The Value of Diversity

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?

What is diversity? Diversity is the commitment to recognizing that people have different and unique beliefs, views, values, and opinions.

How is "multicultural" different from "intercultural"?

Multicultural means "many cultures." The term does not really address how effectively we communicate with one another. At Stonehill, we encourage and provide opportunities where individuals and/or groups of people can interact effectively with one another through a model of learning.

Why should I care about living and learning in an intercultural community?

There are a number of reasons why it is important for you to care, ranging from the philosophical to the practical.

Our world is diverse. In order to be a part of the global community, you must know how to work within a global community. With the use of the internet, our world is getting smaller and smaller, requiring us to communicate with different people from different cultures. To work effectively, one must not only appreciate that there are differences but must also know how to work within those differences.

Employers want to know you can work well with others. When you go to your next interview -- whether for a job, college, volunteer work or graduate school -- one of the questions you will likely be asked is "Prove to me you have experience effectively working with people who are not like you." If you do not have that experience, you will not be able to talk about it. The importance of "people skills".

While technology has given us the ability to respond without any face-to-face contact, many companies are finding their "edge" by saying that they DO offer personalized services. Have you ever been stuck on the phone answering a computer's question only to think, "I wish I could just talk to a real LIVE person?" Customer service expectations are at an all time high, and companies only want to hire people who can demonstrate exceptional people skills.