The Free Press, Mankato, MN

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July 7, 2008

Our View — Embrace MSU’s goal of diversity

For people who don’t travel much, living in a university town can be the next best thing.

College campuses are a community within a community, offering more variety of people and activities than a typical Midwestern town could ever imagine.

That’s the richness Mankato enjoys by being home to Minnesota State University, and it’s welcome news MSU has made gains in becoming a more diverse place during the last five or so years. The number of students of color in the student body in that time has grown from 440 to 1,064.

In addition, the numbers of international students is climbing back up after the drop following 9/11. The numbers of Asian- and African-American students are up 30 percent over last year.

Even though the statistics are showing progress, MSU officials know they have a long way to go to make the university as diverse as they would like. Despite the obvious benefits of exposing students and residents to a variety of people and culture, the reality is the university also wants to increase those numbers because of the economic benefit.

Drawing students is a competitive business and MSU has demonstrated it is honing skills in that area. The university has hired a recruiter from Sri Lanka who uses her personal Facebook site to get the word out about MSU. Another recruiter spends time in inner-city schools, making connections with student populations in urban areas who might not otherwise consider MSU.

The university is not just getting the students to plump up the numbers. They’re taking steps to ensure those students have the tools they need to adapt and succeed. The College Access Program involves bringing prospective students to campus for four weeks of the summer during which time they live in residence halls, take classes and live much as college students live. MSU also is partnering with a nonprofit called Admission Possible, which prepares students for college studies. And international students who need English language or remedial help can use the College Access writing program and the English Language Center.

Students also have the chance to see more faculty of color thanks to the Pre-Doctoral Fellows program, which offers jobs to people who bring some measure of diversity to campus — gender, ethnic, sexual orientation, etc.

MSU has proven it is taking its goal seriously of becoming a more diverse place. The community should not only embrace that undertaking and its benefits, but needs to play the part of gracious host and make all of the newcomers welcome.

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