IU plans to double minority enrollment

Under a new ambitious goal by the IU board of trustees, enrollment of under-represented minorities would double by the 2013-2014 school year. \nThe trustees unanimously voted to approve the motion, which came after comprehensive meetings with Charlie Nelms, IU vice president for student development and diversity, to discuss strategies by which to accomplish their objective. \nTrustee Sue Talbot said that IU has a long, strong commitment to diversity, but now actions must be louder than just the University's rhetoric. \n"We can't just only talk about this anymore," Talbot said. "But we must begin actually doing good."\nTalbot added some examples of strategies the trustees would like to implement, including a focus on strengthening the high school pipeline to attract more minorities and improving financial aid and scholarships for under-represented groups. \nIn what may be proof of IU's renewed commitment to diversity, Roger J. Thompson was confirmed Friday by the trustees to the position of vice provost for enrollment management.\nThompson comes to IU after guiding the enrollment offices at the University of Alabama since 2004 and serving as the assistant registrar at the University of Southern California. During his stays, each school's enrollment -- especially minority admission numbers -- increased significantly. \n"During (his tenure with other schools) the rise in their student body is almost legendary," said Interim Provost Michael McRobbie. "He has shown leadership in his history with ours and other institutions as he has helped achieve record number (enrollment figures)." \nTo show his emphasis on improving diversity enrollment, McRobbie pointed out that at Alabama the number of National Merit Hispanic Achievement scholars increased from 69 in 2002 to 145 in 2005. Also, he added, Thompson oversaw a 43 percent increase in incoming black freshman students during his tenure at UAB-Tuscaloosa. \nMcRobbie said that in his new position Thompson will be responsible for overseeing the offices of admissions, student financial assistance, the registrar and Bloomington campus orientation programs. He added that he would have an essential role in achieving the trustees' diversity goals. \n"We regard the admissions process as one of the most significant of what we do," Herbert said. \nThompson faces several challenges in restructuring IU's admissions and enrollment policies, including from the trustees, many of whom offer contrasting viewpoints of what they think the University's guidelines should be. \n"You'll find quickly that the board has a lot of opinions in that area," trustees President Steve Ferguson told Thompson during the meeting. \nThompson will replace Don Hossler, who retired as vice chancellor for enrollment services last July, and Interim Vice Chancellor Roland Cote.