Diversity rises with incoming class

Tulane University’s incoming first-year class will be 22 percent students of color, said Satyajit Dattaagupta, vice president for enrollment management and dean of admissions, a significant increase since just three years ago, when the class was 16 percent students of color.

The class also includes 96 international students.

The admissions team that helped recruit the class specifically looked for students who were committed to academic rigor, regardless of race or demographic.

“Our messaging focused on three things: the academic quality of the institution, the world-class faculty and the unparalleled research.”

Satyajit Dattagupta

“From the start, our messaging focused on three things,” Dattagupta said. “The academic quality of the institution, the world-class faculty and the unparalleled research.”

In fact, many in the incoming class have already expressed interest in research opportunities as part of their college experience.

"Our admissions team has moved energetically to build a more diverse student body, one which better reflects the depth and breadth of our 21st-century society,” said Tulane President Mike Fitts.

Students can find academic and research opportunities through the new Center for Academic Equity, which offers workshops, study halls, speaker series, and summer research grants and fellowships to underserved undergraduate students, said Paula Nicole Booke, senior program coordinator.

“The Center for Academic Equity serves as a bridge to many of the wonderful resources that Tulane offers,” Booke said. “For example, we have established a partnership with the award-winning Academic Success Center at Tulane University, which matches students with certified coaches who help create individually tailored plans” geared to student success. The center was launched earlier this year, with Rebecca Mark as the director.

Dattagupta said the increase in diversity marks the start of an exciting chapter for Tulane.

President Fitts agreed. “Despite the real progress we are making in this area, we know there is still more work to be done. There are still people missing from the table. We need to ensure that Tulane attracts the best and the brightest from every segment of our society.”

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