Report: Kansas universities enrolling more Hispanic, Latino students

The racial and ethnic makeup of students attending state universities in Kansas still doesn’t reflect the state’s more diverse population, according to a new report provided to the Kansas Board of Regents.

The numbers of Hispanic and Latino students have grown over the past six years and now makes up 6.6 percent of enrollments at state universities, though the percentage of black students has remained flat at just 4.1 percent, the Lawrence Journal-World reports.

Both groups are underrepresented on college campuses statewide, according to Census Bureau figures. Hispanics and Latino make up 11.6 percent of the general population in Kansas while black students make up 6.2 percent of the state’s population. The report was presented to the board during a recent meeting.

Jean Redeker, vice president of academic affairs for the Board of Regents, said Hispanic and Latino populations are increasing statewide.

“So as those numbers trend up, so do enrollments of Hispanic and Latino students, which is great,” Redeker said. “In terms of African-Americans, it has been very steady over the years.”

Efforts are underway at each campus to improve the diversity of its students, Redeker said.

“Universities do have a number of recruitment efforts going on for all segments,” Redeker said. “Certainly in terms of race and ethnicity, but also in terms of different types of backgrounds and students in terms of diversity. That would include rural and urban students.”

Overall enrollment at state universities has remained relatively flat over the past six years.