Enrollment of new underrepresented students increases 22 percent this fall at Minnesota State Colleges and Universities
Enrollment of new students from groups traditionally underrepresented in higher education increased by 22 percent this fall at the 32 Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, according to a new report presented to the Board of Trustees. These groups include students of color, low-income students and students whose parents did not attend college.
The state colleges and universities system enrolled 7,300 new underrepresented students. In addition, 8,000 more underrepresented students returned to the system’s institutions this fall, a 15 percent increase over a year ago. The total number of underrepresented students this fall is 94,302, an increase of 18 percent.
“These increases are important for the state of Minnesota,” said Chancellor James H. McCormick. “The numbers show we have made substantial progress in recruiting and retaining more underrepresented students, although the economy also played a role in the increase.”
To help the state’s employers maintain their competitive edge in the global marketplace, Minnesota needs more students from these groups to complete postsecondary programs as aging baby boomers retire and the state’s population grows more diverse, McCormick said. The system produces 33,500 graduates each year. Eighty percent of them stay in Minnesota to work or continue their education.
Though the state colleges and universities have been working to improve recruitment and retention of underrepresented students for years, a system initiative called “Access, Opportunity and Success” began in the fall of 2007. The Board of Trustees allocated $11 million a year for the initiative.
The system provided funds to every college and university to expand programs and services that have proven to be effective. The best practices include programs to help new students succeed in the transition from high school, advisors who routinely initiate contact with students, learning communities of students, summer programs and tutoring.
Brochures, posters and a Web site in nine languages also reached out to students from non-English speaking backgrounds in the 8th through 10th grades to explain the benefits of attending college and to encourage them to prepare for college.
“Underrepresented students often face barriers to entering college and succeeding once they get there,” McCormick said. “The Legislature and the governor have supported this initiative, and we are grateful for their interest. It is gratifying that we are making some notable progress, but we still are a long way from eliminating the achievement gap that separates low-income and minority students from others.”
Enrollment was up in nearly all subgroups. The number of new students of color this fall grew by 16 percent, new first-generation college students increased by 21 percent and new students eligible for Pell grants increased by 37 percent. Pell grant eligibility is typically used by higher education institutions as an indication of family income.
The numbers released today are the official enrollment count of students taking credit-based courses on the 30th day of the fall semester. Total fall enrollment was 198,792 students.
The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system comprises 32 state universities and community and technical colleges serving the higher education needs of Minnesota. The system serves about 250,000 students per year in credit-based courses and an additional 140,000 students in non-credit courses.
The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system is an Equal Opportunity employer and educator. This document can be made available in alternative formats upon request.
Underrepresented Students – Headcount
Undergraduate Credit Students
Minnesota State Colleges and Universities
Term: Fall – 30th Day 2008 and 2009
Institution Fall 2008 Fall 2009
Percent
Change
Alexandria Technical College 891 1,100 23.5%
Anoka-Ramsey Community College 3,363 4,141 23.1%
Anoka Technical College 1,003 1,319 31.5%
Central Lakes College 1,740 2,111 21.3%
Century College 4,852 5,985 23.4%
Dakota County Technical College 1,281 1,504 17.4%
Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College 845 961 13.7%
Hennepin Technical College 3,031 3,591 18.5%
Inver Hills Community College 2,324 2,980 28.2%
Lake Superior College 1,977 2,211 11.8%
Minneapolis Community and Technical College 6,081 7,157 17.7%
Minnesota State College – Southeast Technical 1,180 1,523 29.1%
Minnesota State Community and Technical College 2,878 3,399 18.1%
Minnesota West Community and Technical College 1,208 1,501 24.3%
Normandale Community College 4,209 4,859 15.4%
North Hennepin Community College 3,624 4,290 18.4%
Northeast Higher Education District 2,574 3,001 16.6%
Hibbing Community College 871 1,034 18.7%
Itasca Community College 567 682 20.3%
Mesabi Range Community and Technical College 692 820 18.5%
Rainy River Community College 172 184 7.0%
Vermilion Community College 272 281 3.3%
Northland Community and Technical College 1,940 2,230 14.9%
Northwest Technical College – Bemidji 768 932 21.4%
Pine Technical College 426 558 31.0%
Ridgewater College 1,927 2,203 14.3%
Riverland Community College 1,386 1,767 27.5%
Rochester Community and Technical College 2,668 3,207 20.2%
St. Cloud Technical College 1,855 2,489 34.2%
Saint Paul College 3,438 4,187 21.8%
South Central College 1,666 1,979 18.8%
Colleges 59,135 71,185 20.4%
Universities
Bemidji State University 1,733 1,951 12.6%
Metropolitan State University 3,332 3,587 7.7%
Minnesota State University, Mankato 4,324 4,820 11.5%
Minnesota State University Moorhead 2,497 2,710 8.5%
St. Cloud State University 5,370 5,989 11.5%
Southwest Minnesota State University 1,280 1,515 18.4%
Winona State University 2,294 2,545 10.9%
Universities 20,830 23,117 11.0%
System 79,965 94,302 17.9%
Minnesota State Colleges and Universities
Office of the Chancellor Research and Planning
November 18, 2009
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