According to figures released Tuesday by The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education, the number of black students matriculating at the University fell by 19 percent this fall. The annual survey gathers admissions information from the top 30 universities in the nation as ranked by US News & World Report. These universities are then ordered by the percentage of black students in their first-year class.
"This survey gives black students who are considering college information on where they might stand a good chance at being admitted [and] which schools have large populations of black students where they might feel comfortable," Robert Bruce Slater, managing editor of the Journal, said.
The University is one of seven institutions that have shown a decline of more than 10 percent in black freshman. Other universities showing significant declines include Wake Forest University, University of Michigan and University of California -- Los Angeles.
"We hope that by publishing this information that it will instill a competitive spirit among these schools," Slater said.
Last year, the University was ranked second overall in the Journal's study with 319 black first-year students. This year, however, the University is ranked 10th with 260 black first-year students.
"U.Va., for many years, was always at the top," Slater said. He added it was "anybody's guess" why there was such a change this year.
William Harvey, University vice president and chief officer for diversity and equity, said that these figures are "not at all reflective of interests and concerns about enrolling African-American students."
According to Harvey, these numbers are not new to University officials. Harvey said that he recently met with Dean of Admissions John Blackburn to discuss a range of recruitment opportunities in response to this information about African-American admissions.
Harvey, who called these numbers a "wake-up call," said the University is pursuing a group of students who are highly sought after by other institutions.
Harvey added, "You can't rest on your laurels" emphasizing the need to compete with other highly-ranked universities for the most talented black students.
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