) [Follow us on Facebook](mailto:info@mutarainc.com)