In This Edition >>> • Overall trends in minority baccalaureate student enrollment

in agriculture and natural resources programs • Minority undergraduate student enrollment by ethnicity • Minority undergraduate student enrollment in the major

agriculture and natural resources program areas • Disciplines with the highest minority undergraduate

enrollment

News FAEIS

We first explored the trends for undergraduate minority students compared to the general population of undergraduate students from 2004

to 2011 in colleges and departments of agriculture and natural resources. Figure 1 offers the baccalaureate enrollment for minority and

non-minority students. Minority students were considered to be students that were reported as non-Caucasian, including students reported

as African American, Asian, Hispanic, Native American, and Native Hawaiian. Based on our analyses we found the following results.

• From 2004 to 2011, the baccalaureate enrollment for non-minority students increased by 18,915students or 25.4%.

• During that same time, the baccalaureate enrollment for minority students increased by 11,440 students or 77.5%.

Figure 1. Baccalaureate Enrollment for Minority and Non-Minority Students (n=98 institutions).

* Minority students include students reported as African American, Asian, Hispanic, Native American, Native Hawaiian, and unspecified minority.

0

20000

40000

60000

80000

100000

120000

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Non-Minority Students

Minority Students*

Minority trends for undergraduates in colleges and departments of agriculture and natural resources

A Monthly Insight into the USDA’s Food and Agricultural Education Information System

Contributors >>>

Editors Dr. Mary A. Marchant

Bill Richardson Dr. Eric Smith Dr. Eric Vance

Dr. Timothy P. Mack

Data Analysts Bill Richardson Lisa Hightower

Graphic Designer and Writer

Lisa Hightower Bill Richardson

The FAEIS Team

Bill Richardson Dr. Mary A. Marchant

Dr. Eric Smith Dr. Eric Vance

Dr. Timothy P. Mack Lisa Hightower

Hao Lu

Photos provided by Kelsey Kradel

John McCormick

Overall trends in minority baccalaureate student enrollment in agriculture and natural resources programs

For the September newsletter we explored trends for minority students enrolled in colleges and departments of agriculture and

natural resources at higher education institutions across the United States. We investigated the growth of undergraduates of different

ethnicities from 98 higher education institutions. Undergraduate students who were reported as having two or more ethnicities or as

non-U.S. citizens were not included in the study. Institutions who have not reported consistent ethnicity enrollment were not

included in the analysis.

Sept. 2012 Issue 20

0

5106

4813

464

2008 2009 2010

4500

4600

4700

4800

4900

5000

5100

Faculty Count in Academic Discipli Related to Climate Change

Reporting Year

Facu

lty H

eadc

ount

Q:

A:

Q:

A:

Q:

A:

Q:

A:

Q:

A:

Minority undergraduate student enrollment by ethnicity in agriculture and natural resources programs

We investigated the minority undergraduate student enrollment by ethnicity in colleges and departments of agriculture and natural

resources from 2004 to 2011(Figure 2). The baccalaureate enrollment for Hispanic students had the highest growth in the number of

students between 2004 and 2011 with an increase of 5,077 students or 107.2%. The baccalaureate enrollment for African American

students had the second highest growth in student numbers with an increase of 2,171 students or 41.8%. The baccalaureate enrollment

for Asian students had the third highest growth in student numbers with an increase of 1,851 students or 57.3%.

Figure 2. Minority Baccalaureate Enrollment by Ethnicity.

We also investigated the enrollment of minority students within the major program areas (Figure 3). The program areas included 1)

Agriculture, Agriculture Operations, and Related Sciences, 2) Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, 3) Natural Resources and

Conservation, and 4) Related Biological Sciences. The program area with the greatest growth in the number of minority students was

Agriculture, Agriculture Operations, and Related Sciences with an increase of 5,470 students or an increase of 74.4%.

Figure 3. Minority Baccalaureate Enrollment in Major Program Agriculture and Natural Resources Program Areas.

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

8000

9000

10000

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Asian

African American

Hispanic

Native American

Native Hawaiin

Unspecified Minority

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Agriculture, Agriculture Operations, and Related Science Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences

Natural Resources and Conservation

Related Biological Sciences

Disciplines with the highest minority student enrollment in agriculture and natural resources programs 2 3

We also investigated the five academic areas (groups of disciplines) with the highest minority student enrollment in colleges and

departments of agriculture and natural resources from 2004 to 2011(Figure 4). Of the five academic areas, the academic area with the

largest growth in the number of baccalaureate minority students was Animal Sciences with an increase of 2,253 students or 100.6%.

The second academic area with the largest growth in baccalaureate minority students was Foods, Nutrition and Related Sciences with

an increase of 1,133 students or 103.7%, followed by Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Business and Management with an

increase of 720 students or 52.7%, Biology, General with an increase of 689 students or 97.0%, and Agriculture, General with an

increase of 500 students or 43.7%.

Figure 4. Enrollment for the Five Academic Areas with the Highest Minority Student Enrollment.

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

4500

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Business and Management

Agriculture, General

Animal Sciences

Biology, General

Foods, Nutrion and Related Sciences

Minority undergraduate enrollment in the major agriculture and natural resources program areas

Overall, the baccalaureate enrollment of minority students in colleges and departments of agriculture and natural resources at higher

education institutions across the United States has increased at a higher rate (77.5%) to baccalaureate enrollment of non-minority

students (25.4%). Among minority baccalaureate students, the highest increase in enrollment was found among Hispanic students

with an increase of over 5,000 students, followed by African American students with an increase of over 2,000, and Asian students

with an increase of over 1,800 students. Minority baccalaureate enrollment is highest for programs in the area of Agriculture,

Agriculture Operations, and Related Sciences.

