Falling Black College Enrollment in Florida Puts Heat on Gov

[cal04]

Falling Black College Enrollment in Florida Puts Heat on Gov. Bush's Policy

New figures show fewer black students are attending Florida universities, providing ammunition for critics of Gov. Jeb Bush's 5-year-old policy that excludes race in admissions decisions. Six of the state's 11 public universities reported a drop, and the percentage of blacks in this year's freshman class is at its lowest since Bush became governor in 1999. The decline comes despite continued growth in the overall student population at the state's public universities - a 3.1 percent increase to nearly 282,000 students, according to figures released Friday.

"We need to find out what's going on," said David Griffin, former secretary of the Florida Department of Lottery and a trustee for the historically black Florida A&M University. Bush has celebrated freshmen enrollment numbers to rebuff criticism of his 5-year-old One Florida plan, which barred universities from using race in admission decisions. The state adopted the Talented 20 program, which guarantees a spot at a state university to those in the top 20 percent of their senior classes. Opponents argued declining black enrollment was inevitable after the change.

Bush spokesman Russell Schweiss disputed Friday that One Florida had anything to do with the black enrollment decline. Bush's office issued a statement touting overall enrollment increases and climbing Hispanic enrollment. The governor also noted rising minority graduation rates. "Florida's universities deserve recognition for recruiting the best and the brightest from all ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds," Bush said. The steep drop, if uncorrected, could invite budget cuts for schools like Florida A&M, which is already troubled by short finances and mismanagement.

The school, more than 90 percent black, has seen overall enrollment drop by nearly 1,700 students - with a 25 percent smaller freshman class this year than last. Hispanic enrollment at public schools rose 6 percent from 2004, and Hispanics now comprise more than 16 percent of the overall student population.

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGBH87BHGDE.html

[whistle]

1. That's just what Gov Jeb and his racist neo-cons and republican

...supporters want to see. No heat, to this bunch it smells like victory!

[Dudley_DUright]

2. Like this was not totally predicable and democrats loudly said

so at the time.

[Erika]

3. GOP tactic of developing a caste system for their bidding

Cheap workers, troops for imperialism.

[henslee]

4. Subtle and not so sublte institutional racism is what I perceive to be

the norm here in Miami Dade county. Trying to use the transit system, I noticed the difficulty one has trying to head East or West -- THERE ARE NO EXPRESS BUSSES down the main E/W boulevards. The routes zig zag which really discourages convenient transportation from black (often haitia) neighborhoods from accessing the Westside. This is not the case in other metropolitan areas I have spent time in.

[TallahasseeGrannie]

5. CAN WE TALK ABOUT STANDARDIZED TESTING? N/T

[VespertineIconoclast]

7. Hi to a fellow Tallahasseean!

:hi:Even though I'm no longer there, I have some major roots in the city.

Let's not even TALK about the standardized testing in FL!

-VI

[VespertineIconoclast]

6. Florida A&M University (FAMU) is my undergraduate alma mater –

I remember marching on the capital building several times for the stolen 2000 election, the enactment of Jeb Bush’s One Florida Plan, and others. We had spokespeople, leaders from the community, and important members of FAMU try to meet and speak with him, but being the ass that he is, he completely ignored them; even when we had planned appointments, he would not come! This article brings back my past rage over these situations! :grr:

This article mentions “The steep drop, if uncorrected, could invite budget cuts for schools like Florida A&M ….” Even though, I’m no longer in Tallahassee, FL I still have my finger to the pulse of things that happen there. There has always been a plan for years, since the 1970s, to merge the Historically Black College (HBC) with Florida State University (FSU). They want to make the original FSU the major campus and FAMU the minor campus. Nothing against FSU, but I love FAMU for its’ distinctive culture that was quite different from FSU. But, a decreasing student population and other financial problems could force the hand of this unique institution to merge…

Jeb Bush has always been a douche bag that thinks he knows what’s best in all situations and anyone that disagrees with him is treated like a child, patronized, and then ignored! :nuke:

-VI

[TallahasseeGrannie]

8. I try to be a polite person

and the best word I can come up with for our Governor is "petulant."

FAMU is a very unique place and should be celebrated. It is such a source of pride in this community and I think it will be just fine. I don't know much about this new acting Prez, but she sure appears to be sincere and not afraid of rocking the boat.

[VespertineIconoclast]

9. I'm glad that you are more polite than me.

;)

I have friends attending FAMU who tell me that the new acting president at FAMU is pretty cool because she says exactly what is on her mind and is willing to stir things up. But, no one knows how long she will be there....

-VI

[jody]

10. Why did overall enrollment at Florida A&M drop

by nearly 1,700 students - with a 25 percent smaller freshman class this year?

[Igel]

11. This is problematic.

When UC banned affirmative action, the numbers were pretty much as expected: there was a large drop the first year. Part was a result of fewer admits given preferential status, part was reportedly the result of a perceived lack of welcome. Over time, the numbers trended upwards. That scenario made sense.

I'd have expected this to hold for Florida's program, too.

"The governor also noted rising minority graduation rates." This could just be a statistical fluke. UCLA had fairly abysmal 4-year graduation rates for minorities. The minorities that would have been admitted anyway got all the same help as those that were given a little 'extra' on their admissions, but the latter group had a very high dropout and 5-year graduate rate.

I take the drop at Florida A&M to mean a 1700 student decrease over five years.

One number that would be useful to know is the percentage of Florida blacks that are going to 4-year colleges. It may just be that they're going out of state. Unlikely, but it's something that I've had checked had I been the reporter.

[Judi Lynn]

12. Since Jeb Bush abhors racial references in college admissions

he probably would have absolutely no resistance to the thought of all applications for admission being submitted without names, in the preliminary stages, to prevent college screeners making exceptions for the CUBANS, Jeb Bush's beloved former business partners, and total political base.

That way, we all could be certain they don't get preference in admissions, either. Cuban names bring with them nationality information, in Florida, without a doubt.

It should be noted that Cuban immigrants, upon arrival in the U.S. are automatically awarded instant legal status (they are not hunted down and thrown in jail and deported, unlike ALL OTHER IMMIGRANTS), are authorized to received food stamps, Section 8 taxpayer-government housing, instant work visa, medical care, social security, etc., etc. This is all fine with politicians, who, at the same time, don't want any breaks for other minorities.

[Blue_Tires]

13. this will only get worse before it gets better n/t