Ohio University is the state's least racially diverse college and offers one of the lowest percentages of financial aid among similar schools in Ohio, according to the Ohio Board of Regents' 2006 Performance Report.
Of all four-year public institutions, the university's main campus in Athens is the least racially diverse, according to the report. Students reported race themselves and 87 percent identified as white. Four percent of students are black and no other racial group makes up more than one percent of the student body, though five percent of students declined to state their race.
Diversity is a major priority for our institution
said Kathy Krendl, OU provost. A jump in the number of black freshmen in Fall 2005 to 214 from 128 the previous year was a major step forward for the university, she said.
We do have enrollment targets and we are working with individual departments to increase diversity Krendl said.
Another hurdle to improving student diversity is location, said Christine Taylor, assistant to the OU president for diversity. Athens' rural location makes it difficult to attract urban students, she said.
We have not yet moved towards having a major media presence in (the urban) market Taylor said, adding that continuing to build relationships with minority communities should steadily increase diversity.
The state of Ohio's average in-state sticker-price tuition of $8,553 is 47 percent more than the national average. Ohio University's sticker-price tuition is $8,727.
Of 3,795 first-time, full-time, degree-seeking freshmen who attended OU's Athens campus during the 2004G
said Sondra Williams, university director of Student Financial Aid, when asked why the university gave significantly less aid than other Ohio schools. Federal and state aid hasn't increased in the last few years, she said, but the university has been awarding more money each year.
Having competitive scholarships and financial aid for minority students is key to attracting them to the campus, Taylor said. In the past, OU's incentives for minority students weren't competitive with other universities.
We must be in a position to give competitive awards
Taylor said.
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