Diversity promoted through scholarships

JMU will continue to promote diversity by providing full scholarships to 50 new students from underrepresented groups every year. In addition to the student diversity initiative, JMU also will promote diversity in faculty and staff employment and pedagogy.

In October 2003, a commission was established by President Linwood Rose to create a diversity initiative. A committee of 65 worked over a four-month period to compile data and create a blueprint for the initiative.

Headed by Daniel Wubah, special assistant to the president and biology professor, the committee submitted a 233-page document and executive summary to Rose on Jan. 30, 2004.

The Centennial Scholars will add 50 more scholars per year. The first graduating class will graduate in JMU’s centennial year, 2008. With continued funding,
Wubah hopes that by 2008 more than 200 students will be enrolled through the program and increasing diversity on campus.

“Our school is becoming more and more well-known and praised,” student Mark Johanson said. “The only way we can keep moving forward is if we can draw in a broader variety of students.”

“When a student comes to JMU, the strengths you get … the best education you can get, you cannot get if the campus is not diverse,” Wubah said. Wubah added the three aspects to diversity on which JMU is focusing are compositional (ethnicity), practices (policies in place to support environment with all people) and curriculum.

“Diversity? What diversity?” Johanson asked. “I think the student body as a whole would benefit so much from a greater diversity. It would open up our eyes to people of different race, religion, sexual preference and socioeconomic status.”
The diversity initiative is divided into four subcommittees: faculty, staff recruitment, student recruitment and student retention.

To increase student diversity, the Centennial Scholars Program was created. CSP consists of four graduate students, six transfer students and 40 freshmen. Students selected are all academically merited to attend JMU but would otherwise not be able to attend a four-year college program due to financial reasons.

CSP provides financial support, including tuition fees and room and board, Wubah said.

“Before, students were selected who could afford it, and selectivity increased. Our goal was ‘how do we address this problem?’ So we go in and get support for qualified students,” Wubah said.

Junior Lisa Enders said, “Diversity is definitely an issue at JMU. Different groups seem to separate themselves from the rest of the student body … it shows that there is a great underlying problem on our campus.”