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Hodge hopes to raise Miami's minority enrollment 60 percent
Ben Garbarek
Issue date: 9/18/07 Section: Campus
President David Hodge wants Miami to look more like Ohio in the next few years.
During his Annual Address to the university last week, Hodge revealed his goal to raise Miami's diversity level to better reflect the demographics of the state of Ohio as a whole.
"As a public university in Ohio, it's reasonable as a minimal benchmark," Hodge said. "Shouldn't we reflect the composition of the rest of the state?"
According to Hodge, current enrollment at Miami reflects a minority population between eight and nine percent, while the state of Ohio stands at 15 percent-making Hodge's proposal a 60 percent increase in minority enrollment over the next five years.
"It's a stretch goal," Hodge said. "It's an ambitious goal given our history."
Associated Student Government (ASG) President Jens Sutmöller agrees.
"It's an admirable goal to shoot for," Sutmöller said. "Our education will be advanced with more diversity."
Hodge has a three-part plan for achieving his objective.
First, he said that Miami will be hiring a new chief diversity officer that will report to Hodge. Hodge said that the interview process is still underway and that the finalists will be on campus for interviews in October.
The finalists also will be presented to the university in a public forum before a selection is made.
"I want the campus to get to know these folks (before we make our final decision)," Hodge said.
Hodge went on to say this new staff member would be in a better position to advocate for diversity and hopes to have someone in place for next semester, but may wait if necessary.
The new associate vice president for institutional diversity will report directly to Hodge and will develop outreach strategies to attract more diverse students and faculty members. The search is looking for candidates with at least five years experience in institutional diversity programs.
Laurie Koehler, the new admission director, has also given Hodge encouragement. Hodge said one of the reasons she was hired was because of her work at the University of Virginia and Cornell University to attract minority students.
During his Annual Address to the university last week, Hodge revealed his goal to raise Miami's diversity level to better reflect the demographics of the state of Ohio as a whole.
"As a public university in Ohio, it's reasonable as a minimal benchmark," Hodge said. "Shouldn't we reflect the composition of the rest of the state?"
According to Hodge, current enrollment at Miami reflects a minority population between eight and nine percent, while the state of Ohio stands at 15 percent-making Hodge's proposal a 60 percent increase in minority enrollment over the next five years.
"It's a stretch goal," Hodge said. "It's an ambitious goal given our history."
Associated Student Government (ASG) President Jens Sutmöller agrees.
"It's an admirable goal to shoot for," Sutmöller said. "Our education will be advanced with more diversity."
Hodge has a three-part plan for achieving his objective.
First, he said that Miami will be hiring a new chief diversity officer that will report to Hodge. Hodge said that the interview process is still underway and that the finalists will be on campus for interviews in October.
The finalists also will be presented to the university in a public forum before a selection is made.
"I want the campus to get to know these folks (before we make our final decision)," Hodge said.
Hodge went on to say this new staff member would be in a better position to advocate for diversity and hopes to have someone in place for next semester, but may wait if necessary.
The new associate vice president for institutional diversity will report directly to Hodge and will develop outreach strategies to attract more diverse students and faculty members. The search is looking for candidates with at least five years experience in institutional diversity programs.
Laurie Koehler, the new admission director, has also given Hodge encouragement. Hodge said one of the reasons she was hired was because of her work at the University of Virginia and Cornell University to attract minority students.
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