Global Social Change at the Crossroads of Campus Internationalization and Diversity Initiatives: Unveiling Equity Practices in US Universities

This study investigates how comprehensive internationalization policies, while creating valuable educational opportunities for students, may inadvertently contribute to increased inequity on campus. Utilizing a case study approach focused on a specific university, the research critically examines the alignment between internationalization and equity policies through document analysis and structured interviews. The study evaluates the congruency between the university's stated goals of equity and internationalization (espoused theories) and the actual day-to-day practices of the international and diversity offices (theories-in-practice). The findings reveal that the reproduction of inequity arises due to discrepancies between case study institution's espoused theories and their practical implementation. This research underscores the importance of administrators fostering organizational structures that encourage collaboration and task interdependence between campus units, as well as the integration of equity metrics into key performance indicators.