On July 25 an article appeared in the Chicago Tribune entitled “NIU Upgrading Aid to Minorities.” In part, it dealt with the findings of a report on undergraduate retention that we provided to the Board of Regents on July 27. Unfortunately, because of its orientation and abbreviated length, the article did not give very thorough consideration to the full scope of the report. It quoted me briefly, and while the quotes were accurate, they did not lay out the context or begin to cover the full range of my comments on the report and its findings.

Specifically with regard to minority students and their retention, it should be noted that the report made it clear that NIU experienced a sizable increase in black students this year and has shown a steady growth in Hispanic students over the last four years. Roughly two-thirds of those students, including those in the CHANCE program, remain enrolled after one year. After that time, there is a comparatively large attrition rate, but the good news is that in both the CHANCE program and for minority students generally, the most recent cohort that has completed two years shows a significant percentage increase in retention at that stage. Graduation rates also seem to be on the rise.

As I indicated to the Chicago Tribune reporter, NIU has worked very hard through its CHANCE program to give disadvantaged students an opportunity for a college education. I believe that such efforts are commendable and need to be expanded if we are to begin to address the growing problem of a society segregated along education lines. In addition to backing second year funding for the CHANCE program and early intervention efforts, I have given strong support this year to program and budget requests designed to expand the flow of minority transfer students to NIU and the other Regency universities. Transfer students are good academic prospects, particularly after an initial transition period. It might be a good “investment” to provide these students some of the services that the CHANCE program currently provides to special students at the freshman level.

Fortunately, this year, unlike the last three, we will receive substantial additional monies to carry out improvements in our minority support programming. Clearly, NIU has made some commendable headway on its own in recent years and has developed a strong program base with which to utilize well the additional funds provided by the General Assembly. I look forward to continued progress.

Roderick Groves

Board of Regents

Chancellor