Grand Valley’s overall student enrollment has increased over last
year, including numbers for students of color.
Fall enrollment stands at 24,662, up from 24,541 in 2010.
Enrollment for students of color in fall 2011 was at 13.6 percent, or
3,349 students, up from 12.8 percent (3,133 students) last year.
Philip Batty, director of Institutional Analysis, said the
numbers reflect a real increase in the ethnic diversity of students,
in spite of confusion caused by a change in the way backgrounds are
reported. Batty said in 2010, the U.S. Department of Education began
requiring institutions to track multiple ethnic backgrounds for
students and employees who wish to declare them.
Successes in admissions recruiting have contributed to the
increase in minorities, according to Jodi Chycinski, director of
Admissions. She said admissions staff members have, over time, built
great relationships with high schools in metro Detroit and other areas
like Chicago. One key, Chycinski said, is making sure prospective
students tour Grand Valley.
“We are very deliberate in bringing in buses of students to
campus and trying to expose as many students to Allendale as we can,”
she said.
Grand Valley’s current students and student organizations are
also key to help recruit new students, Chycinski said. “Once we find
out a student is from a certain hometown, we’ll try to find a current
student from there to help with a tour. We really appreciate all the
help we get from current students, who are our best ambassadors,” she said.
Specific highlights are below:
• Fall 2011 saw a 32 percent
increase in number of FTIAC students of color, 703 students as
compared to 532 in 2010.
• Fall 2011 saw a 36 percent increase in
number of new transfer students of color, 298 students compared to 218
in 2010.
Jeanne Arnold, vice president for Inclusion and Equity, said
there is work to do to ensure an inclusive campus. “Fortunately, the
university community is taking on the challenge,” she said.
Arnold added that the myGVSU Survey subcommittee will begin
meeting soon to help develop an action plan for inclusivity.
Enrollment increases for students of color
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