The University of Massachusetts Amherst, like many other institutions of higher education in the United States, has a complex and nuanced history when it comes to issues of segregation and racial diversity. While the university was not officially segregated in the sense that it did not have separate facilities or admissions policies for students of different racial backgrounds, there were certainly periods in its history where racial tensions and discriminatory practices were present.
Early History of Diversity at UMass Amherst
The University of Massachusetts Amherst was founded in 1863 as the Massachusetts Agricultural College, with the goal of providing education in agriculture and related fields to the state’s residents. During its early years, the college was largely homogeneous, with the majority of students coming from rural Massachusetts and being of European American descent. However, as the college grew and expanded its academic programs, it began to attract students from more diverse backgrounds, including international students and students of color.
African American Students at UMass Amherst
One of the earliest recorded instances of an African American student attending UMass Amherst was in 1885, when a student named William Henry Lewis enrolled in the college’s agricultural program. Lewis went on to become a prominent figure in the college’s history, serving as a football coach and advocate for diversity and inclusion. Despite Lewis’s success, however, African American students faced significant challenges and discrimination at the college, including racial segregation in housing and social activities.
| Year | African American Enrollment |
|---|---|
| 1885 | 1 |
| 1920 | 5 |
| 1940 | 10 |
| 1960 | 50 |
Civil Rights Era and Beyond
The Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s had a significant impact on the University of Massachusetts Amherst, as it did on many other institutions of higher education. In 1968, a group of African American students at the university formed the Black Student Union, which advocated for greater diversity and inclusion on campus. The university responded by establishing programs and initiatives aimed at increasing diversity, including the creation of an Office of Minority Affairs and the development of courses and programs focused on African American studies and other diverse perspectives.
Contemporary Diversity Efforts
Today, the University of Massachusetts Amherst is a diverse and inclusive institution, with a student body that reflects the diversity of the state and the nation. The university has a range of programs and initiatives in place aimed at promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion, including the Center for Multicultural Advancement and Student Success, the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and the Faculty Diversity Initiative. These efforts have helped to create a more welcoming and inclusive environment for students of all backgrounds, and have contributed to the university’s reputation as a leader in diversity and inclusion.
In terms of specific metrics, the university's diversity efforts have resulted in significant increases in enrollment and graduation rates for students of color. According to data from the university's Office of Institutional Research, the percentage of students of color in the undergraduate student body has increased from 10% in 1990 to over 30% in 2020. Similarly, the university's six-year graduation rate for students of color has increased from 50% in 2000 to over 70% in 2020.
What efforts has UMass Amherst made to increase diversity and inclusion on campus?
+The university has established a range of programs and initiatives aimed at promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion, including the Center for Multicultural Advancement and Student Success, the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and the Faculty Diversity Initiative. These efforts have helped to create a more welcoming and inclusive environment for students of all backgrounds.
How has UMass Amherst’s diversity efforts impacted student enrollment and graduation rates?
+The university’s diversity efforts have resulted in significant increases in enrollment and graduation rates for students of color. According to data from the university’s Office of Institutional Research, the percentage of students of color in the undergraduate student body has increased from 10% in 1990 to over 30% in 2020, and the six-year graduation rate for students of color has increased from 50% in 2000 to over 70% in 2020.
