diverse groups at student event

Understanding Minority Enrollment for Undergraduates

As the most diverse university in the country, UNLV must become a national leader in student success among unrepresentative populations.

Editor's Note:

This is part of a series on fall 2018 enrollment for the first edition of the Decision Support Quarterly Report. As a Carnegie ranked R1 “very high research activity” university, the Decision Support office provides uniform institutional statistical profile information. These stories offer context for the institutional statistical profile information while providing the campus relevant and consistent data for use in publications and for planning by various academic and administrative units.
 

Why does this matter?

For two years, UNLV has been recognized as the most diverse campus for undergraduates by U.S. News & World Report. This chart shows enrollment of almost all ethnic minorities has increased over the past four years. This means we must be first in fostering inclusion, pipelines and career tracks for our students to compete and lead in a global economy.

Where we hope to see it go?

With our dual mission as an access institution and as an R1 “very high research” activity public institution, we are working to become a national leader in fostering the success of our students by providing inclusive and differentiated support networks and programs. This means we must focus on ensuring an inclusive, culturally vibrant campus — a place where students thrive and learn to be global citizens.

What we're doing to get it there?

Already, UNLV is building a strong foundation of initiatives designed to help students of all racial and ethnic backgrounds navigate the college experience. In 2017, UNLV opened The Intersection, a comprehensive multicultural center grounded in the academic side of campus life. Then, in fall 2018, the university launched Student Diversity and Social Justice to provide co-curricular, multicultural, international, and social justice programming for students.

UNLV also implemented an academic early alert program and the 15-to-Finish, designed to help all students stay on track and complete their degrees. These new resources are in addition to student success initiatives, such as the Academic Success Center, the Math Learning Center, supplemental instruction, academic coaching, and a plethora of tutoring programs across campus meant to help all students meet their academic goals.

How you can help

First, get to know our student demographics. I would encourage everyone to explore the programs UNLV provides to support student success, particularly programs designed to serve the needs of UNLV’s underrepresented student populations. The more we know – those of us in academic, administrative, and leadership positions – the better we can help students succeed.  

Contact Barbee Oakes, UNLV's chief diversity officer, for more information.

Topics:

admissions,  diversity, equity, and inclusion,  UNLV initiatives

Campus Units:

Office of Decision Support,  Division of Diversity Initiatives

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