Diversity at a Glance
Annually, Loyola University Chicago's Office of Institutional Effectiveness compiles and releases the campus community's Annual Diversity Report. The 2019 Diversity Report reflects the positive-collective practices implemented to increase the overall University diversity composition to 37.7%. Over the last 10 years, a series of recruitment efforts to diversify faculty, staff, and student populations reflected an increase of 11.9%.
The largest improvement is found in the number of diverse Doctoral students with an approximate 17% increase over 10 years. This reflects a 33% diversity profile in 2018. We recognize we must continue to create and foster diversity efforts in the areas of recruitment and retention as the report shows only modest increases of 4% and 3% for New Transfer students and Full-Time Faculty, respectively, since 2009.
In addition, the one-year attrition rate has positively declined 0.4% as the student body enrollment primarily remains engaged since 2009 – currently 14.9% compared to 15.3% in 2009. We can attribute success in this area to several student success programs taking place in the Division of Student Development and Student Academic Services areas. For example, Peer Advisors within the First and Second Year Advising department provide mentor and support services to first year students seeking assistance with learning how to respond to unique first year transition challenges.
In conclusion, wrap-around services provided throughout the traditional four-year undergraduate experience indicate successful efforts in student retention, academic readiness and response, and paraprofessional development support as the four-year graduation rate increased by approximately 11% over a 10 year period to reflect 68.4%. Efforts to recruit, retain, support and graduate historically underrepresented groups is reflective of the approximately 13% increase in completion rate for minorities, representing 61%. We recognize additional work is needed in order to increase the graduation percentage for minorities and the overall undergraduate cohort.
Subsequently, a series of initiatives, like the 2018 Diversity Campus Climate Survey Listening Sessions, were held to learn what we can do to create and foster a quality academic and professional experience dedicated to helping faculty, staff, and students lead an extraordinary life.
As we move forward in the spirit of excellence, we are committed to collaboratively and inclusively connecting with internal and external campus partners in support of meeting our unified diversity, inclusion, and equity goals that focus on seeking God in all things while providing a multitude of perspectives a voice. The Office of Diversity and Inclusion looks forward to highlighting existing and new pathways designed to welcome, embrace, and share highlighted multicultural and multifaceted University community in Chicago and abroad.
See key findings from the report below.
A Decade of Growing Diversity
Over the past decade, Loyola’s learning community of faculty, staff, and students has become increasingly diverse.
Minorities (faculty, staff, and students combined):
2009: 25.80% 2018: 37.70%
| Diversity at Loyola | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The data below reflects the percentage of faculty, staff, and students representing a historically underrepresented group. | ||||
|
Year |
Students |
Faculty & Staff |
Staff |
Faculty |
| 2018 | 40.2% | 26% | 32.6% | 19.6% |
| 2017 | 38.7% | 24.5% | 31.1% | 17.6% |
| 2016 | 37.7% | 24.4% | 31.2% | 17% |
| 2015 | 35.7% | 23.8% | 31.2% | 15.9% |
| 2014 | 33.7% | 23.2% | 31% | 14.6% |
Please note: 2019 statistics are still under review.
A Diversifying Student Population
Since 2008, Loyola has enrolled an increasingly diverse student body. Last year, 41.5 percent of our students—and more than 42 percent of our new and transfer students—represent historically underrepresented populations.