Graduate Schools Urged to Diversify Enrollments

Graduate schools need to recruit and graduate a more diverse student body, according to a report being issued today by the Council of Graduate Schools. "Our nation is becoming increasingly diverse, yet Hispanic and African American students are highly underrepresented in graduate schools, particularly in fields such as science and engineering, where each group makes up less than 10 percent of graduate enrollment and approximately 5 percent of new Ph.D.'s," the report says. "While women are the fastest-growing group in graduate education, they too remain underrepresented in some key fields. These demographic trends present long-term challenges that can be overcome only by a national commitment to developing all our country’s talent." The report reviews demographics of graduate enrollments, and describes programs that have helped some graduate schools recruit and educate in inclusive ways.