UGA Hits New Minority Enrollment Mark

The University of Georgia campus will have its highest percentages of black and Hispanic freshmen students than ever before. (photo-Gail Des Jardin)

The state’s largest university is experiencing significant growth in the numbers of first-year minority student enrollment. That growth is the increase in black and Hispanic freshmen about to begin classes at the University of Georgia.

African-Americans will make up 9 percent of UGA’s 5,500 student incoming class this fall. And 5 percent of the school’s first-year students are Hispanic. Both represent all-time highs for UGA.

Patrick Winter with UGA’s admissions office says the school has always put a prime emphasis on minority student recruitment. But he says it’s this fall that the efforts have borne results.

“When you get students that come here and then go back and tell their families and friends and high schools about what a great experience they’re having, that builds over time. So I think what you’re seeing is really the payoff of several years of work.”

Winter says an extra effort this year has included some of UGA’s top sports coaches and athletes speaking to community and youth group leaders about minority student recruitment.

Source: http://www.gpb.org