In fall 2014, 23 percent of UNC Charlotte’s more than 5,000 graduate students were international, compared to less than 10 percent 10 years ago.
Tracking Trends The Graduate School keeps evolving as demographics, economic realities shift By Johnna W. Watson
U
nderstanding population and educational demographics over time helps UNC Charlotte and other universities anticipate future needs and shape educational opportunities for upcoming generations of graduate students. Demographic analysis informs academic program planning to respond to business, industry and education needs, as well as to develop services to support a rapidly changing talent pool of diverse learners. Twenty years ago, the average age of UNC Charlotte graduate students was 31.7; today, the average age is 30.7. So while age has been relatively constant, it’s about the only demographic that has been. So what has changed? Quite a lot. According to data from the National Center for Education Statistics, the total percentage of minority students — African-American, Hispanic, Asian, Pacific Islanders and Native Americans — in K-12 public schools is larger than the percentage of white students. 22 UNC CHARLOTTE magazine
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DISPARITY IN COLLEGE ENROLLEES Nevertheless, a disparity in college enrollment by race continues to impact the total number of post-baccalaureate students, given that less than 50 percent of African-American and Hispanic high school graduates pursue a college education, according to a University Business magazine article on student demographics. UNC Charlotte enrolls the largest share of Hispanic students (graduate and undergraduate) in the UNC system, a tribute to the efforts made to both recruit this population and support them after enrollment. Diversity is also reflected in the faces of students who enroll in graduate programs from foreign countries. In fall 2014, 23 percent of UNC Charlotte’s more than 5,000 graduate students were international, compared to less than 10 percent 10 years ago. Across the United States in 2013-14, first-time international student enrollment grew 8 percent, with double-digit increases from India, according to the www.UNCC.edu