In keeping with one of MSU’s six Guiding Principles - advancing diversity within the university community - record numbers of minorities and women are coming to MSU.
Enrollment of minority freshmen, according to a report released recently by the Office of Affirmative Action Compliance and Monitoring, reached an all-time high in 2000. Women represent 53.6 percent of the student population and gains were reported among both groups in the academic tenure system.
“While numbers represent one measurement of our success, they do not adequately speak to the tremendous work that is being done to assure that all faculty, staff and students have access to opportunities and share in the benefits of our diversity,” said Paulette Granberry Russell, director of Affirmative Action and Compliance at MSU and senior adviser to the president on diversity issues.
She said scholarships geared toward minority students, the College Academic Achievement Program and restructuring of the Department of Residence Life to include “multicultural competence” are just some of the reasons for the rise in statistics.
Also factoring into the increase are demographic shifts, such as increasing birth and immigration rates, said Rodney Patterson, director of the Office of Minority Student Affairs at MSU.
“The pool of potential students is becoming extremely diverse, so of course that will have an impact on your numbers for entering classes,” Patterson said.
But despite the increase of incoming students, staff and faculty, retention continues to be an issue for women and minorities at MSU.
In her presentation to the MSU Board of Trustees on Friday, Granberry Russell said her office will focus on improving the retention of minorities and women within the faculty tenure system. Both parties have a higher-than-average rate of resignation.
And Murray Edwards, senior coordinator for Minority Student Affairs, said while records show larger numbers of minority students coming to MSU, retention rates for ethnic groups continue to fall below the university average.
“Once you break it down by ethnic groups, that’s when you have some problems,” he said. “What happens with minority numbers is there’s usually an ethnic group that carries the numbers. That tends to be Asian American students, and their rates can be at or above those of Caucasian students.”
Retention is an issue MSU has shown a sense of commitment toward, Patterson said.
“I think we’re showing sensitivity to reality rather than counting our successes without looking at our challenges,” he said.
And the university is striving for improvement of diversity in all areas, said Granberry Russell.
“We’re not where we want to be yet, but we’re constantly working toward that goal,” she said.
While there may be some variance along the way, Granberry Russell said she expects MSU will continue to become more diverse.
English junior Shanisha Harmon said she thinks the university is doing enough to promote diversity, but the change in demographics isn’t apparent to her.
“I don’t see that much of a difference,” she said. “I’m still usually the only black person in my classes.”
And the university should continue to place importance on increasing diversity on campus, finance freshman Kevin Urek said.
“The world is becoming more diverse and so is the work force,” he said. “So we need to learn to interact with other races and genders.”
Sheena Harrison can be reached at harri188@msu.edu.
