University of Kentucky 2011-2015 Diversity Plan
Download the PDF copy of the 2011-2015 Diversity Plan.
Student Body Diversity
University of Kentucky 2009-2014 Strategic Plan Goal I: Prepare Students for Leading Roles in an Innovation-driven Economy and Global Society establishes objectives and strategies for student enrollment and student success.
The CPE Diversity Policy states "each campus will ascertain the diverse makeup of the Commonwealth or the institution service area." Given the University's mission as a land grant research institution, flagship of the Commonwealth of Kentucky public postsecondary education system, the University's focus must be on the Commonwealth and beyond.
The following information is provided by the U.S. Census Bureau:
Table 1
2009 Census Bureau Population Estimates
Kentucky
| Total Population | ||
| Race/Ethnicity | Number | Percentage |
| White | 3,763,087 | 87.2% |
| Black or African American | 332,436 | 7.7% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 9,868 | 0.2% |
| Asian | 45,001 | 1.0% |
| Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander | 1,949 | 0.0% |
| Two or more races | 46,356 | 1.1% |
| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) | 115,416 | 2.7% |
| Total population | 4,314,113 | 99.9%* |
*Note: Percents do not total to 100% due to rounding.
Undergraduate and Graduate Student Enrollment
Per the aforementioned Commonwealth of Kentucky total population data, the University of Kentucky hereby establishes enrollment goals for the categories titled Black or African American and Hispanic or Latino (of any race). Of the total population Black or African American, historically the largest minority group in Kentucky, accounts for 7.7 percent of the state population. Hispanic or Latino, the most rapidly growing segment in the Commonwealth, accounts for 2.7 percent of the state population. Rather than create numerous additional goals independent of the 2009-2014 Strategic Plan, this diversity plan includes all other Race/Ethnicity groups that comprise the University of Kentucky community when using aggregate data only. It is understood that using 2009 U.S. Census Bureau data where individuals had the option to select two or more races may cause inaccuracies in establishing goals based on state population.
For Undergraduate Student Enrollment and Graduate Student Enrollment diversity plan objectives, the University of Kentucky proposes closing the gap between current enrollment of Black or African American students and Hispanic or Latino students and the overall state demographic populations. As the University aspires to grow in the number of students statewide, out-of-state students become necessary and contribute to the institution's compelling interest in diversity.
Table 2
Enrollments by Level: Fall 2010
| Undergraduate-Level | Number | Percent | State Percent | Gap-UG |
| White | 16,441 | 82.3% | ||
| Black or African American | 1,442 | 7.2% | 7.7% | 0.5% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 374 | 1.9% | 2.7% | 0.8% |
| Other Race | 520 | 2.6% | ||
| Two or More Races | 139 | 0.7% | ||
| Non-resident Alien | 358 | 1.8% | ||
| Unknown or Missing | 714 | 3.6% | ||
| Total | 19,988 | 100% | ||
| Graduate-Level | Number | Percent | State Percent | Gap-Grad |
| White | 5,215 | 72.6% | ||
| Black or African American | 361 | 5.0% | 7.7% | 2.7% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 123 | 1.7% | 2.7% | 1.0% |
| Other Race | 206 | 2.9% | ||
| Two or More Races | 34 | 0.5% | ||
| Non-resident Alien | 855 | 11.9% | ||
| Unknown or Missing | 387 | 5.4% | ||
| Total | 7,181 | 100.0% |
Undergraduate (UG) Student Enrollment and Graduate (Grad) Student Enrollment GOALS
Black or African American: Gap-UG≤0; Gap-Grad≤0
Hispanic or Latino: Gap-UG≤0; Gap-Grad≤0
Student Success
The University of Kentucky provides a continuous array of programs and services to support the curricular and extra-curricular success of the student community. Student retention and graduation are closely monitored and aligned with the University of Kentucky mission.
Student Retention: First-to-Second Year
UK 2009-2014 Strategic Plan Metric 1-3 states Increase the first-to-second year retention rate to 85 percent. For this diversity plan, the University's objective is to reduce and eventually eliminate differences in achievement for Black or African American and Hispanic or Latino students in comparison to White student retention.
