Jobs, News and Views for All of Higher Education - Inside Higher Ed :: Minority Gains and Gaps: Minority enrollment at colleges and universities rose by just over 50 percent, to 4.7 million students, between 1993 and 2003, according to the American Council on Education.
The council is today releasing its annual report on the status of minority groups in higher education — a compilation of the most recent data published by the Education Department and other agencies, along with data gathered by the association. As is usually the case, an optimist could find plenty of signs of progress — this year with gains in college enrollment rates, graduation in key programs, and graduate degree attainment, among other categories.
A pessimist could note the many gaps between black and Hispanic students and their white and Asian counterparts. In particular, figures for black and Latino males remain far behind not only white and Asian men but also behind black and Hispanic women.
“I think this report speaks to the work that’s yet to be done,” said James C. Renick, senior vice president for programs and research at the council and former chancellor of North Carolina A&T State University. With Michigan voters about to consider a proposal to bar affirmative action at public colleges and universities, he said that the data show the need for continued efforts to diversify higher education.
“I think some people are looking for very simple answers to very complicated problems,” he said.
