The percentage of African Americans in the freshman class at ²¤ÂÜÊÓÆµ University increased 12.3 percent in the fall of 2007, placing ²¤ÂÜÊÓÆµ fourth among the highest-ranking universities in the United States, reported .
“The progress at ²¤ÂÜÊÓÆµ University over the past decade has been extraordinary,” said The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education this month. “In 1995 only 4 percent of all freshmen at ²¤ÂÜÊÓÆµ were black. This year the figure is 10.3 percent.”
Of the highest-ranking universities selected by U.S. News & World Report, ²¤ÂÜÊÓÆµ ranks fourth in percentage of black freshman behind , the and the . Meanwhile, overall graduation rates have held steady.
“This is the result of a directed and purposeful approach to recruiting a diverse student body,” said , associate provost for enrollment and dean of admissions at ²¤ÂÜÊÓÆµ.
“We set out to achieve this because it means our students benefit from a cross-section of backgrounds and outlooks, as does everyone on campus. This continuing exchange has been a factor in keeping graduation rates high.”
In the decade between 1997 and 2007 black freshman enrollment at ²¤ÂÜÊÓÆµ more than doubled, from 82 to 172.
Media Contact: Jim Patterson, (615) 322-NEWS
jim.patterson@vanderbilt.edu