Chicago State University Seeks Greater Racial Diversity in Its Student Body

Enrollments at most state-operated colleges and universities in Illinois have skyrocketed in recent years. But at Chicago State University enrollments have dropped by 33 percent since 2004. Current enrollments of about 6,800 students are at a 20-year low.

University officials believe that the key to increasing enrollment is to enhance the racial diversity of the student body. Today about 85 percent of all undergraduates at the university are African Americans.

Admissions officers are planning to mount new recruiting drives at predominantly white suburban high schools in the Chicago area. Additional recruitment efforts will be made to attract foreign students to Chicago State. The long-term goal is to increase total enrollments to 12,000 students.

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