University of Virginia Library

Black Percentage

Since the University is a state-supported
institution, it should strike a median between
20 per cent, which the black percentage of the
population in Virginia, and the 12 to 13 per
cent in the nation, Mr. Ivey stated. Mrs.
Johnson felt that the percentage should be no
less than 20 per cent.

The percentage of black students in this
year's entering class was five per cent, bringing
the percentage enrollment in the University to
about two per cent. Percentage enrollment will
need to increase by 18 per cent in order to
achieve a balance comparable to the population
in the state. A very high percentage of black
students currently enrolled are in-state
students.

The most important need, Mrs. Johnson
stated, is for a University-wide commitment to
the idea that it is the right thing to do to
increase black enrollment. She said that a
change in spirit or attitude was necessary in
order to create an atmosphere in which blacks
would feel welcome. This change could be
implemented, Mrs. Johnson suggested, by
appointment of a black member of the Board
of Visitors and black Administrators. Black
admissions, she emphasized, must not just meet
a certain limit and no more.

Mr. Ivey suggested that immediate steps
could be taken to increase the number of black
administrators, professors, and graduate
students at the teaching level. He said that these
appointments were lacking this year although
there had been a large increase in the number of
black students enrolled.

Photo By Saxon Holt

Willie Ivey

Black Admissions Recruiter

Current enrollment in the College is nearly
11,000 students. President Shannon supports
an increase to about 12,000 for 1971-72 in his
report last February on "Growth." The
Committee on the Future of the University in
planning for growth has projected an
enrollment of 18,000 by 1980.