This monograph, the first in a series of three, on campus diversity issues is the result of a collaboration of scholars and evaluators who consulted on five campus diversity initiatives. It uses research findings that chart college and university efforts to move from the rhetoric of inclusion to the practice of equity, arguing that the current flurry of activity is part of a much longer democratic tradition in higher education that has gradually, and often under pressure, made a college education available to more people on an equal basis. Two sections in Chapter 1, which provides an historical background, discuss "U.S. Engagement with Diversity: Founded in Pluralism" and "The Evolving Understanding of Diversity." Chapter 2, "Centrality of Diversity to the Academy's Educational Mission," focuses on "Principal Arguments for Addressing Diversity" and "Campuses as Laboratories." Chapter 3, "The Emerging Diversity Trend," looks at "Trends across Campuses" and "The Emerging National Mosaic." Chapter 4, "Pitfalls and Pinnacles: Campus Lessons," offers "Advice from the Field" and "Dimensions of Diversity." Chapter 5, "Key to Progress: Reasons for Using Assessment in Diversity Work," underscores the value and significance of assessing diversity work in spite of the difficulty or unfamiliarity some may have with the task. An appendix lists colleges and universities that received grants from five foundations and one corporate philanthropic program. (Contains 34 references.) (SM)