Number of minority students enrolled at CMU increases

Since 2002, Central Michigan University has made efforts to increase the population of underrepresented students on campus, and those efforts have paid off.

In May, Central Michigan Life reported that minority student enrollment increased 11 percent since 2010, according to the draft of CMU’s Diversity Report Card. Recently, the Ten Year History of Faculty, Staff and Student Populations by Ethnicity was released, and CMU has increased diversity in nearly all areas.

In the fall of 2002, 84.7 percent of CMU faculty members were Caucasian. According to statistics from 2012, that number has dropped to 79.7 percent.

In 2002, there were 746 African American students recorded on campus. In 2012, that number rose to 879. Additionally, the number of Asians, Hawaiians and Hispanic students has risen, while the number of Alaskan Natives has slightly decreased.

During the May 1 Academic Senate meeting, former Associate Vice President of the Office of Institutional Diversity Denise Green gave a presentation summarizing CMU’s diversity report, saying minority student enrollment had increased since 2010.

According to a May CM Life article, extensive efforts have been made by the Office of Admissions to recruit at high schools with a high population of underrepresented students.

Kevin Williams, associate director of admissions, said in May diversity has been one of the strategic plans of the university for the past five to six years. Former CMU President Michael Rao started the diversity plan, which has been continued by the current president, George Ross.

CMU’s recruiting for students of diverse backgrounds concentrates on schools in cities such as Detroit, Flint, Lansing, Saginaw, Muskegon and Grand Rapids.

“For the state of Michigan, that’s where you’re going to find underrepresented students,” Williams said in May.

Vice President of Enrollment and Student Services Steven Johnson spoke about efforts to increase diversity at CMU during a forum held by President Ross in April.

Johnson outlined plans to create an Enrollment Management Committee to analyze all aspects of enrollment trends, including diversity.

“The committee will be a university-wide representation from all enrollment areas,” he said in April. “They will examine the mix of undergraduate students, including elements such as gender, size of class and diversity.”

CMU has programs that pull in a high number of underrepresented students. Such programs include science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Additionally, the College of Medicine is expected to draw a high number of international and underrepresented students in the future.

Green could not be reached for comment in time for publication.