Diversity efforts at UGA - Letters - Letter to the Editor

Black Issues in Higher Education, Feb 27, 2003 by Delmer D. Dunn

The Black Issues in Higher Education Jan. 30 story on the University of Georgia presents a distorted hinge of the university's quest for a diverse student body. The same report that the story uses to convey a negative view of the university's recruitment of African American students actually lauds much that the university is doing in this area. In evaluating the institution's response to the August 2001 court ruling against affirmative action in admissions, the report states, "We believe that you have adopted an excellent approach to the admissions process for the next academic year."

What has the university done? It has new admissions recruiters assigned to satellite offices in the Atlanta metropolitan area and in south Georgia. It has created the Georgia Initiative Scholarships for students in Georgia high schools underrepresented at UGA. It has established new relationships with historically Black institutions, and renewed efforts to engage Black alumni, in a long list of initiatives. The fact that UGA President Michael Adams fought in the courts to maintain affirmative action in admissions decisions should indicate to any who are skeptical that university is indeed committed to diversifying its student body.

The story does not reflect reality at UGA. The very students we want to recruit and their parents who read these "glass-half-empty" stories may conclude something is wrong with diversity efforts at the University of Georgia. To those minority students who have an interest in UGA I would say, "Come see for yourself."

Delmer D. Dunn
Vice President for Instruction
University of Georgia, Athens