Eastern has slowly increased its fall minority enrollment and the number of degrees it has awarded to minorities in the past three years, according to statistics provided by the Minority Affairs Office.

“We have definitely seen the percentage of minorities at Eastern increasing,” said Julia Abell, director for Planning and Institutional Studies.

Statistics recorded by the office for Minority Affairs during fiscal years 1998 through 2000 show a rise in fall enrollment for African Americans, Asian Pacific Islanders and Hispanics in that time increment. Only the American Indian/Alaskan Native group showed a slight decrease between 1999 and 2000 fiscal years.

“The university has taken the initiative to increase diversity in the student body seriously,” said Jill Nilsen, interim vice president for external relations. “Increasing diversity has been a priority for the university for several years.”

In the category of the number of degrees awarded by Eastern in the past three fiscal , the numbers have increased dramatically overall.

Nilsen said when President Carol Surles came to campus, one of her goals was to increase diversity and access to faculty, staff, administration and the student body. One of the Board of Higher Education’s six goals is that Illinois will increase diversity of its citizens when it comes to training and education programs, she said.

“Our numbers would suggest we have been successful in achieving these goals,” Nilsen said. “I can say Eastern Illinois University has taken those goals very seriously.”

Claude Magee, director of the TRIO Program, said Eastern offers a variety of programs and events that promote diversity and show the university cares about ethnicity.

Magee noted a number of the programs and events that have been beneficial to Eastern.

He said LASO, a Latino organization, has been attractive to minority students on campus. The Cultural Center also welcomes all minority groups to gather and meet, Magee said.

Magee said the organization EIUnity has done a great job in bringing the entire campus together.

“This is a group that focuses on unity and diversity on campus,” he said.

He said another positive about Eastern is the fact that it celebrate the Latino Culture in September and a portion of October and Black History Month in February.

“We celebrate people of different colors during these months,” Magee said. “That is very positive.”

Magee credited the Minority Affairs Office for its support and efforts in increasing diversity on campus.

“Minority Affairs has really supported these events and programs on campus,” he said.

Magee said having these programs makes Eastern more attractive to more minority groups.

“It shows kids Eastern is interested in diversity and acknowledges other groups on campus,” he said. “Eastern really cares about kids of different colors.”