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Minorities Discover Independent Choice

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By ED MOORE

Published: December 27, 2007

Minority students are increasingly choosing graduate school as the path to success in their chosen careers, a positive development that will help to fuel economic growth all over country. The Council of Graduate Schools reported recently that minority enrollment in graduate schools increased by 2 percent last year. Minorities now make up 28 percent of total graduate school enrollment.

I am happy to report that Florida is ahead of the curve when it comes to enrolling minority students in graduate schools. Our graduate schools have a history of reaching out to minority students and deserve credit for valuable contributions to the personal and economic growth of those students.

As president of the Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida, I would like to focus on the institutions I know best, the 20 ICUF institutions that offer graduate degrees in a wide variety of subjects, many of critical importance to the state's well-being.

Forty seven percent of the Florida residents enrolled as graduate students at ICUF institutions are minorities, predominantly African-Americans and Hispanics. This is a superb record in a state where African-Americans and Hispanics make up about 35 percent of the population. Minority students comprise a majority of the students enrolled at five of our institutions: Barry University, Bethune-Cookman University, Florida Memorial University, Nova Southeastern University and St. Thomas University.
ICUF members enroll about 25 percent of the students attending four-year colleges and universities in Florida, but the number of graduate and professional students is disproportionately higher, a tribute to the commitment of our members to provide opportunity for all Floridians. Our members enroll about 40 percent of the students seeking master's and doctoral degrees and 55 percent of the first professional degrees in areas such as law, medicine, pharmacy, and dentistry.

There are several reasons why minority students choose graduate schools at independent colleges and universities as the vehicle for advancing their careers. The schools are committed to serving the communities in which they are located and offer flexible scheduling that allows students to pick the option that works best for them. Grad students attending our institutions do not have to move from their homes and can continue to work as they pursue their degrees.

We applaud graduate schools all over the country for offering more opportunities to minorities and take considerable pride in our record of achievement.

Ed H. Moore, P.hD, is president of the Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida.

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