NIU today | New guidelines are helping to bring diversity into upcoming classes

In its first full year of using non-exam criteria for admissions and merit scholarships, the NIU has attracted the most diverse incoming classes in university history.

Almost 70% of all incoming students identify themselves as colored, 38% as black, 21.5% as Hispanic American, 4% as Asians and 6% as “other”. The remaining 30% were identified as white. Among the incoming students, 57% were the first in their families to go to college.

“As a university committed to equal opportunities and inclusion, we are pleased that we have become a preferred institution for Everyone Students, ”said NIU President Dr. Lisa C. Freeman. “This shows that our efforts to make NIU accessible and affordable for all students are working. A diverse campus is a healthier, more vibrant campus, so we want a student body that reflects the demographics of the region in which we operate – in terms of race, gender and socio-economic background. “

While other universities in Illinois and at the national level have lagged behind in their efforts to attract minority students, the NIU has been successful in recent years. This fall, the number of African American students in the incoming class has risen for the sixth year in a row. After years of steady climbing, LatinX student enrollment has mostly been flat.

A number of changes in policies and procedures have positioned the NIU well to welcome high performing color students.

At the top of that list was the NIU’s decision to become one of the first public universities in the country to remove ACT and SAT scores from consideration when evaluating students for admission and performance grants. The change was made in response to longstanding data – nationally and at the NIU – that clearly showed that high school GPA is a better predictor of college success than standardized tests.

“We learned that test scores are very often more indicative of family income – including whether a student can afford SAT or ACT prep courses – than how well they might do in college,” said Sol Jensen, NIU vice president for Enrollment management, marketing and communication.

With that barrier removed – along with the introduction of the Common App and the abolition of the application fee – the NIU saw a significant increase in applications across all fields, including Chicago Public Schools and other parts of the area with large numbers of colored students.

This change is credited with helping to raise the academic profile of this year’s freshman class, which starts with a GPA of 3.34, the second highest in a decade. This number was supported by a 17 percent increase in students with a grade point average of 4.0 and an 18% increase in those with a grade point average of 3.9 or better.

“It seems we have opened the doors to many talented, skilled students that these tests have been a barrier to,” said Jensen.

The removal of standardized tests from the performance grant calculation also had a significant impact. More than 70% of first-year students will receive renewable merit scholarships this year. Of these, 64% are black students, compared to 54% of the merit scholarship holders in fall 2020.

“Not only does this better fit the composition of the incoming class, but it also means that these students are entitled to four years of assistance while maintaining their GPA. That should significantly increase your likelihood of closing, ”said Dr. Freeman.

These kinds of changes, and others in recent years, have contributed to NIU’s reputation as a place where colored students can thrive, said Vernese Edghill-Walden, NIU’s chief diversity officer.

“We strive to build an inclusive community in which all people feel valued, recognized, and see themselves. We want to know that they belong here, that they can thrive here and live and learn here. We have worked very hard on that over the last few years and word gets around, ”said Edghill-Walden. “It’s not enough to just get the students through the door; We are dedicated to helping them make it through the stage after graduation and look forward to their success as proud Huskie alumni. “

This year’s incoming class also offers geographic diversity with students from 26 countries. NIU has representatives from all 50 states across the student body.

Diversity, be it racial, geographic, economic, or gender, enriches the campus, Edghill-Walden said.

“Diversity gives students new ideas, new perspectives on topics, and a greater appreciation for the need to work side by side with people from different backgrounds, not just on campus but for the rest of their lives.” She said.

This ability to function in a diverse environment is becoming increasingly important. According to a 2020 census analysis by the Brookings Institution, children of color now make up more than half (53%) of the country’s total youth population for the first time.