by Elizabeth Ashford
Staff Writer

According to the University of North Carolina Board of Governors Long-Range Plan, two main goals for all campuses to achieve include a critical mass of minority students, and reaching racial and ethnic parity in retention and graduation rates.

Appalachian State University’s Diversity Plan has three distinct goals to be reached by 2008, Associate Vice Chancellor for Diversity Dr. Harry L. Williams said.

Goal I is to increase the school’s applicant pool of potential diverse students by 10 percent. This year, Appalachian’s applicant diversity pool is up 11 percent, Williams said

“The largest increases appear to be from Hispanic, Asian and multiracial populations,” Director of Admissions Paul N. Hiatt Jr. said.

Goal II is to increase Appalachian’s faculty diversity by 10 percent. Williams said Appalachian is also up in that area.

Goal III is to double the international community from 100 to 200, Williams said.

“Appalachian has approximately 100 international students. It should be emphasized that Appalachian also has enrolled 150 students who are citizens of other countries, but have recently relocated to the US and are not counted in the international community. These students also make a tremendous contribution to the diversity of Appalachian,” Hiatt said.

Williams said Appalachian State brought an international consultant this year to help achieve this goal.

Williams said Interim-Provost Kenneth E. Peacock has approved some of the consultant’s recommendations, and the university is currently implementing new procedures.

Williams said two goals, the Faculty Fellows Program designed to recruit diverse faculty and the International Faculty Staff and Spouse Association, were both accomplished this year

“[The International Faculty, Staff and Spouse Association] is a group that’s been set up for the purpose of networking and meeting other international members,” Williams said.

Appalachian continues to meet goals in an effort to increase diversity.

“I think it’s important that the university continue its effort and strive to find additional and … new ways to recruit a more diverse student body,” Director of Multicultural Student Development Tracey L. Wright said.

Wright said all students are invited to be a part of the many special interest clubs on campus.

She said an unfortunate misconception is that special interest clubs are only for students of a particular race or ethnicity, which is not the truth.

“The truth is any student on our campus who is interested in coming and learning more about those specific groups are more than welcome," Wright said.

Wright said any students willing to be “change agents” and help organizations with their goals are invited to come.

Wright said students stepping out of their comfort zones and actively seeking diversity opportunities will help create a more positive diverse campus climate.

“It’s a sad thing that many of our white students are graduating from this campus without ever having created meaningful relationships with people of different races, ethnicities, from different countries, and in some cases from different socioeconomic statuses, from different religious beliefs than their own.

"They’re graduating without ever having had those experiences,” Wright said.

Williams said he is optimistic about Appalachian’s growth in diversity.

“I am extremely encouraged by the future and optimistic that Appalachian will continue to grow, continue to enhance the richness that we have here by continuing to support others as it relates to appreciation of diversity,” Williams said.