Feb 24, 2025 Story by: Editor
Indiana University Bloomington has seen little progress in Black student enrollment over the past five decades, as revealed by a WFIU/WTIU News analysis.
Enrollment data from 1975 to 2024 indicates that Black students have consistently made up around 4 percent of the undergraduate student population.
In the fall of 2024, Black students comprised approximately 4.5 percent, equating to 1,696 students at IU Bloomington.
Sophomore Tu’Shawn Farris expressed disappointment but not surprise at these statistics. He believes Black students at IU Bloomington lack adequate representation and support.
“In a sense, it kind of shows the large, systemic issues of recruitment, retention and the support for Black students at universities, and certainly a predominantly white one like Indiana University,” Farris said.
Similarly, sophomore Mikayla Jones was unsurprised by the figures and suggested that IU could do more to boost Black student enrollment. With increasing opposition to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts, she anticipates a decline.
“All of the diversity programs that have been in place for so many years, those can only help so much,” Jones said. “Even with DEI changes that are happening now, I’m sure that we’re going to see a decrease in student enrollment at IU, especially within the Black community.”
IU did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
Enrollment Trends
IU’s public records, including Common Data Set responses from 2005 to 2024 and archived IU Fact Books from 1975 to 2004, provide insight into undergraduate enrollment trends by race and ethnicity.
The highest percentage of Black students at IU Bloomington was recorded in 1981 at 5.1 percent when 1,659 Black students were enrolled, a record that remained until fall 2024.
Meanwhile, enrollment trends for other racial and ethnic groups have changed significantly since 2005. White student enrollment has dropped from 84 percent to 65 percent in 2024, while the number of Asian and Hispanic/Latino students has more than tripled. The proportion of students identifying as multiracial has increased from 2 percent in 2010 to 6 percent in 2024.
During the 20th century, Indiana’s civil rights leaders acknowledged IU’s efforts to increase Black student enrollment.
A 1979 Indiana Daily Student article reported that IU had the highest percentage of Black student enrollment among major colleges in the state. The Indiana Civil Rights Commission noted that Black students made up 7 percent of the student body across all IU campuses, with 4.5 percent at the Bloomington campus.
However, Farris noted that Black students continue to struggle with visibility in classrooms and student organizations, making it difficult to voice concerns, build community, and take on leadership roles.
“It also means fewer Black voices, voices being heard and important discussions in campus policies and culture,” Farris said. “It feels like our voices aren’t being heard, even when we try to get them to be heard.”
IU does offer programs like the Groups Scholars Program and the Hudson & Holland Scholars Program to support first-generation and underrepresented students. The university also promotes the African American Arts Institute. However, DEI initiatives face increasing challenges at state and federal levels.
Before choosing IU Bloomington, Jones researched the Black student community on campus, knowing it would be a trade-off compared to attending a historically Black college or university. She followed the Black Student Union and the NAACP’s IU chapter on social media for over a year to gauge community engagement.
Farris explored spaces such as The Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center, while Jones noted the significance of Black student organizations.
“These types of organizations are what keeps the students,” Jones said. “I don’t think we get as much support from the community of IU, per se, as we should.”
Challenges Amid DEI Opposition
The Indiana General Assembly recently advanced Senate Bill 289, which would prohibit DEI initiatives in state government and public schools. If enacted, the legislation would take effect before the next academic year.
“I’ve thought about transferring, but a lot of the reasons I haven’t are because of the connections that the Black faculty have made,” Farris said. “I know firsthand, they have advocated for me to stay here, and open those doors, and show me that, ‘It might not seem like you have these opportunities. You might just have to work a lot harder than the average student here at IU.’”
Jones and Farris are involved with IU’s NAACP chapter but clarified they do not speak on behalf of the organization. Alongside organizing community events, the IU NAACP has shared information about SB 289 and other anti-DEI efforts.
“Things are just happening so drastically,” Jones said. “As an organization all we can do right now is educate people and try to push for people to lobby and rally against these policies.”
Both students secured scholarships, some under DEI initiatives, to afford their education at IU Bloomington. Jones anticipates fewer such scholarships in the future, potentially making college less accessible for Black students.
“We need to ask, are DEI issues actually improving Black student experiences? And are the resources being allocated to benefit Black students?” Farris said. “When you look into it from my view, in my personal experiences, yes.” Source: Indiana Public Media
