The Observer, November 17, 2006
Volume XXXIX, Issue 11
Rise in female and minority enrollment at Case
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According to "Minorities in Higher Education: The 22nd Annual Status Report," the enrollment of females and Hispanics in higher education institutions has increased by 51 percent, within the last decade.
Like most other colleges, Case admissions officers are continually looking to admit well-rounded students, who can bring diversity to the student body.
Unlike larger schools, which must review thousands of applications, Case's admissions officers don't allot special points to students who bring diversity when calculating prospective student's compatibility to Case, notes Liz Woycynski, Director of Undergraduate Admissions.
Case's smaller application pool, states Woycynski, allows Case's admissions officers to focus on essays, tests scores, and activities, while also considering the ways in which prospective students can enhance the student body.
Additionally, when noting the diversity a prospective student can add, admissions officers do not only consider ethnicity but also other characteristics such as majors and geographical locations.
Case's efforts to bring in underrepresented students can be seen, as the report implies, in the increase of first-year female students. While comprising only 44 percent of last year's freshmen class, this year females make up 47 percent of first-year students.
In addition, Case's campus also witnessed an increase of black first-year students. From last year, the number of black students increased by 30 percent.
Yet, contrary to the report's findings at Case, the enrollment of both Latin Americans and Native Americans has remained relatively stable and low.
This phenomenon can be attributed to several factors. For one, smaller populations of any group at Case may show less interest from these groups in Case and, thus, a smaller applicant pool.
Additionally, Woyczynski points out, "There is not necessarily a large Hispanic population in the surrounding areas which Case can recruit."
Woycynski's statement emphasizes the active recruiting efforts made to bring in students from surrounding areas, and the difficulties faced in soliciting prospective students outside of Ohio.
An alliance which Case formed with the Cleveland Scholarship Program (CSP) also illustrates Case's endeavors to recruit students from Cleveland's communities. This collaboration assists first-generation, prospective students throughout the process of applying for college and obtaining financial aid.
Not only do the two members of this alliance assist Cleveland high school students in finding and applying for financial aid, but it also provides funding. Due to these efforts, and donations from both CSP and Case, some student's debt has been reduced by $5000 per year.
"For Case, it's been a really good way to encourage first-generation college students, who never would have considered Case due to its costs, to come to Case," said Liz Woycynski.
Another one of Case's measures to diversify the school is the Special Provost Scholarship. This scholarship, which is available to underrepresented, low-income, first-generation students, provides many students with the opportunity to attend Case and leave with less debt.
However, despite all of Case's attempts to diversify the student body, without students from various backgrounds interacting with each other, all the measures Case has taken are not being used to its fullest potential.