0

5106

4813

464

2008 2009 2010

4500

4600

4700

4800

4900

5000

5100

Faculty Count in Academic Discipli Related to Climate Change

Reporting Year

Facu

lty H

eadc

ount

Q:

A:

Q:

A:

Q:

A:

Q:

A:

Q:

A:

Minority undergraduate student enrollment by ethnicity in agriculture and natural resources programs

We investigated the minority undergraduate student enrollment by ethnicity in colleges and departments of agriculture and natural

resources from 2004 to 2011(Figure 2). The baccalaureate enrollment for Hispanic students had the highest growth in the number of

students between 2004 and 2011 with an increase of 5,077 students or 107.2%. The baccalaureate enrollment for African America

students had the second highest growth in student numbers with an increase of 2,171 students or 41.8%. The baccalaureate enrollment

for Asian students had the third highest growth in student numbers with an increase of 1,851 students or 57.3%.

Figure 2. Minority Baccalaureate Enrollment by Ethnicity.

We also investigated the enrollment of minority students within the major program areas (Figure 3). The program areas included 1)

Agriculture, Agriculture Operations, and Related Sciences, 2) Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, 3) Natural Resources and

Conservation, and 4) Related Biological Sciences. The program area with the greatest growth in the number of minority students was

Agriculture, Agriculture Operations, and Related Sciences with an increase of 5,470 students or an increase of 74.4%.

Figure 3. Minority Baccalaureate Enrollment in Major Program Agriculture and Natural Resources Program Areas.

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

8000

9000

10000

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Asian

African American

Hispanic

Native American

Native Hawaiin

Unspecified Minority

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Agriculture, Agriculture Operations, and Related Science Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences

Natural Resources and Conservation

Related Biological Sciences

Disciplines with the highest minority student enrollment in agriculture and natural resources programs 2 3

We also investigated the five academic areas (groups of disciplines) with the highest minority student enrollment in colleges and

departments of agriculture and natural resources from 2004 to 2011(Figure 4). Of the five academic areas, the academic area with the

largest growth in the number of baccalaureate minority students was Animal Sciences with an increase of 2,253 students or 100.6%.

The second academic area with the largest growth in baccalaureate minority students was Foods, Nutrition and Related Sciences with

an increase of 1,133 students or 103.7%, followed by Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Business and Management with an

increase of 720 students or 52.7%, Biology, General with an increase of 689 students or 97.0%, and Agriculture, General with an

increase of 500 students or 43.7%.

Figure 4. Enrollment for the Five Academic Areas with the Highest Minority Student Enrollment.

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

4500

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Business and Management

Agriculture, General

Animal Sciences

Biology, General

Foods, Nutrion and Related Sciences

Minority undergraduate enrollment in the major agriculture and natural resources program areas

Overall, the baccalaureate enrollment of minority students in colleges and departments of agriculture and natural resources at higher

education institutions across the United States has increased at a higher rate (77.5%) to baccalaureate enrollment of non-minority

students (25.4%). Among minority baccalaureate students, the highest increase in enrollment was found among Hispanic students

with an increase of over 5,000 students, followed by African American students with an increase of over 2,000, and Asian students

with an increase of over 1,800 students. Minority baccalaureate enrollment is highest for programs in the area of Agriculture,

Agriculture Operations, and Related Sciences.

In This Edition >>> • Overall trends in minority baccalaureate student enrollment

in agriculture and natural resources programs • Minority undergraduate student enrollment by ethnicity • Minority undergraduate student enrollment in the major

agriculture and natural resources program areas • Disciplines with the highest minority undergraduate

enrollment

News FAEIS

We first explored the trends for undergraduate minority students compared to the general population of undergraduate students from 2004

to 2011 in colleges and departments of agriculture and natural resources. Figure 1 offers the baccalaureate enrollment for minority and

non-minority students. Minority students were considered to be students that were reported as non-Caucasian, including students reported

as African American, Asian, Hispanic, Native American, and Native Hawaiian. Based on our analyses we found the following results.

• From 2004 to 2011, the baccalaureate enrollment for non-minority students increased by 18,915students or 25.4%.

• During that same time, the baccalaureate enrollment for minority students increased by 11,440 students or 77.5%.

Figure 1. Baccalaureate Enrollment for Minority and Non-Minority Students (n=98 institutions).

* Minority students include students reported as African American, Asian, Hispanic, Native American, Native Hawaiian, and unspecified minority.

0

20000

40000

60000

80000

100000

120000

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Non-Minority Students

Minority Students*

Minority trends for undergraduates in colleges and departments of agriculture and natural resources

A Monthly Insight into the USDA’s Food and Agricultural Education Information System

Contributors >>>

Editors Dr. Mary A. Marchant

Bill Richardson Dr. Eric Smith Dr. Eric Vance

Dr. Timothy P. Mack

Data Analysts Bill Richardson Lisa Hightower

Graphic Designer and Writer

Lisa Hightower Bill Richardson

The FAEIS Team

Bill Richardson Dr. Mary A. Marchant

Dr. Eric Smith Dr. Eric Vance

Dr. Timothy P. Mack Lisa Hightower

Hao Lu

Photos provided by Kelsey Kradel

John McCormick

Overall trends in minority baccalaureate student enrollment in agriculture and natural resources programs

For the September newsletter we explored trends for minority students enrolled in colleges and departments of agriculture and

natural resources at higher education institutions across the United States. We investigated the growth of undergraduates of different

ethnicities from 98 higher education institutions. Undergraduate students who were reported as having two or more ethnicities or as

non-U.S. citizens were not included in the study. Institutions who have not reported consistent ethnicity enrollment were not

included in the analysis.

Sept. 2012 Issue 20