2008 Woodie Awards
Diversity wait-listed
Staff Editorial--The Greyhound Loyola College-Maryland
Issue date: 9/17/03 Section: Opinion
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(U-WIRE) BALTIMORE - Diversity, one of the most-repeated words both in this publication and throughout the college, was supposed to be one of the major priorities of the college's new strategic plan, now one year old. Early in the year, the focus has been on diversity in admissions, especially with the drop of two percent in the number of African- American and Hispanic first-year students. How, with such an intense focus on increasing minority enrollment, did the college manage to see the percentage of first-year African-American enrollment drop to a six-year low?
To be fair, the admissions office is testing new initiatives meant to boost minority enrollment. In the early stages, the college is pointing to a weak economy and the high competition for qualified minority applicants. While these hypotheses may very well be responsible, this issue brings us to question Loyola's overall admissions strategy, not just for minority candidates.
As has been discussed numerous times over the past two years, diversity is not just about skin color. There is concern that diversity has just become a buzzword, and that the college will be satisfied when it has a larger pool of non-white students to call on for its brochure photos. Loyola students often lament the homogenous nature of the student body. The problem is not just in diversity of color, but diversity of experience. Unfortunately, this problem is one that is not being addressed.
Tough questions need to be asked about who is being recruited. Clearly, Loyola has a number of very strong feeder institutions in and around the major metropolitan centers of the Northeast. Most of these are private or Catholic high schools, so it should not be surprising that many students match the stereotypical Loyola student. Why, with a reputation firmly entrenched at these institutions, does the college still devote significant resources to recruiting there?
This week, administrators reiterated that the college weighs most heavily a student's high school record, not SAT scores or other criteria. This policy plainly disadvantages students without the means to attend expensive prep schools, or those who live in areas with poor public school systems.
When Loyola speaks of boosting minority enrollment, it posits its effort almost as a social service endeavor. But Loyola is hardly doing anyone a favor when it recruits a student to Loyola that would have otherwise gone to Villanova or Georgetown. A more sincere effort is needed to shed Loyola's homogeneous image.
To be fair, the admissions office is testing new initiatives meant to boost minority enrollment. In the early stages, the college is pointing to a weak economy and the high competition for qualified minority applicants. While these hypotheses may very well be responsible, this issue brings us to question Loyola's overall admissions strategy, not just for minority candidates.
As has been discussed numerous times over the past two years, diversity is not just about skin color. There is concern that diversity has just become a buzzword, and that the college will be satisfied when it has a larger pool of non-white students to call on for its brochure photos. Loyola students often lament the homogenous nature of the student body. The problem is not just in diversity of color, but diversity of experience. Unfortunately, this problem is one that is not being addressed.
Tough questions need to be asked about who is being recruited. Clearly, Loyola has a number of very strong feeder institutions in and around the major metropolitan centers of the Northeast. Most of these are private or Catholic high schools, so it should not be surprising that many students match the stereotypical Loyola student. Why, with a reputation firmly entrenched at these institutions, does the college still devote significant resources to recruiting there?
This week, administrators reiterated that the college weighs most heavily a student's high school record, not SAT scores or other criteria. This policy plainly disadvantages students without the means to attend expensive prep schools, or those who live in areas with poor public school systems.
When Loyola speaks of boosting minority enrollment, it posits its effort almost as a social service endeavor. But Loyola is hardly doing anyone a favor when it recruits a student to Loyola that would have otherwise gone to Villanova or Georgetown. A more sincere effort is needed to shed Loyola's homogeneous image.