Campus diversity on the rise

UCF has shown an immense growth over the past 10 years, not only in population but in diversity, as well.

According to the Office of Institutional Research website, UCF minority rates have increased from 1999 to 2010, with a 5 percent jump in Hispanic attendance as well as an 11 percent decrease in Caucasian attendance.

From the fall 2009 to fall 2010, Hispanic attendance increased by 1,961 students, African-American attendance by 973 students and Asian-American attendance by 409 students.

Becoming "more inclusive and diverse" was one of the five main goals set forth by President John C. Hitt upon his hiring at UCF in 1992. Hitt spoke of the university's representation in terms of diversity in his newsletter UCF at Work, in fall 2010.

"Our university family reflects the diversity of American society," Hitt said. "These issues remain important for me and for our university. For instance, the UCF Board of Trustees voted to expand the university's non-discrimination policy to include gender identity and gender expression."

Minorities make up 34 percent of UCF students, a 2 percent increase from 2010, as said by Hitt in his newsletter to faculty and staff.

A total of 17 multicultural groups have been registered for this fall, according to the Office of Student Involvement website. Though many organizations such as the African American Student Union and Chinese American Student Association have been around for as long as two decades, there have been continued moves toward growth within the university.

With this increase in minority attendance rates, coupled with the recent additions of multicultural and gender assemblies, diversity is a topic that is becoming more realized on campus.

Katarina Dos Santos, the Campus Activities Board director of culture and fine arts, however, believes that the changes to the university are only just beginning.

"I think they've achieved numbers-wise diversity, but it's not just mixing everybody up together and calling it a day," Dos Santos said. "I think there needs to be those outlets for us to connect and make us want to be involved with each other."

According to Diverse: Issues in Higher Education, a publication and magazine devoted to news on diversity within the college community, UCF was among the top 10 universities to award degrees within the fields of education, health care and business to minority students.

In addition to this high ranking, UCF was identified in their undergraduate admissions view book as the host of 67 Florida counties, 50 states and 141 countries, where UCF was found to target specific areas in order to grow out-of-state student populations.

Multicultural Academic and Support Services director Wayne Jackson commented on the educational aspect that diversity brings to a college campus.

"I think [diversity] is the opportunity to have different ethnic groups, different religions, altogether in one place, preferably getting along, but also learning from each other. That's the key — the individuals can learn from each other," Jackson said. "Our country is becoming more and more diverse; the college should be a microcosm of what the country is all about. If your college isn't diverse and your students get out there and they're not used to working with diverse people, that's a problem."

Dos Santos said diversity should be an important aspect within student life.

"I think [students] should encourage and embrace it with open arms," Dos Santos said. "Because we are such a diverse campus, it helps us become better-rounded individuals. At the end of the day we are here for an education, but it's the experiences that you'll leave with that help you become ready for the real world."