According to a recent study released by National Collaborative on Diversity in the Teaching Force (NCDTF), students excel when taught by professors of the same race.

The study, which found that students of color perform better academically, socially and personally when instructed by professors of their same race, was conducted as part of NCDTF's effort to increase diversity in school systems. Information released in the report highlighted the low numbers of black and Hispanic teachers in public schools.

According to the study, 17 percent of all public school students are black while only 6 percent of teachers are black. Hispanic students also make up 17 percent of public school systems compared to the 5 percent of teachers that are Hispanic.

According to the fall 2004 budget, at Penn State there are 482 minority faculty members. In comparison, there are 5,126 students who belong to minorities and 3,204 international students.

Alvaro Acuna Corrales (freshman-international politics) is originally from Costa Rica and is president of the Latin American Student Association. He said in an e-mail message that he likes the idea of having an adviser from a similar background but feels his teachers' ethnicities are not crucial to receiving a quality education. "There are ... students who come here in order to get a better understanding of how the world works," Corrales said. "If you came to get a 'worldwide' education, having a teacher of your same background narrows your vision about U.S. politics, economy and social status."

Corrales added that the transition for international students during their first year is a difficult one, and perhaps having a first-year seminar with a teacher from his country would be helpful.