Underrepresented enrollment at UC law and medical schools has risen significantly this year, according to a report from the University of California. UC officials say the increase is due to a larger pool of applicants, stronger outreach programs and more funding.
“”We are greatly encouraged to see the positive trend in enrollment of underrepresented minorities,”” said Michael V. Drake, UC vice president for health affairs, in an Oct. 9 statement. “”These results indicate that our efforts to increase the attractiveness of our programs to an ever-widening pool of applicants are beginning to show success.””
Out of the 570 first-year students at UC medical schools, 94 minority students enrolled this year. This is a 4.6 percent growth from last year’s 68 students.
As for law schools in the UC system, 125 out of 772 first-year students were minorities. This means there is an increase of 5.2 percent from 90 students in the previous year. In addition, 420 more underrepresented students applied this year.
The increases are significant because there had been a continuing decline in enrollment of minority students in the UC medical and law school programs during the past seven years. Minorities appeared to attend professional school instead of graduate schools, which further contributed to the downturn. Many minority groups faulted the passage of Proposition 209 in the 1996 state election, which effectively banned the use of affirmative action in any publicly funded agencies or programs in the state.
However, according to UC officials, it was outreach programs geared toward underrepresented students that helped encourage students to apply for medical and law schools. At UCSD alone, there are the McNair Program, the California Alliance for Minority Participation, the Science Program and Howard Hughes Program, among others. These organizations offer faculty instruction, workshops, presentations, academic preparation, skill building, counseling, test preparation and mentorships for undergraduate students who plan to attend graduate school.
Even as graduate scholars, the graduate divisions continue the outreach to minorities with meetings and interactive activities.
“”I like [the outreach programs],”” said Patricia Davis, a first-year UCSD graduate student. “”Everyone is here to help you adjust. My experience here has definitely been a 10.””
More financial aid has been available to students in recent years. The federal government awards two federal grants to qualifying first-year minority students. There are also fellowships, which can give students up to $20,000 each year, depending on which department of graduate school the student attends.
Administrators at UCSD feel the increased diversity within the campus’s postgraduate programs improves the university’s ability to serve the state population.
“”I think [the increase in ethnic representation] is good for the campus,”” said Tim Johnston, assistant dean of graduate student affairs. “”It serves a broader spectrum of the state population.””
Many members of the faculty and student body are optimistic about the increase in numbers of underrepresented students that are going on to law and medical school.
“”I think that more minorities attending graduate schools creates more possibilities, more willingness to work hard,”” said Ernesto Mendez, an Earl Warren College junior of Latino descent who is planning to attend law school.