Although the Illinois Board of Higher Education reports minority enrollment at Illinois colleges and universities decreased over the past decade, a report in the July 30 issue of Northern Today states minority applications are up at NIU.

The IBHE study stated black student enrollment has decreased from about 13 percent in 1978 to about 12 percent in 1989. But Hispanic enrollment more than doubled in the same period from 3 percent to about 7 percent, the report stated.

However, Robert Burk, associate director for undergraduate admissions, said minority freshman applications for both Hispanics and blacks are increasing.

As of July 1, Hispanic students’ applications rose about 27 percent from last year. And black students who applied for enrollment was about 10 percent more this year than the past year, Burk said.

He said part of the rise in minority applications can be attributed to NIU’s “strong recruiting efforts.”

“Minority applications are up and we anticipate minority enrollment to be up also,” Burk said.

However, Barbara Henley, vice-president for Student Affairs, said there is a difference between applications and actual minority enrollment.

“An increase in minority applications does not necessarily mean an increase in minority enrollment, they are not the same thing,” Henley said.

But Nick Noe, director for NIU’s Institutional Research said, “I’m sure minority enrollment will be up (this academic year).”

Noe said minority enrollment, especially Hispanic and Asian enrollment “has been increasing rather steadily throughout the 1980s.”

He said black enrollment declined somewhat in the mid-1980s, but has been increasing over the last three years.