University of Virginia Library

Black Enrollment Level
Reaches 2.2 Percent High

By Donn Kessler
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

The number of black students enrolled
in the University reached a new high of
236 this year, according to a report
released yesterday by Paul Saunier, Jr.,
Director of University Relations. The
increase of 102 students from last year
raises the percentage of black students to
almost 2.2 per cent of the total
University enrollment.

Last year, the percentage of black
students enrolled in the University at
Charlottesville was only 1.3 per cent of
the student body. This was the lowest
number and lowest percentage of black
enrollment of any state school in the
South.

Undergraduates Triple

In a breakdown of the figures on black
enrollment, Mr. Saunier stated that the
most significant gains in black enrollment
were made in the undergraduate schools. Total
black enrollment in these schools tripled from
42 last year to 121 this year.

The increase in undergraduate enrollment of
black students raised the number of blacks to
almost 2 per cent. This is compared to only
0.73 per cent of the total undergraduate
enrollment last year.

In the College, enrollment of black students
increased from 27 to 89. The College is now 1.9
per cent black as compared to 0.7 per cent last
year.

Graduate Schools

In the graduate schools, the number of
blacks increased from 92 students in 1969 to
115 students this year. The graduate divisions
are now almost 2.7 per cent black.

Detracting from this increased enrollment is
the factor of black students in the graduate
school of education. Seventy-two black
students or over 30 per cent of the blacks
enrolled in the University are in this school.

Many of the blacks enrolled in the graduate
education school are only part-time students
who take night courses and work outside of the
University during the day. Many of these
graduate students do not reside in the
University.

According to Mr. Saunier, the increases in
black enrollment are attributed to the special
recruitment programs carried on in high schools
last year by the University's black students.

Information Programs

He stated that the increases were also made
possible through special information programs
conducted at the University last year for high
school guidance counselors. These programs
were run by the Office of Undergraduate
Admissions.

Minor increases were also made at other
campuses of the University.

At Mary Washington College, the former
girls' coordinate school of the University, 25
blacks are presently enrolled as compared to 16
black students enrolled last year.

The increase at Mary Washington raises the
black enrollment there to slightly more than
one per cent of the student body.

All figures released by Mr. Saunier are
presently incomplete.