Diversity Data at K-State
One way to assess K-State’s progress toward diversity and inclusion is to examine important student success metrics, as well as the employment of diverse populations.
Metrics for underrepresented groups
Number of students and degrees earned increases
The percent of students from underrepresented groups increased from 12.6% of all total enrollments to 13.9% from fall 2013 to fall 2017.
Students from underrepresented groups earned 12.5% of the total degrees conferred in FY 2018, up from 10.5% in 2014.
The 685 total degrees earned by students from underrepresented groups in FY 2018 was the highest number in K-State history.
First-to-second-year retention rates increase
The overall first-to-second-year retention rate for K-State was 84.3% (fall 2016 cohort of first-time full-time freshmen returning in fall 2017), up from 81.2% for the fall 2012 cohort, an improvement of 3.8%.
Examining some of the underrepresented populations, we find:
- African-American students - the retention rate increased from 64% for the 2012 cohort to 75.7% for the 2016 cohort, an improvement of 18.3%.
- Hispanic students - the retention rate increased from 68.9% in the 2012 cohort to 73.6% in the 2016 cohort, an improvement of 6.8%.
- Multi-racial students - the retention rate increased from 71.7% in the 2012 cohort, to 83.7% in the 2016 cohort, an improvement of 16.9%.
Six-year graduate rate improves
The overall six-year graduation rates for K-State was 62.8% for the 2011 cohort, up from 59.9% for the 2007 cohort. This is an improvement of 4.8%.
For some of the underrepresented populations, we find:
- African-American students - the six-year graduation rate increased from 27.8% for the 2007 cohort to 32.2% for the 2011 cohort, an improvement of 15.8%.
- Hispanic students - the six-year graduation rate increased from 47.3% in the 2007 cohort to 52.2% in the 2011 cohort, an improvement of 10.4%.
- Multi-racial students – Multi-racial was not included as a category in demographic data until 2008. The six-year graduation rate increased from 42.6% in the 2008 cohort, to 43.4% in the 2011 cohort, an improvement of 1.9%.
Faculty diversity increases
Human resource data show an increase in the percent of non-white faculty (tenured, tenure-track, and non-tenure track). In 2010, 81.4% of faculty were white, compared to 77.8% in 2017. Of the non-white faculty, 6.3% were from underrepresented groups, and 13.3% were Asian Americans in 2010. In 2017, 8.2% of the faculty were from underrepresented groups, with another 12.6% Asian Americans.
Staff diversity increases
For staff (unclassified professional and USS), a similar pattern of data is shown. In 2010, 83.8% of staff were white, compared to 81.8% in 2017. Of the non-white faculty, 8.9% were from underrepresented groups in 2010, with 6.7% Asian Americans. In 2017, 10.7% were from underrepresented groups, with 6.7% Asian Americans.
