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Western Kentucky University Enrolls More Blacks This Year

Posted on: Saturday, 12 November 2005, 00:00 CST

By Art Jester, Lexington Herald-Leader, Ky.

Nov. 12--Western Kentucky University has announced that it enrolled 335 entering black freshmen this fall, the largest number of first-time black students at any of Kentucky's state universities.

"We are committed to promoting diversity on our campus and in the college experience at WKU," said Western President Gary Ransdell.

The total number of blacks at WKU is 1,591, a 7.5 percent increase from fall 2004.

WKU reported total enrollment of 18,645, an increase of 132 students, or 1 percent, from a year ago.

WKU's enrollment has increased every year since 1998, when it had 14,882 students.

Ransdell said WKU's string of enrollment gains is noteworthy because the school has to contend with lottery-funded scholarships in Tennessee.

In addition, Kentucky is experiencing a leveling-off of the number of high school graduates, Ransdell said.

WKU said its enrollment of Tennessee students dropped by 119, while enrollment of Kentucky students increased by 278.

Luther Hughes, WKU's associate vice president for enrollment management said that "students enrolled from Tennessee still far exceed the enrollment of students from any other state other than Kentucky."

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Copyright (c) 2005, Lexington Herald-Leader, Ky.

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

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Source: Lexington Herald-Leader (Lexington, Ky.)

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