TAMPA, Fla. -- According to the Herald review, minority enrollment in statewide universities has risen. When looking at a comparative study, reports indicate that the undergraduate enrollment of Hispanic students has almost doubled since the year 2000. In Fall 2010, Hispanics admitted to USF were 15 percent of the student population while 11.5 percent make up Black students. It's evident that a difference in numbers is slowly making a change.
Asians generate a smaller fraction of the student population at 6 percent and American Indians at .41 percent.
The University of South Florida has also admitted 31 students who are categorized under Native Hawaiian and South Pacific Islander. This happens to be a new trend for USF. Prior years show zero admittance.
These statistical results received from USF’s administrative reports are generated when students enroll at the university. Students are asked to self declare his or her race.
When looking further into the reports, student ethnicity and residency at the University of South Florida, indicate an estimated 24,000 students from the estimated majority of 40,000 students who attend USF are categorized as White according to USF’s administrative reports.
An estimated majority of 36,000 students are classified as in state students while an estimated 1000 out of state students are attending USF in 2010.
Samera Ahmed, 19, majoring in psychology said, “When you see minorities on campus participating in campus activities, it feels like there is a sense of multiculturalism.” “When you think of a group, you don’t have a tendency to think in numbers or statistics, so minorities tend to stand out.”
As the student population increases in diversity, student clubs and organizations open doors for cultural expression. For example,the Office of Multicultural Affairs supports a host of events for students participating within one or more of the organizations on campus. There mission is to foster intercultural relations between groups while striving to break down the barriers of ignorance.
To help students do so, the Office of Multicultural Affairs will be offering a cultural competency program in the beginning of the 2011 school year.
Students who join will attend conferences, research and work through various activities that will help develop the skills needed to succeed in the real world said Aziz Talbani, the director of multicultural affairs.
“The training programs we offer are becoming requirements for those who work,” said Talbani.
Club Creole’s Historian, Jessica Leo, 21, said we are hosting events during Club Creole’s awareness week in the month of January."
"We'll be teaming up with other minority organizations and introducing aspects of our culture. We hope to dispel all negative stereotypes of the Haitian culture.”
With the estimated 40,000 students who are enrolled at USF, a vast number of diverse ethnicities are working up in numbers.
As students venture off and attend college, valuable life lessons often come into play. Respectably, education draws students closer to the world.
"I get to hear different opinions and experience the world, so it has enhanced my educational experience,” said Ahmed.
"Enrolling students from all walks of life strengthens society and our institution" said Talbani, "That’s why the university emphasizes so much on diversity."
In order to expand horizons, students are expected to think outside normal perceptions. This will lead to success said Talbani.
Photos by Arefa Ahmad
No comments:
Post a Comment