The University was slightly less diverse in fall term 2004 than in 2003, and the number of first-time freshman international students dropped by nearly a quarter, according to an Emerald analysis of Oregon University System Diversity Report statistics released this month.
There were 20,339 students enrolled in the University at the beginning of the academic year, up 305 from the previous year.
The number of white students increased at a slightly higher rate than the total University enrollment from fall 2003 to fall 2004. Populations of black students, Asian and Pacific American students, Hispanic students and those of multiple races all increased as well, but a gain of 387 white students pushed the group’s total percentage of the University population to about 74 percent. White students made up about 73 percent
of the University
in 2003.
| The University experienced a 12.9% drop in minority and international student enrollment from fall 2002 to fall 2004 |
American Indian and Alaska Native students and international students faced small decreases in
total enrollment.
The total number of students enrolled as first-time freshmen in fall term 2004 increased by 11 percent from fall 2003, bolstered by increased numbers of Hispanic students, Asian and Pacific American students, white students and students of multiple races. There were fewer black, American Indian and Alaska Native, and international first-time freshmen.
The number of first-time freshman international students enrolled in the University decreased by more than 29 percent in the last two years. In fall 2004, 73 international students enrolled as freshmen. Ninety-seven and 103 of those students were admitted in 2003 and 2002, respectively.
Magid Shirzadegan, director of international student and scholarship services,
attributed the decline to rising costs and global competition.
“More and more, U.S. and international students are going abroad for a shorter period of time,” Shirzadegan said. He added that more international students are enrolling in schools in other countries such as Australia.
| Enrollment of first-time freshman international students decreased 29.1% from fall 2002 to fall 2004 |
Director of Admissions Martha Pitts cited China, South Korea and Great Britain as other sources
of competition.
“This reflects national trends in international students,” Pitts said of the decrease. She added that the federal government has set more difficult immigration policies, which present real and perceived roadblocks for students from other countries.
“Some students are simply saying that it’s not worth all that extra work,” she said.
Pitts hopes the University won’t see a
decrease in first-time freshman international students next year. There has been a slight increase in applications from this group for fall term 2005, she said.
Asian or Pacific American total enrollment has grown steadily over the past two years, increasing by nearly 5 percent overall from fall 2002 to fall 2004. The first-time freshman enrollment of the group went up by about 28 percent over the same period.
The number of Hispanic enrollees reflects an upward trend as well. Enrollment of first-time freshman Hispanic students increased about 39 percent from fall 2002 to fall 2004, and total enrollment of that group has increased by more than 11 percent over the same period.
“That’s a pretty significant increase,” Pitts said. “We would hope to see this increase and more. This is one of the fastest growing populations of students in the state of Oregon.”
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