The Special Committee on Diversity met Friday afternoon to present the University's 2009 admission statistics to the Board of Visitors.
The total number of applications rose by 17 percent, an increase Dean of Admissions Greg Roberts said may have resulted from the University's use of the common application. Out of the total 21,839 applications, 14,053 came from non-Virginians, a hike of 23 percent from 2008.
The University offered admission to 44 percent of Virginian applicants, 65 percent of whom enrolled, compared to 24 percent of out-of-state applicants, 32 percent of whom enrolled. Overall, admission was given to 31 percent of applicants, resulting in a yield of 48 percent, the same percentage of students who enrolled last year.
Within the first-year class, 67.6 percent are from the commonwealth and 32.4 percent are out-of-state. Roberts said he is "very pleased" with the ratio of in-state to out-of-state students.
This year's class is also "socioeconomically more diverse than last year," Roberts said, with 203 students from low-income backgrounds, an increase from 170 last year. About 32 percent of students received financial aid this year, he added.
President John T. Casteen, III indicated that the percentage of the student body qualifying for financial aid this year "is up from 23.8 percent in AccessUVa's first year and up from 27.2 percent just last year" in an Sept. 9 e-mail to Alumni Association members.
The enrolling first-year class also increased in terms of racial diversity, Roberts noted, pointing to a jump across most racial groups. Students were allowed to indicate more than one race on their applications for the first time this year, Roberts said, though 90 percent of students still chose to indicate only one.
Within the applicant pool, there was a 24 percent increase in the number of black students, a 34 percent increase in Asian students, a 46 percent increase in international students, a 49 percent increase in Hispanic students, a 130 percent increase in Native American students and a 15 percent increase in white students. The Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander group was the only group to not increase.
Overall, 3,295 students decided to enroll in the University's class of 2013, an increase in yield by 6 percent in black students, 18 percent in Asian students, 10 percent in international students, 54 percent in Hispanic students, 280 percent in Native American students and 2 percent in white students.
Because of the larger applicant pool, Roberts said the admissions rate was lower this year for international students. He also noted that many of these international students studied within the community college system prior to applying to the University, rather than applying directly from their home countries.
Roberts said that after efforts to increase outreach and recruitment of community college students, he also is particularly pleased with the 10 percent increase in Virginia Community College System applicants. Of the 679 VCCS students who applied, 48 percent were accepted, and 82 percent, or 267 students, chose to enroll. This represents an increase from the 254 VCCS students who enrolled in 2008.
Board member Warren Thompson said he is "very encouraged" by the increase in diversity this year, adding that he believes the statistics prove that the University's initiatives to increase diversity are showing real results. Thompson also said, though, that despite this year's success, the University must continue to increase its outreach efforts, so as to help indicate that "the University is open to a diverse and inclusive process."
Marcus Martin, interim assistant vice president for diversity and equity, agreed.
"As long as we maintain an atmosphere of inclusion," he said, "we will continue to grow in the right direction"
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