Minority recruitment a top priority for university

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Central Michigan University admissions staff has made minority recruitment one of its top priorities.

CMU offers a number of different events and activities that deal with minority recruitment.

Director of Undergraduate Admissions Betty Wagner said University President Michael Rao has stressed minority recruitment as a priority and said the university is committed to its recruiting plans.

“Central Michigan University is strongly committed to creating a more diverse living and learning environment for students, faculty and staff,” Wagner said.

In 2008, there were 1,618 new minority students enrolled, which is slightly lower than the 2007 number of 1,663. The past five years have seen a 9 percent increase in minority student enrollment, Wagner said.

She said CMU is always recruiting in different areas of the state.

“During the fall semester, CMU admissions representatives visit all schools in the state of Michigan with large cohorts of underrepresented students, specifically African-American, Hispanic Latino/a and Asian-American students,” Wagner said.

Targeted areas include Detroit, Saginaw, Flint, Grand Rapids, Muskegon, St. Joseph, Benton Harbor, Lansing, Holland and Kalamazoo.

These trips allow CMU admissions representatives to give students a chance to know where they stand right from the start, she said.

“We work with guidance counselors who set up appointments for high school seniors to bring their CMU application, high school transcripts and ACT scores so our admissions representative can review their materials and make an admissions decision on the spot,” Wagner said. “This service is especially appreciated by first-generation college students and their families.”

CMU offers several events, including CMU and You Day, campus tours and presentations, for minority recruits. These have included transportation from different areas in Michigan as well as free meals and sporting events tickets.

Assistant Director of Minority Student Services Sean Novak said his office is committed to making the students’ stay as pleasant as possible once they arrive on campus.

“We try creating an accommodating environment that will be appealing to students of all different ethnic backgrounds,” he said.

Flint freshman Arielle Oben said CMU is doing what it can for recruitment. She said that makes it easy to get involved on campus.

“They send me stuff in my e-mail everyday with things that I can volunteer for and with things that are coming to campus,” she said.

Wagner said that no matter the results, CMU will always be dedicated to the recruitment of minority students.

“Although we have made progress over time, we consistently wish to improve both our recruitment and retention numbers,” she said.

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