Boston Globe LTE

Post-affirmative action, colleges grapple with the numbers

Drop in Black student enrollment is a gut punch for those already on campus

Originally posted in The Boston Globe on September 21, 2024

Re “Percentage of Black first-year students at BU and Northeastern falls” (Metro, Sept. 13): The drop in Black student enrollment at Northeastern isn’t just disappointing — it’s a gut punch for those of us already on campus. It’s not only about fewer incoming students; it’s also about what their absence says for the future of diversity and connection.

As a Black professor, a psychologist, and a researcher who has studied equity and diversity issues in higher education, I see how this affects us. Fewer Black students means a weaker sense of belonging for those who remain, and it makes it harder for those of us who teach and mentor to maintain a thriving, diverse academic environment. The impact ripples through the entire institution — morale dips, retention of students and faculty falters, and the weight of creating inclusive spaces grows heavier.

Universities, from deans to department heads, must recognize that declining diversity affects the people already here. It’s time for transparent strategies such as data dashboards and accountability measures that help track and support retention just as much as they serve recruitment. Task forces and promises won’t cut it — action is needed to create policies that ensure long-term success for Black students and faculty.

Idia Binitie Thurston

Milton

The writer is associate director of the Institute for Health Equity and Social Justice Research and professor of public health and health sciences and applied psychology at Northeastern University.