Increasing diversity and racial emotions on campus

Many institutions seek to recruit and retain students of colour. What affective responses occur in the campus racial climate when the percentage of students of colour on campus increases? In this qualitative study, we analyse interviews with first-year students before and after a significant increase in the percentage of students of colour. We find that as racial diversity on campus increases, White students feel threatened and are less able to ignore race and their whiteness. Furthermore, as racial diversity increases, the belief that students of colour receive unearned benefits on campus emerges. We argue that racial emotions are an important component of a campus climate, and call for institutions to attend to emotions as they seek to support students of colour.