Table 3a
Achievement Gap Closure: First Year to
Second Year Retention Rate
| Cohort | Overall | White | Black or African American (B/AA) | Gap1 (White – B/AA) | Hispanic or Latino (H/L) | Gap2 (White – H/L) |
| 2008 | 80.3 | 80.5 | 75.1 | 5.4 | 82.3 | -1.8 |
| 2007 | 81.0 | 81.1 | 80.0 | 1.1 | 81.8 | -0.7 |
| 2006 | 76.4 | 76.2 | 76.6 | -0.4 | 71.9 | 4.3 |
| 2005 | 77.8 | 78.0 | 75.9 | 2.1 | 82.4 | -4.4 |
| 2004 | 78.9 | 79.6 | 69.0 | 10.6 | 68.8 | 10.8 |
First Year to Second Year Retention Rate GOALS
Black or African American: Gap1≤0
Hispanic or Latino: Gap2≤0
Student Retention: Second-to-Third Year
The University of Kentucky 2009-2014 Strategic Plan recognizes the significance of improving undergraduate student success in the first two years. No specific Strategic Plan metric is established to solely measure second-to-third year student retention. Consistent with the first-to-second year diversity plan goal, the University's objective is to reduce differences in achievement for Black or African American and Hispanic or Latino students in comparison to White student retention.
Table 3b
Achievement Gap Closure: Second Year to
Third Year Retention Rate
| Cohort | Overall | White | Black or African American | Gap1 (White – B/AA) | Hispanic or Latino | Gap2 (White – H/L) |
| 2007 | 71.1 | 71.6 | 65.9 | 5.7 | 63.6 | 8.0 |
| 2006 | 68.4 | 68.4 | 67.1 | 1.3 | 61.4 | 7.0 |
| 2005 | 68.9 | 69.1 | 64.5 | 4.6 | 73.5 | -4.4 |
| 2004 | 70.4 | 71.6 | 55.6 | 16.0 | 53.1 | 18.5 |
| 2003 | 70.2 | 70.4 | 60.8 | 9.6 | 71.9 | -1.5 |
Second Year to Third Year Retention Rate GOALS
Black or African American: Gap1≤0
Hispanic or Latino: Gap2≤0
Graduation Rates
Metric 1-5 of the 2009-2014 UK Strategic Plan states Increase the six-year graduation rate to 64 percent. Consistent with Student Retention, the objective is closure of disparities in graduation rate between Black or African American and Hispanic or Latino students in comparison to the graduation rate of White students.
Table 3c
Achievement Gap Closure: Graduation Rate
| Cohort | Overall | White | Black or African American | Gap1 (White – B/AA) | Hispanic or Latino | Gap2 (White – H/L) |
| 2003 | 59.5 | 60.4 | 42.7 | 17.7 | 53.1 | 7.3 |
| 2002 | 57.7 | 58.6 | 47.6 | 11.0 | 46.7 | 11.9 |
| 2001 | 61.4 | 62.5 | 50.3 | 12.2 | 59.3 | 3.2 |
| 2000 | 59.1 | 60.3 | 44.8 | 15.5 | 39.1 | 21.2 |
Graduation Rate GOALS
Black or African American: Gap1≤0
Hispanic or Latino: Gap2≤0
Degrees Conferred
For the purpose of this diversity plan, the University of Kentucky selects Metric 1-8 from the 2009-2014 Strategic Plan: Increase bachelor degrees awarded per academic year to 3,925. The University's objective is to increase the total number of, or percent of total, bachelor degrees conferred each academic year for Black or African American and Hispanic or Latino students.
Table 4
Bachelor's Degrees Conferred: 2005-06 – 2009-10
| 05-06 | % | 06-07 | % | 07-08 | % | 08-09 | % | 09-10 | % | |
| White | 3,219 | 91.5% | 3,242 | 89.7% | 3,390 | 89.8% | 3,285 | 90.0% | 3,018 | 85.7% |
| Black or African American | 152 | 4.3% | 153 | 4.2% | 150 | 4.0% | 154 | 4.2% | 145 | 4.1% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 43 | 1.2% | 36 | 1.0% | 34 | 0.9% | 35 | 1.0% | 48 | 1.4% |
| Other Races/Missing | 105 | 3.0% | 182 | 5.0% | 201 | 5.3% | 176 | 4.8% | 310 | 8.8% |
| Total | 3,519 | 100.0% | 3,613 | 100.0% | 3,775 | 100.0% | 3,650 | 100.0% | 3,521 | 100.0% |
Degrees Conferred GOALS
Black or African American Bachelor Degrees = Previous Year N +1 or Increase over Previous Year Percent of Total
Hispanic or Latino Bachelor Degrees = Previous Year N +1 or Increase over Previous Year Percent of Total