Blacks expected to be better represented at UF under One Florida [Great news here!] (AP)

AP ^ | May 5, 2002 | AP

[summer]

Blacks expected to be better represented at UF under One Florida

Sunday, May 5, 2002

Associated Press

JACKSONVILLE — Improved recruiting efforts have led to more black freshmen planning to start at the University of Florida during the upcoming academic year than last year, according to education officials.

The numbers of black freshmen at the University of Florida plummeted last year — the first year of Gov. Jeb Bush's One Florida initiative, which eliminated raced-based preferential treatment in admissions decisions. The number of African-American freshmen fell almost 45 percent this past fall at the state's largest public university.

One Florida critics treated that as confirmation minorities would suffer under Bush's program, which replaced state affirmative action policies.

But hundreds more black students have been admitted for the coming year because of more energetic recruitment, said John Winn, deputy secretary for accountability, research and measurement at the Florida Board of Education.

"What One Florida detractors anticipated did not happen," Winn said Friday.

African-Americans represent 11 percent of students admitted so far for the 2002-03 school year, according to figures circulated to members of the One Florida Accountability Commission, an oversight board created by Bush.

Of first-time students who enrolled for the 2001-02 school year, 7.2 percent were black.

Black and Hispanic freshman enrollment rose modestly or held steady at most other state universities this past fall.

Commission members, who met Friday in Jacksonville, said the enrollment numbers were encouraging. But Beatrice Louissaint, commission co-chairwoman, said the state still must address colleges' ability to retain minority students.

[summer]

This is great news all around, as UF is the state's premier university.

[summer]

For index.

[Icthus]

[summer]

FYI. :)

[summer]

Cute kid! LOL! :)

[MeekOneGOP]

Wrong side, kid! Wrong side! :O)

[summer]

LOL! :)

[MeekOneGOP]

LOL! I see you! :O)

[HockeyPop]

Great news? Spin it all you want. Its a zero sum game and somebody has lost.

[summer]

Gov. Bush did eliminate quotas, and unqualified students are not being admitted.

[Dianna]

But Beatrice Louissaint, commission co-chairwoman, said the state still must address colleges' ability to retain minority students.

Address the colleges' ability to retain minority students?? How about they address the minority students' ability to pass?

The world is a frustrating place.

[summer]

You lost me. I don't think admitting students who are qualified is so terrible.

[summer]

By "retain," I think she means to keep them at UF through graduation, instead of the students leaving or transferring out.

[Dianna]

Being concerned over transfers is valid.

I thought she was worried about what the school was going to do to make sure the kids pass and graduate.

[summer]

Yes, that's what I believed you thought. :)

[skr]

The good students will rise to the top, regardless of their melanin count, just as Gov. Bush and the rest of us always knew. I admire him greatly for his courage in this stand, because the meanness of racism so easily takes a stronghold in some people's thinking, and prevents them from seeing it for what it truly is, a barrier to true equality in pursuing opportunity

[just looking]

"UF is the states premier university"?????? Ok, what are you smoking tonight? Go Noles

[skr]

If unqualified people lost, that's what's supposed to happen. That doesn't mean that they can't do something about it or that everyone has to attend college in order to succeed in this world.

[Snuffington]

But hundreds more black students have been admitted for the coming year because of more energetic recruitment, said John Winn, deputy secretary for accountability, research and measurement at the Florida Board of Education.

Two questions.

1. Does "more energetic recruitment" mean they found qualified students in previously undiscovered locations?

2. What is the purpose of a "deputy secretary for accountability, research and measurement?"