Recruiting the Future: Efforts to Diversify
In the 1970s, the Admissions office of Florida Technical University, along with the Black Student Union (BSU), expanded their efforts to recruit black high school students in order to increase the number of minority students on campus. To increase the enrollment and acceptance rates of black students, the director of admissions, Ralph C. Boston, put special emphasis on the recruiting efforts of minority students and organized “special visits” with Florida’s local high schools to meet with potential future students of FTU. Despite the efforts of the Admissions Office and the Black Student Union to establish relationships with local predominately black high schools, by the early 1980s, they had not achieved the percentage of minority students they had hoped for.
The recruiting efforts of minority students were initiated by the admissions office to develop a more personal connection with students and counselors of selected schools, as well as, to give special attention and assistance in matters of recruiting minority students, early admissions, financial aid, problematic admissions, etc. In the 1971-1972 school year, 21 “special visits” to various Florida high schools were made on an informal basis. Personal contact with students resulted in an excellent opportunity to talk about and identify “qualified” minority students. For example, the predominately black, Jones High School was visited and five minority students were “identified,” and were invited onto campus for a special tour. Mr. Gary, the principal of Jones High School, provided FTU with a list of 35 black students in Orange County schools who scored a 200 or higher on the Florida statewide test.
On February 4, 1971, Ralph C. Boston met with the Faculty Senate Committee and the Black Student Union to explain and discuss the progress of minority recruitment efforts. After the meeting, the Black Student Union of Florida Technical University asked for support from the admissions office in bringing black students on campus for special programs. On April 11, 1971, during Black Symposium Week, 88 black students from Jones High School were brought onto campus to participate in the Black Student Union activity. The Office of Admissions both assisted and participated in the events.
In January of 1972, the Admissions Office of FTU received a listing of minority students who were winners and honorable mentions in the College Entrance Examinations Board’s upper service scholarship program, and sent out packets including applications for admissions and financial aid, as well as a brochure and special letter.
The Office of Admissions accomplished 57 programs of recruitment in which 2,243 students were in attendance, of which 191 were black. By December 1972 , the Office of Admissions made 40 visits to various Florida high schools with a total of 2,237 students in attendance, in which 256 of the students in attendance were black. On December 12, 1972, in a letter addressed to Vice President C.B. Gambrell from Leland H. Jackson concerning minority student recruitment anticipates greater numbers of black recruitment due to the efforts of black faculty members, Mr. Frank Simmons (Cooperative Education Office) and Mr. Howard Smith (Financial Aids Office). By February 1973, recruitment visits increased to 50 special visits with 3,031 students in attendance in which 401 were black.
In March of 1983, in a letter to President Colbourn concerning the decline in minority enrollment rates, despite efforts of recruitment by the Admissions Office, it is noted that the University’s minority population is far below the 9.7% goal.
1. An acceptance letter addressed to a minority student, H. Trevor Colbourn Papers 1984-2005, Box 14, Folder 6, Special Collections and University Archives, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL.
2. A News Article concerning a decline in minority student enrollment rates, H. Trevor Colbourn Papers 1984-2005, Box 14, Folder 6, Special Collections and University Archives, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL.
3. Enrollment Records, H. Trevor Colbourn Papers 1984-2005, Box 14, Folder 6, Special Collections and University Archives, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL.
4. Recruitment Figures, Office of the V.P. for Academic Affairs: C.B. Gambrell Records, 1964-1984, Box 18, Folder 3, Special Collections and University Archives, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL.
5. Recruitment Activities, Office of the V.P. for Academic Affairs: C.B. Gambrell Records, 1964-1984, Box 18, Folder 3, Special Collections and University Archives, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL.
6. November 26, 1973 inter office Memorandum, Office of the V.P. for Academic Affairs: C.B. Gambrell Records, 1964-1984, Box 18, Folder 3, Special Collections and University Archives, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL.
7. Memorandum for Recruiting Efforts for the 1971-72 School Year, Office of the V.P. for Academic Affairs: C.B. Gambrell Records, 1964-1984, Box 18, Folder 3, Special Collections and University Archives, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL.