African-American enrollment increases in University of Michigan freshman class

After falling for several years, enrollment of African-American freshmen has rebounded at the University of Michigan, while two other underrepresented groups - Hispanics and Native Americans - dropped this year.
New enrollment numbers released today by U-M for the fall 2008 freshman class offer a mixed picture of how the voter-approved constitutional amendment banning affirmative action has affected university admissions.
The class includes 374 American-American students, an increase of 40 students over last year. The total is 6.8 percent of the freshman class, up from 5.8 percent last year.
The 199 Hispanic freshmen make up 3.6 percent of the class, down from 4.7 percent last year. The 31 Native American students make up 0.6 percent of the class, a slight drop as a percentage of the class.
As a percentage of the class, enrollment of underrepresented minority students, including black, Hispanic and Native Americans, dropped slightly.
"While we are pleased with holding our own with regard to enrolling underrepresented students, we cannot become complacent in our diversity efforts," said U-M President Mary Sue Coleman in a press release. "There is still much work to do."
The freshman class this fall includes 5,783 students, smaller than last year's. That includes international students and those who did not indicate their race.
White student enrollment, at 3,796, increased by 55 students. Enrollment of Asian American freshmen, at 686 students, decreased by 71.
This was the first class admitted entirely under a race-neutral system mandated by a voter-approved constitutional amendment in 2006. It took effect midway through the admissions cycle used to admit last fall's freshmen class.
"Underrepresented minority student enrollment has plummeted at several major public universities operating under similar laws in other states," said Senior Vice Provost Lester Monts. "We have worked hard to reach out aggressively to prospective students, to be sure they are aware of U-M's ongoing commitment to diversity."

by David Gershman - The Ann Arbor News