Annual ranking of the Top Employers among diverse students

Presented by Universum Communications and THE BLACK COLLEGIAN Magazine

Based upon a quantitative survey of the career expectations and employment preferences of over 13,000 diverse students on over 61 campuses, Universum Communications, a global research firm, has completed the list of The Top 100 Ideal Employers Among Diverse Students. Universum analyzed students' perceptions captured in research that measured Employer Brand Image, Employer Value Proposition and Best Practices of Employers. The students were also asked to select their top 5 "ideal" employers.

It is important to note that the ranking is based solely on a preference survey of university students. The preference is based upon what the students know about these employers, which is based upon previous internship experiences, "word-of-mouth" advertising, brand recognition and goodwill.

Welcome to the 2008 Workplace!

It is finally happening: diversity is slowly shifting from being just a buzz word to becoming a vital element of today's workplace. The market is demanding it, and employers are acknowledging it, fighting for top talent and rich backgrounds.

It's becoming more difficult for companies to run a successful business without reflecting the multiplicity that exists in America's brightest. In order to better service their clients, companies need to mirror the changing demographics they see across the bargaining table. They're also recognizing that diversity is a decisive ingredient in creating a progressive and thriving company with innovative ideas-your ideas.

Employers are starting to realize all of this, and it shows in the 2008 Universum diversity rankings: Companies who embrace diversity and inclusiveness climb to the top. "Attracting diverse students needs to be high on the priority list for employers today," says Camille Kelly, diversity employer specialist at Universum. "The need for their workforce to reflect the multicultural marketplace is essential for their future success."

In the past years we have seen that companies within the consumer and entertainment industries are popular among undergraduates and MBAs with a diverse background. But more traditional companies, such as Goldman Sachs and The Boston Consulting Group, are starting to make it to the top. Goldman Sachs climbed to the top three among diverse MBA students last year. This year, they also made it into the top three preferred employers among undergraduate students.

Today's young talent-the leaders of tomorrow-simply expect diversity. It's high time for the rest of the corporate America to follow this lead, or they will fall behind!

On the following pages, you'll read about the employers that diverse students in the U.S prefer to work for. We've spoken to a selection of young employees at some of these companies. They all regard diversity and inclusiveness as a motivation for them to go to work and do better each day.

- The Universum Editorial Team

UNIVERSUM is The Global Employer Branding Leader. As thought leaders, we drive the industry forward having focused exclusively on Employer Branding (EB) for 20 years. We are a trusted partner to over 500 clients worldwide including many Fortune 100 companies. We help employers to understand, attract and retain current and future ideal employees utilizing our experience, knowledge and services within research, strategic consulting and media solutions. UNIVERSUM publishes a portfolio of products, including WetFeet Insider Guides, MBA Jungle and Jungle Campus. Our main web sites are wetfeet.com and internshipprograms.com.

A Year of Changes ...

When discussing the role of diversity in the U.S. this year, it's almost impossible not to reflect on the presidential election. It's unique to say the least. Whether the Republicans or the Democrats come out one top, it's clear we'll witness a true national milestone: either the country's first African-American president in the White House or the first female vice president.

It's apparent that the country is changing, and that a new generation-the Millenials-are driving this change. But it's not limited to just politics-the workplace is changing as well. Students today demand a diverse workforce. In the Universum overall survey we see a diverse workplace being ranked a priority when students consider a future employer.

Students on campuses across the U.S. have experienced a world that is much different than what the boardroom elders of Wall Street grew up with. Today's students have matured into a worldview where diversity is a natural part of their lives. Stepping into the workplace, they will expect nothing less.

Is a rich, diverse American workplace a realistic goal? Well, we need to look no further than the top candidates vying for the nation's job-number-one for that answer.

"When I hear the cynical talk that blacks and whites and Latinos can't join together and work together, I'm reminded of the Latino brothers and sisters I organized with, and stood with, and fought with side by side for jobs and justice on the streets of Chicago. So don't tell us change can't happen." - Barack Obama speech in South Carolina 1/26/08

Career Goals Among Diverse Students in 2008