Virginia Tech recently announced that the number of Black applicants to the university rose 13 percent this year. The university received more than 30,000 applicants and plans to admit 6,600 freshman.
In 2016, Virginia Tech President Tim Sands set a goal to have 40 percent of the student body come from underrepresented groups and first generation students by 2022. In addition to an increase in African-American applicants, the applicant pool also had an increase of 4 percent in first generation students, 3 percent in Hispanics, 19 percent in Native Americans, and 16 percent in veterans.
Recently, the university shifted to a uniform application process created by the Independent Coalition for Access, Affordability, and Success. The application is designed to aid lower-income and first generation students in applying to college by improving ease of applying and accessibility to financial aid. Additionally, the application makes it easier for students to obtain a fee waiver to apply to the university.
Juan Espinoza, director of undergraduate admissions and associate vice provost for enrollment management, credits this new “holistic” application process for this year’s progress in changing the applicant pool.
“We’re making sure Virginia Tech is open to anyone who is interested,” said Espinoza.
This is very misleading to say the least. If Virginia Tech disaggregated the data for the number of Native born Black Americans and African or Caribbean Immigrants the number would show other wise. In fact, Virginia Tech attempts to portray itself as being “Diverse and Inclusive” but if you talk to Native born Black American students they’ll tell you otherwise along with the daily racism they encounter.