Colleges and universities all over the country want to increase diversity (read more non-whites and less Whites). One reason is to "measure up" to everyone else and get credit for it in the media (who happily reports it). I'm sure it doesn't hurt state funding considerations when you have a lot of diversities in the student body either. Of course, most of those decisions and considerations happen behind closed doors and aren't talked about publicly. Many institutions of higher learning "seek diversity" by starting inter-collegiate athletic programs. One college here in Georgia has made diversity a central reason for starting up sports programs.
Since public institutions operate on state money, they aren't as dependent on federal dollars directly, although you can argue that some of their money still comes from the fedgov via the state. Enrollment is tied to funding as well, so if the school is growing it will get more money to work with and if it is shrinking it will get less.
You can't be denied admission to a public institution because you are black, but a college can have a very low minority enrollment and get away with it. In some places, blacks and others either don't want to go to college or can't make the grades to get into college, so their numbers are very small. There are also some places with very small black populations and without an athletics program the schools' black student population would be almost zero.
My experience is that any diversity related incentives aren't usually stated explicitly out in the open, but they sometimes factor into things that are decided away from public view. By the way, welcome to Caste Football, mgginva!
Edited by: Colonel_Reb
