This preliminary review of the research literature addresses the impact of various diversity initiatives on student learning and experiences in college. These initiatives focus on practices and programs that address access, retention, and academic success of historically underrepresented students and also on more comprehensive efforts to alter the ethos of institutions to better educate a diverse cohort of students for a complex global society. The introduction focuses on court challenges to segregation in colleges and discusses the effects of the university culture on the success of diversity programs. Other topics reviewed include: using university resources and frameworks for the study of diversity; the significance of social and academic involvement for minority group students; research on institutions experiencing success in educating nontraditional students; and the impact of diversity initiatives on majority and minority students with particular reference to multi- and cross-institutional studies, single campus institutional evaluations, improving access for underrepresented students, improving academic success and retention among underrepresented students, and curricular and co-curricular programs. The review concludes that, in the context of the changing political climate for diversity at American postsecondary institutions, continuing evaluation of institutional diversity initiatives is necessary. (Contains an annotated bibliography of approximately 135 references.) (CK)