New University of Michigan President Mark Schlissel has called increasing diversity on campus a top priority, but enrollment this semester included a slight dip in the percentage of underrepresented minority students. The group By Any Means Necessary wants specific action to boost minority enrollment.
BAMN organizers say Michigan officials need look no further than Texas. The top ten percent of students in all high schools in that state are assured admission to the University of Texas. The plan has been ruled constitutional by the U-S Supreme Court and has led to increased minority enrollment.
BAMN National Organizer Jose Alvarenga says it's also leading to good results in the classroom. "Their School of Education, one of the most integrated, ranked number one in the country, and you know, it's a real test of success of the university of implementing a real democratic program that can concretely deal with the drop of minority enrollment," Alvarenga says.
But U of M officials say the ten percent program was created by the Texas legislature and poses some challenges.
Schlissel has formed a leadership committee to consider changes proposed by an eariler committee on diversity and inclusion. He plans to present new strategies to work towards greater diversity on campus later this year.
Like 89.1 WEMU on Facebook and follow us on Twitter— Andrew Cluley is the Ann Arbor beat reporter, and anchor for 89.1 WEMU News. Contact him at734.487.3363 or email him acluley@emich.edu.
