IU Northwest ranked high in 'U.S. News and World Report' diversity category

Indiana University Northwest ranks number one in Indiana and fourth among all Midwestern states in campus diversity, according to the latest U.S. News and World Report's "America's Best Colleges."

This year's guidebook features a new table on campus diversity, geared for those who view going to college as a chance to learn from people who have different backgrounds from their own, rates national universities, national liberal arts colleges and regional institutions.

Richards

"We are very proud of the diversity within our student body," said Hilda Richards, chancellor of IU Northwest. "Part of our job at IUN is to help prepare students to live and work successfully in a pluralistic society. Northwest Indiana is the most diverse community in the state and our students learn firsthand the value of and a respect for diversity. As part of our mission, we strive to create a learning environment that embraces differences and is dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge."

To identify the schools where students are most likely to encounter undergraduates of a different racial or ethnic group, U.S. News used a mathematical equation based on the proportion various groups comprised of the 1996-97 undergraduate student body at their schools.

The groups included in the calculation: Native Americans or native Alaskans; Asians or Pacific Islanders; blacks who are non-Hispanic; Hispanics; and those who are multiracial. The calculation produced an "index" ranging from zero to one. The closer the index to one, the more diverse the student body.

IUN scored a .50 in the index, just behind the three top ranking Midwestern regional institutions, all of which are located in Illinois: Northeastern Illinois University (.65); Roosevelt University (.58); and Columbia College (.57). The only other Hoosier school in the top15 ranking was Purdue at Calument (.42), which came in seventh.

"Minority students across the country frequently report that they experience a low level of comfort on college campuses," said Ernest Smith, assistant vice chancellor for student services and dean of the University Division. "Here at IUN, we work hard to make every student feel comfortable. Our academic programs serve as a vehicle to bring students of all ages and backgrounds together, and this is important because many students come from high schools that may not be very diverse."

This past year, IUN's Diversity Working Group, an interdisciplinary association of faculty, staff and students, hosted the first Great Lakes Regional Conference on Diversity. The university also participates in and sponsors a number of cultural events and activities through its extensive network of clubs and organizations. Students are able to gain in-depth knowledge through IUN's Women's, Afro-American and Latino Studies programs.

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