As the new year kicks off, I thought I’d mention a couple of good things that have happened around EMU lately, and make an admittedly snarky reference to some bad news that EMU didn’t make.
First, the “honest to goodness” good news: EMU has been recognized by the publication Diverse Issues in Higher Education for having a growing number of African American students who earn degrees. I would link to the article or report in the actual journal, but it looks like it isn’t available online. So here’s a link to an EMU press release on all this.
Here’s a quote/blurb from the press release that I think kind of sums things up:
EMU improved to 67th (out of more than 300 colleges and universities) for the number of baccalaureate degrees bestowed upon African-American students. EMU ranked 74th in the previous year. Eastern Michigan awarded 420 (264 women, 156 men) bachelor’s degrees to African-American students in 2006.Approximately 18 percent of EMU’s 19,000 undergraduate students are African American, said Tom Green, vice president for enrollment management at EMU.
“EMU is proud of its long track record of enrolling and graduating underrepresented students. Students of all backgrounds are interested in a quality education and we provide that,” Green said. “We also provide a welcoming and supportive environment for students, including small classes with faculty who mentor students, as well as teach them.”
I really do think this is good news and it is one of the reasons I like working at EMU. It’s nice to be at a place that not only honors but celebrates diversity by extending opportunity. Good for us.
Second, the snarky and not bad news: via the always fun blog ANN ARBOR IS OVERRATED, which should you give you some idea about the seriousness of all of this, comes this article from something called Radar Online, “The Worst Colleges in America.” This is obviously a sophomoric piece that parodies the (in)famous U.S. News and World Report rankings of colleges and universities.
I link to it here for three basic reasons. First, I think it’s kinda funny. Second, our colleagues and friends at Michigan State University made the list (which is why AAIO linked to the piece in the first place). And third, EMU is not among the schools listed. Perhaps a bit of schadenfreude on my part, but there you have it.
I’m especially proud of the contributions of my home state of Virginia to the list of worst colleges! I mean what other state can boast a recent history of trying to keep women out of a state funded college? Ah, tradition.
I believe EMU was ranked on the US News list the year I was starting here. Shows how much a school can change in 2 years.