MSU's incoming 2003-04 freshman class is expected to be less diverse than last year's class.

According to preliminary enrollment numbers released Friday, there is an incoming-freshmen enrollment drop in all four major ethnic groups - black, Asian American and Pacific Islander, Native American and Chicano and Latino.

The biggest decrease in freshman enrollment occurred with black students, decreasing from 707 incoming students in 2002 to 650 students this fall. Native Americans are the least-represented minority - there were only 45 students enrolled this year compared to 57 last year.

"I've definitely noticed less Native-American freshmen," said Ashley Harding, co-chairwoman of the Native American Indian Student Organization. "In a way, it's affecting our organization because this year we only have returning members."

The preliminary numbers are expected to be finalized today.

Pamela Horne, assistant to the provost for enrollment management and director of admissions, said it's common for enrollment levels to fluctuate from year to year.

"There is steep competition for recruiting these students all across the state and country," Horne said. "Right now, our proportion of students of color in the freshman class exceeds the proportion of students of color who graduate from high school in the state of Michigan."

The freshman class is composed of 18.9 percent minorities, compared to 17.6 percent of minorities represented in Michigan's 1999 high-school graduating class, according to the most recent data.

MSU minority enrollment is expected to drop from 7,389 students in 2002 to 7,380 students in 2003. There was a slight increase in enrollment of Chicanos and Latinos and Asian American and Pacific Islanders from last year, and a slight decrease in black and Native-American enrollment.

Total minority enrollment is expected to be about 16.6 percent of the student body - .2 percent higher than last year.

Murray Edwards, senior coordinator in the Office of Racial Ethnic Student Affairs, said the administration's decision to lower enrollment rates and competition among students affect incoming minority enrollment.

""We have a few less (minority) students coming through, but those students should be more prepared and focused on graduating."

Benita Mehta can be reached at mehtaben@msu.edu.

Antonio Planas can be reached at planasan@msu.edu.