Of all the universities in Florida, FAU has the most diverse student population.
FAU’s average minority rate is 17 percent greater than those of the nine Florida universities included in the national Common Data Set (CDS) enrollment report recently published.

The Common Data Set initiative is a collaboration of colleges and publishers nationwide. Their main goals are to collect and report enrollment information and to improve the quality and accuracy of that information.
“The CDS reports are very useful to have,” explains Cynthia Condore, a statistical research coordinator for FAU’s Office of Institutional Effectiveness & Analysis. “Each college around the nation uses the same report; the findings then [make it] easier to [compare colleges].”

According to the last seven years of CDS reports, African-Americans are increasing student diversity at FAU and statewide by an average of 16 percent
each year.

The CDS’ findings for the fall of 2008 show FAU’s enrollment of African-Americans was 9 percent greater than that of the University of Central Florida, 10 percent greater than that of the University of Florida, and 14 percent greater than that of Florida Gulf
Coast University.
“From the data collected, I believe FAU is [one of] the most diverse in the state” Condore says. “If you walk around FAU’s campus, you can see the … ethnicity and diversity among the students and even within the clubs registered here at FAU.”

Some students admit that they chose FAU because of its diversity and its unique location in South Florida.
“I did choose FAU because of the diverse student population,” junior finance major Edward Compere admits. “The [interaction between] the different students here at FAU makes it easier to meet others from different cultures. The location of FAU and the popularity it has in South Florida also help.”

Although the data proves that FAU is the most diverse university in the state, students think that FAU could do more to increase its diversity and acknowledge more of the black students during times other than Black History Month.
“I don’t think there is enough support here on campus [for] black heritage outside Black History Month,” sophomore communications major Ashley Dunclair says. “I believe that FAU should [show] more support for the Black Student Union and Multicultural Programming club that supports diversity. There is always a struggle for both of these clubs when it comes to funding.”

In order to achieve the enrollment diversity numbers FAU has attained over the years, the admissions office recruits and at times caters to special groups and schools that could increase the diversity of FAU students.

According to Mary Edmunds, the associate director of admissions, the FAU admissions office’s main goal when recruiting students is to make any student of any ethnicity comfortable attending FAU, and Edmunds believes this strategy is why FAU is such a
diverse school already.