An annual ranking of best colleges by U.S. News and World Report magazine identified Northeastern Illinois University, located on the city’s North Side, as the most ethnically diverse university in the Midwest.
An annual ranking of best colleges by U.S. News and World Report magazine identified Northeastern Illinois University, located on the city’s North Side, as the most ethnically diverse university in the Midwest.
NEIU beat out 4,314 other colleges for the prestigious ranking, which was based on 2007-08 enrollment numbers, said Dana Navarro, a spokeswoman for NEIU.
Black students account for 10.4 percent of the 12,000 students who currently attend Northeastern, 5500 N. St. Louis Ave., according to Carolyn Bonner, another school spokeswoman. Hispanics account for 29.3 percent while whites make up the majority at 46.8 percent. Students attending the college come from 109 different countries, and the annual tuition for in-state students is $5,635.20 and $10,315.20 for out-of-state students. Although the school does not offer housing, it assists students who need it.
Conrad Worrill, director of the Jacob H. Carruthers Center for Inner City Studies at Northeastern, said he is beginning to see more Blacks and Latinos attend NEIU.
“This has become a university of choice for Black and Latino students,” he said. “And I attribute the Inner City Studies program to bringing more Black students to Northeastern.”
The university’s CICS is located off-campus, at 700 E. Oakwood Blvd. in Bronzeville.
Worrill said that in 1966, the Inner City Studies program started off as an experiment to train teachers in the inner city. Two years later, it began offering master degrees, and in 1972, it began offering bachelor’s degrees. Since its inception, it has awarded 1,000 master’s degrees and hundreds of bachelor’s.
“Those who have received master’s degrees in Inner City Studies at Northeastern include 28th Ward Alderman Ed Smith, U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-4th) and state Rep. Karen Yarbrough (D-7th),” Worrill said. The Inner City Studies program is open to all races, not just Blacks and Latinos, Worrill added.
Like so many higher institutions of learning, Worrill said Northeastern is challenged to hire more Black professors.
“The teaching staff at Northeastern is not as diversified as the student body,” he said. “But I do commend Northeastern for encouraging Blacks to apply for teaching positions when they become available.”
Wendell Hutson can be reached at whutson@chicagodefender.com.
Copyright 2008 Chicago Defender. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
About Post Author
