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The ������ο��Ƶ of ������ο��Ƶ at Lafayette is one of the nation’s top 26 institutions for increasing graduation rates for underrepresented minorities over the last decade.

It was recognized in a report released Wednesday by the Education Trust, a national non-profit advocacy group, for rising graduation rates for African-American, Hispanic and Native American ������ο��Ƶs.

“The ������ο��Ƶ continually strives to help all of our ������ο��Ƶs succeed, including underrepresented minority ������ο��Ƶs, many of whom are first-generation ������ο��Ƶs, or may face challenges due to socioeconomic status,” said Dr. DeWayne Bowie, UL Lafayette’s vice president for Enrollment Management.

The report, “Rising Tide: Do College Grad Rate Gains Benefit all ������ο��Ƶs?”, examined graduation rates at 1,309 four-year colleges and universities over 10 years, from 2003-2013.

During that span, 328 public colleges and universities improved their overall graduation rates. Of those, the Education Trust focused on 255 institutions that had sizable enrollments of underrepresented ������ο��Ƶs. UL Lafayette’s graduation rate increase for underrepresented minorities during that span was 12 percent.

The Education Trust singled out the top “high performing institutions that exhibited exceptional improvements in graduation rates and diminished gaps,” according to the report.

Over the past decade, those 26 high performing institutions have:

• increased the graduation rate for underrepresented ������ο��Ƶs by twice the average increase for all institutions in the sample; and,
• reduced the graduation rate gap between underrepresented and white ������ο��Ƶs.

UL Lafayette increased its graduation rate for underrepresented ������ο��Ƶs by 33.1 percent, according to three-year averages included in the report. The ������ο��Ƶ reduced the graduation rate gap by 5 percent.

UL Lafayette’s Fall 2015 enrollment includes 3,351 African-American ������ο��Ƶs, 579 Hispanic ������ο��Ƶs, and 71 Native American ������ο��Ƶs, who represent about 22.9 percent of the overall enrollment of 17,508 ������ο��Ƶs.

Bowie attributed the ������ο��Ƶ’s success in enrolling, retaining and graduating underrepresented minorities to many factors, including advising, and need-based financial aid assistance, such as the federal Pell Grant Program.

He also cited outreach efforts for any ������ο��Ƶs whose grades are flagging. “We try to identify ������ο��Ƶs who are having challenges, and get them assistance, whether it’s tutoring, peer mentoring or simply letting them know about campus resources available to them.”

UL Lafayette also was recognized in a recent issue of “Diverse: Issues in Higher Education.” The ������ο��Ƶ was ranked No. 90 on the magazine’s list of Top 100 Degree Producers for African-American ������ο��Ƶs.

Other ������ο��Ƶ schools included in the national rankings were Southern ������ο��Ƶ (30), Grambling State ������ο��Ƶ (50), and ������ο��Ƶ State ������ο��Ƶ (99).

The rankings are based on degrees conferred in the 2013-2014 academic year. UL Lafayette conferred 424 degrees to African-American ������ο��Ƶs, or 17 percent of all bachelor’s degrees awarded that academic year.

“It is also an increase of 8 percent from 2012-2013, when there were 394 degrees conferred to African-Americans,” said Dr. Taniecea Arceneaux Mallery, the ������ο��Ƶ’s director of Equity, Diversity and Community Engagement.

Learn more about the education Trust’s “Rising Tide” report at

Learn more about the “Diverse” magazine’s Top 100 Degree Producers at