The number of black students enrolled in this year's freshman class has decreased by 28 percent since last year, concerning black student leaders but not the administration.
This year, the university enrolled 387 first-time black students compared to last year's 539, according data released last week by the university's Institutional Research Planning and Assessment. The decline goes against the recent upward trend of enrollment — total enrollment increased by about 300 this year.
While there are various factors that can contribute to this slip in numbers, most student leaders pointed to the nation's unstable economy as a main contributor.
"That number is very, very surprising," President of the Black Honors Caucus Brittany Hollis said. "I didn't think it was that bad at all. You wouldn't think that with our number of overall black students that that could be true. You can't blame it on people not wanting to go here. But a lot of people think about money. This place is expensive, and some might just cross it of their list."
But top administration officials said while the number was unforeseen, it is not indicative of this university's overall diversity.
"I don't see this drop having a significant effect on our diversity numbers," said Rob Waters, assistant to the university president for equity and diversity. "We will certainly factor this new information into our town hall forum later this month, but the overall number may stay steady."
In last month's State of the Campus speech, university President Dan Mote boasted about the high achievement of this year's incoming freshman class, touting an average SAT score of 1285 and an average GPA of 3.93.
But the high caliber of the freshman class paired with low black enrollment left some student leaders questioning the value of academic achievement over racial diversity.
"With a high standard you would have more chances for diversity, but you would also expect to have more than 400 black students coming in," Hollis said. "That's crazy. The statistics say we have over 3,000 black students, but where are they?"
Amber Simmons, the president of the Black Student Union, agreed.
"I'm not surprised. It's very apparent, you can see the numbers aren't there at all," Simmons said. "As a student, I'm glad we're getting the students who can match our achievement and improve our university, but as a black student I am definitely upset about not being accounted for."
Some ethnic student organizations, including the BSU, are planning to recruit at area high schools and historically black colleges and universities in hopes of counteracting the slipping number of incoming black students.
Students said the ethnic, racial and cultural diversity of the student body is as important as having an array of talent, interest and intellect.
"I don't know where the university is heading with this, but I don't agree with it," said Mark Conway, president of this university's chapter of the National Association. "If these numbers decrease, you lose a lot of the flavor on campus. One of the reasons I came here was because of the diversity."
Administrators, who said they couldn't speak to the reason for the decline, said they were more perplexed than worried.
"Something is definitely going to have to be done," Waters said. "You have to be troubled because the ripple will screw upcoming numbers. We need to figure out why this is happening."
Other minority groups also saw a decline in enrollment, the IRPA data revealed. Latino enrollment dropped by less than a percentage point, as did American Indian enrollment.
Both white and Asian enrollment saw increases.
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