DMACC News

DMACC's Minority Enrollment Sets New Record
Posted 1/8/08

Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) has set an enrollment record among diverse populations. DMACC’s fall semester enrollment showed an increase in the number of students for all racial/ethnic groups.

Overall, DMACC’s 2007 fall semester non-white credit enrollment is 14.0 percent. This compares to 13.1 percent in the fall of 2006.

• A total of 1,057 African American students were enrolled in credit classes at the six DMACC campuses in the fall of 2007. That compares to 885 African American students enrolled in credit classes in the fall of 2006.
• DMACC’s Hispanic population increased to 645 students in the fall of 2007 from 523 students in the previous fall semester.
• DMACC’s Asian population increased from 545 students in the fall of 2006 to 602 students in the fall of 2007.

DMACC’s Hispanic population has grown 150 percent since 2003. The number of African American students has grown by 50 percent in that timeframe, and Asian students have grown by 32 percent.

“DMACC is committed to serving the needs of diverse populations in Iowa,” said DMACC President Rob Denson. “While we have increasing numbers of minority students coming to DMACC, we want to do even more to recruit these important populations. Iowa will meet its workforce needs only if we encourage everyone to develop their skills.”

DMACC offers credit classes in career education and arts and science programs for transfer at full-service campuses in Ankeny, Boone, Carroll, Newton, Urban Des Moines and at West Des Moines.

DMACC is among the finalists for the Greater Des Moines Partnership’s prestigious 2008 Diversity Award. The announcement will be made at the Partnership’s annual meeting on Jan. 10. The award recognizes companies that create a diverse work force and client base, as well as an “environment of inclusion in greater Des Moines.”

In 2007, DMACC was also a finalist for the Diversity Award, which was granted to Nationwide Property and Casualty. In 2008, DMACC, Iowa Health-Des Moines, Kemin Industries and Wells Fargo are the finalists. This is the ninth year in which the Greater Des Moines Partnership has bestowed a Diversity Award.

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