During the last 10 years, NIU’s black enrollment declined about 2 percent while Hispanic and Asian enrollment increased about 3 percent.

Institutional Research Director Nick Noe said his office conducted a Minority Student Profile which found NIU minority enrollment overall jumped about 8 percent from 1,872 in 1977 to 2,372 in 1987. During that period black enrollment declined about 2 percent, Noe said. Most of the decline occurred before 1984, the study reported.

However, Hispanic enrollment at NIU rose 1.4 percent in 1976 compared to a 3 percent increase in 1986, Noe said. NIU’s Asian populaton went from about 1 percent to about 4 percent, he said.

Illinois community colleges and private institutions experienced similar changes, he said.

Noe said state and national trends are similar to NIU’s minority enrollment situation.

NIU President John LaTourette said since the 1980s, black enrollment has been decreasing causing a nationwide concern from universities. However, the Hispanic population increased at colleges and universities nationwide but not at a rapid rate, he said.

Between 1980 and 1984 black enrollment dropped more than 3 percent nationwide, according to the American Council on Education’s report. Black enrollment also decreased more than 3 percent at four-year universities and two-year colleges, the ACE report stated.

LaTourette said one-third of young people between the ages of 18 and 22 are minorities and the number is increasing. He said 33 percent of the Illinois population is minorities, and in about 13 years, the minority population will become the majority.

Noe said a committee to address the decline in minority enrollment was implemented by NIU Provost Kendall Baker. He said the committee will address minority recruitment and retention. Baker was not available for comment Thursday.

Retention is a problem nationwide and at NIU because 50 percent of minorities that go to college do not graduate, LaTourette said. He said NIU needs to make an effort to attract more minority students and to retain them.

Some minorities drop out because they are not prepared to enter a university, so NIU is trying to reach young people to prepare them at an early age, LaTourette said. NIU conducts talent searches to identify youths with good aptitude and motivation to continue their education, he said.

LaTourette said the talent search starts with sixth graders and goes as low as kindergarteners.

Another program that can assist a cross-section of students that is not prepared academically for college is the CHANCE program, said Special Projects Director Tendaji Ganges. In the fall of 1987, 287 minority students from 375 total students entered NIU through the CHANCE program, he said.

Ganges said it is debatable if the CHANCE program was the main factor in retaining students, but its retention rate has steadily increased since 1981. He said students in CHANCE receive academic counseling, group counseling and personal advice.

“The main function of the program is to provide access (to college) and support students through college,” Ganges said. Only freshmen are admitted into CHANCE because funding is limited, but Ganges said he is trying to extend the program beyond students’ first year.

Noe said, “Black enrollment at Illinois public universities began a gradual decline after 1979, and the black student percentage dropped from 11.5 percent in 1976 to 10.9 percent in 1986.”