The percentage of black students enrolled in the University reached more than 10 percent this semester – the highest percentage documented for a fall or spring semester by the Office of Budget and Planning.
The increased percentage moves the University closer to obtaining diversity goals outlined in the Flagship Agenda and reaching the percentile of 24 percent minority, which the campus was wrongly honored for in 2003. The campus was mistakenly named the country’s most diverse campus but only had a minority population of about 15 percent.
The influx of students following Hurricane Katrina increased the percentage of black students from 8.88 percent to 10.84 percent.
Every year the Office of Budget and Planning releases statistics totaled on the 14th day of class detailing enrollment based on several variables including race and ethnicity.
This year the Office of Budget and Planning released 14th day enrollment statistics in three forms: all students, previously enrolled students and visiting students.
When including visiting students, 33,255 students are enrolled in the University – 10.84 percent are black and 74.36 percent are white.
When excluding visiting students, 30,564 students are enrolled – 8.88 percent are black and 77.07 percent are white.
There are 2,700 visiting students enrolled for this semester – 33.07 percent are black and 42.96 percent are white.
The first documented campus breakdown by race was in fall 1980. The student body was 5.85 percent black.
The percentage of black students increased to 7 percent in the spring of 1985 and remained less than 8 percent until the 1991 summer semester. The student body during the fall and spring semesters remained less than 8 percent black until spring 1995.
In fall 1998 the percentage of black students reached 9 percent and peaked at 9.61 percent in 2002.
The student body in fall 2004 was 8.93 percent black students.
Beginning in summer 1996, summer enrollment of black students exceeded 10 percent. Isaac Netters, director of the African American Culture Center, said the Summer Scholars, an eight-week summer program for incoming minority students, began in the early ’90s and increased minority attendance during the summer semester.
Netters said it is important to be aware of the increase and realize this is a step toward diversification.
“This is one of the silver linings in this whole Katrina situation,” Netters said. “It gives us more of an opportunity to reach out to more students.”
Caroline Herring, Student Government assistant director of diversity awareness, said SG and the Black Student Union sponsored a social at the AACC this past week to welcome new students.
“The more that LSU becomes diverse, the more people will reach out and try to co-program and highlight the wonderful diversity and culture of our campus,” Herring said.
Netters said the diversity status on campus will offer a view of the University’s future.
“It’s going to give a lot of offices and departments a perspective on what we can do and what we can be,” Netters said. “When the vision is warm bodies on the campus right now, you can put together programs that will lead to a long-term effect.”
Andy Benoit, director of recruiting services, said he is encouraged by the number of visiting students who chose to enroll in the University.
Benoit said he does not know how many students will choose to return next semester.
Benoit would not say if recruiting services is planning to try to retain visiting students.
“These students came in as visiting students,” Benoit said. “Ethically these students are still students from other universities and we have to be careful with those who want to go back and those who want to stay. We will do what we can with those students who want to stay.”
Tony Wallette, assistant director of admissions, said he does not know how many students have applied to return in the spring, but students have until December to apply as transfer students.
Wallette said all students must meet the admission requirements, which are available on the University admissions Web site.
Wallette said admissions is prepared for an increase in applications next year. He also said there are no published limits on the number of students the University can accept.
Curtis Parker Jr., coordinator of the Office of Multicultural Affairs, said he thinks the current state of diversity on campus is a great opportunity for students of different backgrounds and upbringings to gather in one place.
“I think if we embrace the students in the way that we should, they should be eager to come back and tell friends and family members to be a part of the LSU community,” Parker said.
According the the College Board Web site, the University of New Orleans, the main home-campus of visiting students, is 30 percent black. Xavier University is 87 percent black, Tulane University is 4 percent black and Loyola University is 8 percent black.
Contact Ginger Gibson at [email protected]