To explore how diversity issues in a democratic society impact higher education, the University of California, Davis, has launched a new speaker series. Called the Provost's Conversations on Community, Diversity and Higher Education, the program will feature three prominent scholars and recognized facilitators as guest speakers during the year. Carlos Cortes, professor emeritus of history at UC Riverside, will be the first speaker 3:30-5:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 6, in the University Club Lounge. His subject is "Beyond Affirmative Action." Cortes has lectured throughout the world on such topics as race and ethnicity, multiculturalism, Latin American and Chicano history, and the implications of ethnic and global diversity for education, government and private business. He has written film and television documentaries, has appeared as guest host on the PBS series "Why in the World" and is the featured presenter on the Video Journal of Education's 1994 training video "Diversity in the Classroom." In February, the speaker will be Darlene Clark Hine, the John A. Hannah Distinguished Professor of American History at Michigan State University and author of numerous scholarly articles and books addressing the intersection of race, gender, class and history in the United States. In May, the final speaker will be Daryl G. Smith, professor of education and psychology at the Claremont College Graduate University. Her research interests center on diversity in higher education, women in academe and institutional research. She has served as a consultant on evaluation, planning and diversity at a variety of colleges and universities. The series is jointly sponsored by the Office of the Provost and the campus Office for Diversity, Affirmative Action and Equal Employment Opportunity.