The University is ranked 15th among the nation’s public research universities for retaining and graduating minority students, according to a study last month by the nonprofit organization The Education Trust. However, University officials still see room for improvement.
Minorities at the University graduate within six years at a rate of 67.1 percent, the study showed, which is higher than both the national average of 40 percent and the University’s overall rate for graduating within six years, 65.3 percent.
“There are still some problems,” said Charles Martinez, vice president of Institutional Equity and Diversity at the University. “We have a lot to be proud of, but we also have work to do. Any disparities between minorities are a problem.”
Martinez said the University has made it a point to reach out and encourage minority freshmen to continue their education at the institution. Currently, 28 percent of the University student population is Asian, Latino, black or Native American.
“If you look at the year-by-year retention rates, we have high retention (compared to) our peer competitors, and we average 83 percent retention for first-time freshmen,” Martinez said. “But if you follow the same students, you start seeing important differences. By (a minority student’s) fourth year, there is less retention.”
While the University makes efforts to retain minority students and help them graduate, as Martinez said, there isn’t a “silver bullet” to solve all problems. But Martinez said that a combination of innovative University programs has helped minority students call the University “home.”
One such program is IMPACT, or the Intercultural Mentoring Program Advancing Community Ties, which is housed at the University’s Office of Student Life and headed by Jason Rodriquez, director of Diversity Education and Support.
According to Rodriquez, IMPACT aims “to foster peer-to-peer relationships through educational programming and social networking events.”
During this academic year, IMPACT will facilitate 50 students helping one another learn about the University and transition from freshman to sophomore year, which, Martinez said, is when students start having problems.
“As you transition from your first to second year in college, you start to see where you’re going to be once you’re outside of the institution,” Martinez said. “This is the point where mentorship becomes central.”
Rodriquez is proud of what IMPACT has done for minority students.
“The IMPACT program is showing that being involved with IMPACT will increase your chances of success in and outside of the classroom,” Rodriquez said. “This is arguably one of the most diverse, if not the most diverse group of students on campus. It’s a wonderful group of talented, bright and empowered student leaders on campus.”
The University also aims to hire faculty and staff members of color, an idea laid out in its
Diversity Plan.
“You need to see yourself reflected in the faculty and curriculum and content,” Martinez said. “And too many of our students continue to feel like they aren’t welcomed because of their cultural backgrounds.”
[email protected]